The Role Of Electrolytes In Surviving Festivals In Summer
The summer is hotting up and hopefully festivals such as Latitude, Boomtown and the Isle of Wight won’t turn out to be a mudbath this year. Much as we all love the sun, it does bring its own challenges when you are dancing for hours and abandon your usual eating and drinking habits. Here’s a look at how electrolyte tablets can help you stay on track.
What are electrolytes and why do they matter?
Electrolytes are essential minerals such as sodium, potassium, magnesium, and calcium. They play a crucial role in regulating fluid levels, nerve function, muscle performance, and maintaining energy levels. When you are drenched in sweat from dancing and heat, you are losing more than just water: you are also losing electrolytes.
While you can drink more water to quench your thirst, you are not replenishing the lost minerals: in fact, you are diluting them further. This means you could start to feel fatigued, dizzy, or get muscle cramps—not an ideal state to enjoy a long day of live music with your mates and 20,000 other people.
Managing dehydration risk at summer festivals
Whether you love moshing at Download, raving at Creamfields or rocking out at Reading or Leeds, festivals in the summer can be tough on the body. Even if it’s not exactly a heatwave and you aren’t pogoing down the front, you’ll be walking long distances, chatting and singing, and maybe drinking alcohol and swapping healthy eating for burgers and fries.
In the fun and buzz of the action, it can be really easy to pay less attention than usual to your hydration levels. This means more than a dry mouth: dehydration can cause headaches, tiredness, cramps and aching muscles, brain fog and lack of concentration, and nausea and irritability. None of which will help you enjoy performances or the company of your friends.
How electrolyte tablets can help
Hopefully we’ve all got the message about bringing a reusable water bottle: it is not just cost-effective, sustainable and environmentally friendly, but it also makes it easier to take regular sips of water. If you don’t want to be encumbered with a bottle when you are dancing, go for a hands-free hydration pack instead.
However, as we have seen, it’s not enough to just drink water, especially when you will be sweating more and eating less nutritious food than usual. That’s why electrolyte tablets are a must have for festivals. All you have to do is pop one in your water bottle in the morning or after a long set, and your body will be able to restore hydration levels much faster.
You’ll also appreciate the extra energy boost throughout the day, as festivals can really take a lot of stamina to do properly! You’ll reduce your risk of dizziness and heatstroke, have faster muscle recovery from dancing and being on your feet all day, and fight off those dreaded hangovers.
Unlike sugary sports drinks, electrolyte tablets are lightweight, easy to carry, and don’t take up space in your backpack. If you are not keen on the taste of plain water, don’t worry: ORS rehydration tablets are available in three appealing flavours, including strawberry, lemon and blackcurrant, so you’ll be encouraged to drink regularly.
Music festivals can be an intense experience, and hopefully you’ll make memories that stay with you for years to come. To give yourself the best chance of a great time rather than feeling wrecked by the end of the first day, pack a tube of electrolyte tablets and a spare so you can pass them to anyone who looks like they’re struggling.
Finally, don’t forget those other essentials that will help to keep you cool if it’s a scorcher: sunhat and shades; factor 50 suncream; and loose light clothing. This way you’ll be able to power your way right through to the final act without missing a beat.
