| The best food and drinks for surfers |
| Thursday, 05 May 2011 11:02 |
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You are about to go surfing. Your fridge shows a banana, cookies, milk, yoghurts, a bottle of water, a beer and a sandwich. Should you eat and drink anything before hitting the waves? There are a few important and interesting things you should know about surf food. Before, during and after surfing. Experts believe you should adapt a meal or snack to the level of physical effort you are about to undertake. So, if you have eaten the last meal three hours ago, it's better to boost your body with something that will support paddling, standing up and carving. Avoid hot or too cold liquids and snacks. Never drink alcohol before a sports activity. Bananas and water are excellent to fight cramps. Surfers don't usually eat or drink while riding waves. It's not like in athletics where you can carry a candy bar in your pocket. There are special underwater bags for food and liquids, but we know it isn't easy to carry them. If you're planning to surf for three consecutive hours, why don't you stop after each hour for a light refueling meal? Remember, drinking water is never too much. Carbohydrates - that is glycogen - are very important for your muscles and liver. They help to maintain normal blood glucose levels, enhancing both physical and mental performance. Sports dietitians say surfers should recover their bodies after surfing by picking food rich in carbohydrates, protein and salt. If you've just been surfing for three hours you might have consumed 30-60 grams of carbohydrates per hour, so it's time to refuel your engine. "Surf Food - The Ultimate Surfers Cookbook" is a collection of recipes from the world's best surfers, featuring mouthwatering dishes to keep you both entertained and well fed. It is avalailable, here. If you're looking for a surf training scheme take a look at this, here. Sports Dietitians Australia (SDA) has developed a few guidelines for your sports nutrition plan. Here are a few tips for surfers: What to eat and drink before surfing: Breakfast cereal, reduced fat milk and fruit What to eat and drink during a three-hour surfing session: 1/2 litre of sports drink What to eat and drink after surfing: Carbohydrate-focused: Carbohydrate + protein focused:
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