Easy Ways to Improve Your Surfing with the Right Nutrition and Supplements

As a surfer, you know just how tough the sport can be. It pushes your muscles, challenges your mind and helps you get in touch with your body in ways that few other types of exercise can. The more you stick with it, the more you can improve, but there are ways you can give your body the tools it needs to perform better on the water. Here’s what you need to do to improve your overall surfing experience with diet and supplements.

Skip the Processed Foods

When you’re focused on catching waves, it’s easy to reach for a processed protein bar or other pre-made convenience food item. That doesn’t mean you should. Those foods are often full of sugar, chemicals and other ingredients that don’t help your body perform on the water.

The best thing you can do is eat a nutrient-rich diet full of lean proteins, vegetables and fresh fruit. Chicken, salmon, lean beef, pork and eggs will give you enough protein to keep your body fueled up. The fresh vegetables and fruits have tons of beneficial vitamins and minerals to give your body the resources it needs to recover from your time on the water.

If you’re not comfortable cooking, try to make smart choices about the convenience foods you choose. Take a look at the ingredients on the label. If you can’t pronounce them or don’t know what they are, you probably shouldn’t eat it.

Take Supplements That Boost Your Immune System

You won’t have a good surf session if you’re sick. While eating a nutrient-rich diet will help keep you healthy, you may still need to take supplements to make sure you’re getting the right vitamins and minerals.

That doesn’t mean you need to guzzle protein shakes and down vitamin-infused waters. Instead, look for a well-rounded supplement that can help fill in your nutritional gaps. If you’re feeling unwell at any point, take supplements like Vitamin C or use essential oils like oregano oil to help promote a healthy immune response.

Stay Hydrated

Hydration is one of the most important things you can do for your body every day, but it’s vital for surfers. Anytime you’re on your board, you’re exercising and sweating, even if you don’t feel like you are.

The more you sweat, the more water your body loses and the more dehydrated you become. This can have major impacts on your endurance, your focus and even your safety while you’re in the ocean.

Try to drink water, not a sugary sports drink, before you hit the beach. If you’re going to be out in the water for hours on end, make a point to head to shore and grab a drink every hour.

Don’t Skimp on the Carbs

Surfing can be seriously tough exercise and your body needs energy to keep you going. The best source of energy comes from healthy complex carbs. Try to eat at least a few of these foods as part of your regular diet:

• Whole-grain bread
• Brown rice
• Potatoes
• Oats
• Quinoa
• Beans

Don’t overdo it, but try to incorporate those foods into your daily routine. They’re packed with vitamins and nutrients, but more importantly, your body can break those foods down quickly to help you stay out on the water longer.

Don’t Overindulge

The key to improving your surfing through nutrition is to be mindful of what you’re putting in your body. This means monitoring how much you’re eating as well as what you’re eating.

Overindulging in anything, even healthy foods, can leave you feeling weighed down. While the amount of food you need will depend on how much physical activity you participate in each day, it’s always best to avoid eating until you feel overly full. Instead, try to eat until you’re satisfied but not so full that you feel sluggish.

If you decide to have a cheat day and eat foods that aren’t terribly healthy for you, stick to small portions. This way, you won’t feel overly bloated and can recover faster when you’re ready to get your diet back on track.

Practice makes perfect, but you can always do more to boost your performance. Keep these tips in mind.