When your gut acts up — beach, cold drinks and surprises included
Share
This article is also available in:
🇮🇹 Italiano · 🇫🇷 Français · 🇩🇪 Deutsch · 🇪🇸 Español
The sun is shining, the beach is calling... yet your gut isn’t in the mood. Why do digestive issues seem to increase in summer? And how can we protect our balance, even while traveling with family?
☀️ Habits change, and so does your microbiota
Summer often means different routines: we sleep in, eat out more, travel, and try new foods. All wonderful experiences — but also disruptive ones for our gut flora.
Science shows that sudden changes in diet and lifestyle can shift the composition of our microbiota — the ecosystem of bacteria that lives inside us.
The result? Bloating, slow digestion, diarrhea, constipation... an upset gut on holiday can ruin the best days.
🥤 Cold drinks and late meals: invisible stress for the gut
Iced tea on the go, a big gelato after lunch, cocktails with friends — we all enjoy them. But if paired with heavy or irregular meals, low fiber, and sugary drinks, they become real stressors for digestion.
Our digestive system thrives on regularity and balance. In summer, however:
- We eat late or erratically
- We consume less fiber
- We drink sugary or alcoholic beverages
- We move less
All this can cause digestive irregularity and promote dysbiosis — an imbalance in gut bacteria.
💧 Be mindful of water: it’s not always safe for the gut
Water can also be a hidden risk: unfiltered tap water, ice cubes made from unsafe sources, or swimming in contaminated sea or lake water.
In summer, the risk of bacterial exposure rises, especially for children or sensitive individuals.
Many cases of gut trouble — like diarrhea, abdominal cramps, nausea — are linked to common situations:
- Accidental ingestion of unclean water (at the beach, in pools, or showers)
- Food handled without proper hygiene
- Contamination from surfaces or dirty hands
Even without pathogens, sudden microbiota stress can trigger immune and digestive imbalance.
👶 And children? Their guts are more vulnerable
Infants’ and young children’s guts are still developing — more sensitive and less resilient to external agents. In summer, even small changes in food or water can cause vomiting, diarrhea, or intestinal imbalance.
That’s why many pediatricians recommend probiotic support when traveling, after digestive episodes, or during seasonal transitions.
🔑 The key? Continuity and prevention
If you already use a probiotic, summer is not the time to stop. On the contrary — consistency now matters even more.
Supporting your microbiota helps reduce gut issues, even when your diet and routine are less predictable.
Choose a high-concentration product, with clinically studied strains and safe storage options for travel (like thermal pouches) — and your microbiota will thank you.
