So you want to maximize your performance in the ring. That’s fantastic news because you came to the right place. What we’ll review today are supplements, which I also take. And I’ll be covering the ones I found to be most helpful to maximize performance and recovery, which are the two most important factors when it comes to Muay Thai.
My experience with sports and martial arts stretches for the past seven nine years or so. I’ve had the time to experiment with my own body and see what works best. This got me to today, where I take only the most essential supplements that help me optimize my training and fighting career.
Because I’m also about to compete, I need to fuel my body the right way. There’s no possible way I’ll let my competitors have an edge on me because they fuel their body properly and I don’t. Instead, I’ve made sure to optimize my diet and nutrition, which also includes supplements.
Before we dive into the article itself, I included my flawless diet plan for Muay Thai fighters. So if you’re already one or want to become one, definitely follow the link since it’ll make you change the way you view nutrition and boost your performance in and out of training.
Without further introduction, let’s dive into the first part of the article.
Disclaimer: Food First
I know you’re eager to maximize your performance and recovery, and you’ll be able to do that by reading and following this article. That said, you want to be careful with what you take, as it’s a non-ending world.
I’m telling you this from my own experience with the fitness world, which can be consuming, to say the least. As a result, I’ve made a guideline for myself to follow: Food First!
Before you consider taking any supplement, fix your diet. Before taking any multivitamins, try to get all the essential vitamins from your diet. If you really can’t, then supplements might be the solution
Remember, food first, supplements second.
Electrolytes
Ask any marathon runner and he’ll tell you the same thing; there’s a 0% chance that a marathon runner will show up to his training or competitions without a pack of essential electrolytes. There’s simply no benefit in that. Why won’t you help your body maintain a healthy level of hydration if you can?
Electrolytes, such as potassium, sodium, calcium, and magnesium, are essential for maintaining proper hydration and nerve function. Electrolyte supplements can be useful during intense training sessions, especially in hot and humid environments.
Electrolytes are perhaps the easiest to consume and get. You can typically find a cheap pack of them, which will come in handy in training and competitions. This is the first one I’ve included on this list because it’s the one I encourage you to get first and as soon as possible. You’ll notice your performance boost just by drinking it before or during your Muay Thai session.
DripDrop Hydration – Electrolyte Powder Packets
This is the one I encourage you to get since it’s fairly cheap and will provide anything you’ll ever really need from your pack of electrolytes. There’s no loss in taking such a supplement because it’ll make you function much better in training.
There’s a key point I’d like to address. It’ll be best not to take electrolytes if you’re not working out on the same day. Unless you’re about to sweat heavily, there’s no point in taking them. So I wouldn’t recommend taking these every single day but just before or during your Muay Thai workouts!
Consuming electrolyte drinks daily can be harmful if you don’t require electrolyte replenishment from physical activity, illness, or some other imbalance.
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However, it’s also important to understand that these can make or break your fighting career!
Protein Powder
The second supplement we’ll review is one I’ve been using for a fairly lengthy period. Now, it’s important to understand that I’m a big nerd when it comes to my diet. There’s absolutely no way I’ll eat something I have the most petite suspicion of being scarcely unhealthy. Instead, I eat and consume foods and supplements that I’m sure are 100% good for me.
So the second supplement we’ll review is protein powder. Now, if you’re genuinely serious about your training, you’ll be eager to get the one I’m about to recommend to you. Frankly, it has been extremely helpful to my entire fitness career, which makes me more than confident in this product.
But first, why is taking protein powder good for your Muay Thai journey?
Protein is essential for muscle repair and growth. Whey protein or plant-based protein supplements can be used to ensure an adequate protein intake, especially after intense training sessions. Protein is also critical for recovery after training, which can boost your performance inside and outside the ring!
Sunwarrior Vegan Organic Protein Powder
Sunwarrior was able to curate this extremely well-made organic protein powder. As I’ve said earlier, I avoid eating anything that I suspect to include the most petite unhealthy nutrients. As a result, I typically stick to 1 ingredients supplements.
This protein powder, made by Sunwarrior, doesn’t seem to have any holes. I encourage you, if you’re a nutrition dork like me, to get the unflavored one. It simply is perfect when it is unflavored, as the tastes will naturally add external sweeteners, which you want to avoid if you aspire to be a professional fighter.
So protein powder is critical for you to get if you’re training every single day and you want to avoid burning out or over-training your muscles. Protein will help you in recovery, especially of the right kind, which Sunwarrior has perfected.
And again, if you want to add taste to yours, you’re more than welcome to. It’s something I would advise you against, just so you know the full picture.
Creatine
Next up, let’s review one of my favorite supplements, which I definitely recommend you take, creatine. This is one of the most researched and effective supplements for increasing strength, muscle mass, and explosive muscle power output. You’ll be able to perform much better when you strike, kick, elbow, knee, and even clinch if you’re taking creatine.
