7 Tips for Staying Healthy During Festival Season

Spring has here in New Orleans, which means one thing: Festivals, Festivals, Festivals!

Here are seven methods to stay healthy and hydrated so you can move and groove throughout the day or weekend.

1. Drink Water

You can become dehydrated if you lose more fluids than you take in. This indicates that your body does not have enough fluids to function properly. Mild dehydration might result in fatigue, dizziness, or muscle cramps.

Don't put off drinking water until you're thirsty. Many events provide water stations where you can replenish your bottle but remember to empty it before walking through security.

If you're consuming alcohol, take a water break every other drink.

2. Wear Sunscreen

Limiting your exposure to the sun and protecting your skin are the greatest ways to protect yourself from its harmful effects.

Sunscreen works by absorbing or reflecting UV radiation to keep you from getting sunburned. When it comes to skin protection, choosing a decent sunscreen is crucial. Choose a sunscreen that includes the following features:

• Broad-spectrum defense is a type of defense that protects against a wide range It protects you against UVA and UVB rays.
• It is suggested that you use a sun protection factor (SPF) of 30 or higher.
• Is it water-resistant or waterproof? This means that the sunscreen protects you when swimming or sweating for a set period of time—40 or 80 minutes, depending on the label.

Follow these recommendations from the American Academy of Dermatology for children over the age of six months:

• To all exposed skin, liberally apply a broad-spectrum, water-resistant sunscreen with an SPF of at least 30. After swimming or sweating, reapply every 2 hours or so.
• When feasible, dress in protective gear such as a long-sleeved shirt, slacks, a wide-brimmed hat, and sunglasses. Look for clothing that has a UV protection factor (UPF) or is woven tightly.
• When the weather permits, seek shade. Between the hours of 10 a.m. and 4 p.m., the sun's rays are at their brightest. If your shadow is shorter than you, you should look for some shade.

The ideal sunscreen is one that you will use over and over again. Sunscreens allow you to be outside for extended periods of time before your skin begins to turn red. However, they do not provide complete protection. Using sunscreen does not imply that you can spend as much time as you like in the sun. Your skin cells continue to be injured.

3. Cover Up

When going out in the sun, it is critical to apply sunscreen. However, it is only one component of a comprehensive regimen to protect your skin from damaging UV radiation. Other significant skin-protection measures include:

• When the situation calls for it, I seek shade. Between the hours of 10 a.m. and 4 p.m., when UV rays are at their greatest, limit your sun exposure.
• Wearing a wide-brimmed hat, closely woven clothes that cover the majority of your skin, and sunglasses.

4. Double-check Medications

Many over-the-counter and prescription drugs make the skin more sensitive to UV radiation. As a result, taking certain drugs could result in a severe sunburn in a matter of minutes. Carefully read any medication labels and reapply sunscreen as needed.

5. Eat Sensibly

Food alternatives that are both delicious and not so nutritious abound at festivals. To stay full and energized throughout the day, eat a substantial breakfast with plenty of protein.

Look for lighter menu alternatives from food sellers to assist you to maintain your energy levels and keep dancing and grooving throughout the day. It's a codeword saying keep away if something is crispy. It's definitely fried, and it's probably high in fat and calories. Anything with a lot of sauce on it, like a cream or hollandaise sauce, is going to have a lot of calories in it. Items such as grilled or boiled chicken or shellfish, as well as sandwiches, yogurt, and fresh fruit, are all good alternatives.

When attending festivals that allow outside food, bringing healthy snacks will help you avoid overindulging in high-calorie, high-fat items.

Some good snack options include:

• Pre-washed fruit (apples, pears, bananas, or grapes)
• Whole-grain crackers or pretzels
• Whole-grain bagels
• Plain popcorn
• Fig bars
• Baby carrots or ready-cut raw veggies
• Dried fruit
• Unsalted, raw nuts or seeds
• Homemade trail mix

6. Pace Yourself

It's critical to keep in mind that this is a marathon, not a race. Because alcohol impairs sensory perceptions, judgment, and reaction time, you are more likely to get injured or have an accident.

There are appropriate ways to drink alcohol if you wish to do so:

• Before you start drinking, determine a safe limit for yourself.
• Choose a designated driver who is either a non-drinker or someone you can rely on to be sober.
• Give your keys to someone who isn't going to drink. If you don't seem competent in driving, give him permission to keep the keys.
• Make plans for a safe return home ahead of time. A taxi is well worth the money if you want to avoid a major problem.
• Don't drink if you're hungry. Before you begin, or while you are drinking alcohol, eat something. This will slow the absorption of alcohol into your body.
• If you're fatigued or taking medication, don't drink.

7. Take care of yourself

The strongest case for drug testing at music festivals is that it could save lives. Second, it may provide a way to elicit behavioral and attitude changes that are resistant to other, harsher methods. Furthermore, testing or the availability of MDMA testing kits appears to encourage prudence, which is a positive thing when it comes to illicit drug use in general.