Supplements for Summer: What to Add (and Remove) From Your Stack

Supplements are an important part of any workout routine. They give you the boost you need to hit your optimal nutritional levels when your diet may be lacking. Change your stack with the seasons so you aren't taking any supplements you don't need, especially in the summer. 

Why You Should Adjust Your Supplements for the Summer Season

When the summer rolls around, you don't need some of the supplements you need in the winter and your fitness goals likely have changed. Whether it's because of more sunlight, sweat, or just new goals, always try to build an optimal stack so you can recover from your workouts with ease. 

You Get More Sunlight

Sunlight is integral to the body in a multitude of ways, so when there is more of it in the summer, you need to alter your stack. Your body uses sunlight to create vitamin D, maintain strong bones, and improve your mood, among many other things. So once you get out in the sun more, you can remove the supplements that benefit these conditions from your stack.

You Sweat More

If you work out at a temperature-controlled gym, you might not notice a huge difference in your sweat output, but for those who like to run or do other outdoor activities, you'll notice a much larger increase in sweat output. This means you need to add hydrating elements to your summer stack.

You Have Seasonal Dietary Changes

In the summer, fruits and veggies are at their peak seasons, so more often than not, you'll be eating fresh and nutritious food. These fresh ingredients are packed with nutrients that you may not get from warming winter foods. You can kick some of the extra nutritional supplements to the curb in the summer for these reasons.

You Have New Fitness Goals

Sometimes you just don't feel like working out constantly in the winter. So when summer rolls around, and you have new goals like getting fit for the beach, you might need an extra dose of protein or creatine in your stack. 

What Supplements To Consider Removing From Your Stack

You can remove some of these supplements from your stack that you needed to make it through a long winter since your body will be getting a healthy dose of summer vitamins. 

Build Strong Bones With Vitamin D

Vitamin D helps your body absorb calcium and phosphorus, which help keep your bones strong. When the UV rays from the sun come in contact with the skin, the body starts to produce vitamin D. Since you aren't outside as much in the winter, and if you are, you are likely bundled up, you need to supplement your vitamin D levels. So unless you spend your summer indoors, it is safe to remove vitamin D from your summer stack.

Try Some Winter Mood Boosters

Sometimes you can get the blues from sitting around in the dreary weather during the winter. If you are a victim of seasonal affective disorder or SAD, you may have had to supplement some brain boosters to your stack to improve your mental mood. These may have included:

• Melatonin — Regulates the body's circadian rhythm, allowing for more sleep.
• Omega-3 Fish Oil — Helps improve brain function and mood and lowers depression rates.
• Vitamin B6 — Raises serotonin levels in the brain to help prevent anxiety, depression, and fatigue.
• St John's Wort — Believed to help fight mild depression.

Once winter runs its course and your mood starts to improve, you can remove these boosters and enjoy your summer.

What Supplements To Consider Adding To Your Stack

When the summer heat arrives, you should consider adding these supplements to your stack. They'll help keep you hydrated, moisturize your skin, and build muscle.

Rehydrate with Electrolytes

There is no doubt you are going to be sweating more when you workout in the summer, especially if you're outside in the hot and humid weather. When you start to sweat, you lose electrolytes in the process. Electrolytes consist of calcium, chloride, magnesium, phosphate, potassium, and sodium and help regulate the amount of water in your body and cells. You can add powdered electrolytes to your summer stack to keep yourself hydrated all summer long.

Don't Forget These Skin Essentials 

While the sun can aid some parts of the body, it can harm others. If you spend hours out in the sun, your skin will start to dry out and roughen, giving it an unpleasant feeling. You can try two different supplements to help you repair and minimize damage caused by the sun.

• Collagen — Improves the moisture of the skin and its elasticity. It may even help reduce wrinkles and stretch marks.
• Vitamin E — Helps prevent the skin from sun damage and burns by absorbing UV light.

Build Muscles with Protein and Creatine 

• Protein — Made up of amino acids, which your body needs to build, grow, and repair muscles. Without it, you'll only see minimal gains.
• Creatine — Stored in your muscles and helps synthesize adenosine triphosphate or ATP, which your muscles need for fuel. It may also help increase muscle mass and energy.

Optimize Your Supplements for Summer

Now that you know what you should add and remove to your stack when summer rolls around, your body can perform better in warmer weather. Your body will thank you for helping it stay hydrated and ditching the now unnecessary winter additions. You can buy the supplements you need for your summer stack and any workout gear at TigerFitness.com. We can also provide you with everything else you need for your workouts, like fitness accessories and exercise plans. Check out out best simple all-in-one vitamin pack that costs less than $1 per day here: MTS Nutrition Immortal.