Nothing is magic, of course. It’s just a good ol’ nutritious supplement that’ll help you get more from your training and fighting career.
Creatine is one of the most researched and effective supplements for increasing strength and power output. It can help improve performance during high-intensity, short-duration activities like explosive strikes and kicks.
Here are some of the benefits of creatine:
- Improve their exercise performance.
- Help their recovery after intense exercise.
- Increase their muscle mass.
- Prevent severe muscle injuries or reduce the severity of muscle injuries.
- Help athletes tolerate more intense activity.
- Reduce dehydration and cramping.
As you can see, these are some important benefits. For your information, your body naturally creates creatine, which also comes from protein-rich foods. It promotes muscle recovery and energy while benefiting brain health.
For those who train in Muay Thai regularly and want to boost their recovery and performance naturally, creatine can be a suitable choice.
NOW Sports Nutrition, Creatine Monohydrate Powder
If you’re interested in pairing yourself with a good creatine company, this is the one I encourage you to get. You simply add it to water and wait for it to dissolve. Or, you can take it and chug in water to swallow it quickly.
Regardless, I recommend you try adding creatine to your daily nutrition since it’ll boost your performance, which is definitely what you want to achieve when becoming a serious Muay Thai fighter is your goal!
I’ll never stop taking creatine once I saw the boost in strength and explosiveness it has brought upon me.
Multivitamin
Next up on the list, we have multivitamins. Now, I take those too, but I wouldn’t recommend everyone to take them. Let me explain myself. With a proper diet plan in place, you’ll never need to take a multivitamin. However, if you’re competing or training in Thailand like I’m about to do, where the food isn’t as rich in nutrition, especially not for professional fighters, you’ll need to supplement yourself accordingly.
A high-quality multivitamin can fill any nutritional gaps in your diet and support overall health and immune function.
I don’t want to drag this section any longer because you’ll know if you need to take a multivitamin. If you’re eating vegetables, fruits, meats, fish, and all other types of foods, you won’t need to take a multivitamin.
On the other hand, if you think your body can benefit from such a supplement, as your nutrition has gaps, then, by all means, take it. That said, you want to try and fill your diet to have all nutrients before you consider getting a multivitamin.
Garden of Life Vitamin Code
This is the one I encourage you to get if you want a clean multivitamin that’s all healthy and full of nutritious benefits.
It’s also the one I take, which is why I’m so confident in it.
Deficiencies
The last supplement we’ll review is for those of you who are truly serious about training. Let me go over why that’s the case. You’ll need to take a relatively hard step to make this happen.
What you’ll need to do is take a blood test, which can be daunting for many people. But once again, this is for those of you who are truly serious about your performance and feeding your body. So once you get the results, you want to consult with your doctor regarding any deficiencies in any metric.
For instance, if you take a blood test and find to have a deficiency in iron, you want to consider taking an external iron supplement. That will apply to any other deficiency out there.
There are companies out there who will send you a home blood test and then, once you send it back, will make a custom pill for you, which will cover all your deficiencies. Consider reading more about these companies by following the link!
Should You Take Supplements in Muay Thai
This is a very good question because many Muay Thai fighters will flood themselves with pills, although they don’t truly know whether it’s good for them. As a result, they might cause various harmful consequences and they won’t even know it!
Whether you should take supplements is a great question. And let me answer it by giving you some guidelines to follow.
First, when it comes to electrolytes, you want to take them in days of intense training. They’ll help you hydrate your body and remain refreshed during the fight.
Secondly, protein powder can benefit everyone, especially because high-quality ones typically include all the amino acids, which are critical to fuel your body.
Lastly, let’s talk about creatine. If you’re someone who trains intensely and wants to maximize your performance and recovery, creatine is something I would recommend taking. You’d see an improvement in performance and muscle strength when you begin taking creatine.
For all the supplements, make sure to follow the guidelines for taking them properly, so you can avoid consuming them in an unhealthy way.
Final Words
The bottom line of this article is showing numerous ways that you can use to maximize your performance in and outside the ring. You’ll be able to hydrate yourself properly, fuel your body with what it needs, optimize recovery, and maximize your performance by taking these supplements.
As a result, I have no doubts in my mind that you’ll be able to highly benefit from taking all the supplements in this article, as they truly can make or break your fighting career.
Whether you’re a novice or a seasoned fighter, you’ll benefit from these.
Good luck in your Muay Thai journey!
Here are other articles you’ll benefit from reading:
The Perfect Muay Thai Diet Plan for Professional Fighters
Muay Thai for Fat Loss – How to Lose Weight Fast
The Best Muay Thai Warm-Up Routine to Avoid Injuries
How Martial Arts Reduce Stress: 9 Compelling Reasons
The 7 Best Muay Thai Shorts for Your Money
