Copyright Jeff Divine

As a surfer, why do you think it’s important to live a healthy lifestyle?
As a human, it is crucial to have a healthy lifestyle.  It’s all about walking the middle path, finding the balance between family, diet, exercise, fun, and work.  The world is a dynamic and ever-changing place, so being able to adapt to the flow is super important.  Leading a healthy lifestyle is critical to our collective well-being.  I do it for me and also for my community.

What is your exercise regimen and how does it help you stay in shape for surfing, in particular?
I currently do not have an exercise regimen that I live by on a weekly basis.  I have a stretching routine that I learned from Brad Jones of the B-project that I do every evening and it is critical for injury prevention and also allows me a moment of bliss to end the day on.  I really enjoy the workout that riding a mountain bike in the local wilderness areas gives.  Yoga is also an essential in my exercise portfolio.  I strongly support the breath and motion mantra yoga emphasizes and I love the way I feel after a class.

Copyright Jeff Divine

What foods do you consider essential to your health and diet and why?
Colorful, organic, local, and vegan foods are essential.  Organic foods are grown in a way that nourishes the land.  Buying local reduces the carbon footprint of my food and puts money back into my community.  A vegan diet has numerous health benefits for the individual:  Read The China Study,  by T. Colin Campbell.  Cancer will literally be turned on by an animal protein diet and turned off when animal protein is substituted with vegetable protein.  There are various environmental reasons to being vegan.  It takes 10 times the amount of energy to produce 1 gram of animal protein compared to 1 gram of vegetable protein.  The antibiotics used in concentrated animal feeding operations (CAFO) are selecting for super bugs.  These antibiotic resistant strains of e-coli and other microorganisms are extremely dangerous to human health and could be avoided by a simple lifestyle change.  By eating in this way I feel great.  I am full of vitality, helping my community, and nourishing it for future generations.

Are there any natural products or remedies that you swear by?
Eating a balanced diet of colorful fruits, vegetables, nuts, and seeds.  I believe that the remedy IS the food I put in my body.  Couple that with a happy medium of play, exercise, work and viola!

Copyright Todd Glaser

How do you stay healthy while traveling?
Being on the road can be super stressful on your body.  Sleepless nights due to crappy beds or jet lag, bad food, and long plane rides will all take their toll.   I pack my carry on bag to the brim with fruits and veggies like apples, oranges, carrots and snap peas because they are a yummy treat and they can take the beatings of travel well.  Nuts and dried fruits are a good call too.  Sometimes the only thing that keeps me sane on the 14-hour flight over the Pacific Ocean is munching on some yummy treats.  While on the plane, I always remember to drink a ton of water.  The air conditioning just sucks the water out of you.  The best thing I do for jet lag is not sleeping on the plane.  Once I arrive at my destination, I stay up until it’s dark and then crash hard.  I try to give myself a few days to acclimate before charging into my trip.  The bad bed issue can be resolved by bringing a packable mini blowup bed.

What steps do you take in your daily life to lessen your impact on the environment?
I always carry reusable bags.  I buy organic food and go to my farmers markets.  I compost all of my garden and kitchen waste.  I drive a car that gets close to 30 mpg (although I want to be getting 100 mpg!!!) and I am looking to get an electric bike.

Copyright Todd Glaser

What is one thing you would encourage others to do to move toward a more healthy, low-impact lifestyle?
Buy local, organic food.

What’s coming up for you in the future?  Any new projects or travel plans?
I am diving head first into the solar electric industry.  I am so stoked to be putting efforts towards reducing my community’s carbon footprint.  I want to be on the front lines, giving people access to a renewable source of energy and lending the tools necessary to use their energy more efficiently.

What organizations or companies do you support that promote healthy lifestyles and/or oceans?

San Diego CoastKeeper

Surfrider Foundation

Danny Hess Surfboards

Algalita Foundation

Cradle to Cradle Design

Edible School Yard

Thanks, Jeremy, for supporting Swell Life!