Bodybuilding Supplements are necessary provided you are unable to get all the nutrients you need from the foods you eat. A hectic lifestyle might prevent you from being able to eat properly so by taking bodybuilding supplements you can ensure that you fill any nutritional gaps that could compromise your chances of building muscle.
Protein Supplements quite possibly are the best to take to build muscle since the major constituent of your muscles is protein. Some of the most common protein supplements are whey protein, casein protein, soy protein, egg protein and plant protein. Weightlifters expend much more energy than the average person so they need more protein. It is recommended that bodybuilders take 1 gram of protein per lb of bodyweight so a 150 lb man who weightlifts would need 150 grams of protein. In the event that you are unable to meet your daily protein requirements from your diet then taking protein supplements is a safe and easy way to make it up. If you do not get enough protein your body will fail to produce sufficient antibodies necessary to fight sicknesses and infections so you will be sick all the time causing you to miss workouts. This is not the best state to be in if you want to build muscle so protein supplements are helpful to ensure you get enough protein so that your body is always in an anabolic state.
Fish oil is undoubtedly one of the best bodybuilding supplements. Taking this supplement greatly increases your body’s levels of growth hormones which will help you to put on muscle faster. Fish oil supplements increase recovery time due to it’s anti inflammation properties allowing your workouts to become more effective. A shorter rest time will mean you can work out more regularly and do more workouts within a session resulting in you building muscle at a much faster pace. Fish oil supplements also increase DHA levels which is critical for brain function which will translate into better focus and concentration during workouts. Anyone who starts taking fish supplements will experience the energy boosting benefits and reap the benefits of a stronger, leaner and healthier physique.
Creatine is one of the most popular bodybuilding supplements and for good reason. First of all, most persons experience an increase in strength within days of taking this supplement. You will be surprised when you are able to crank out an extra rep or two beyond your normal physical abilities which has to do with the backup energy that creatine in your muscles provide. When your muscles normal source of energy is expended creatine becomes a temporary backup helping you to push your muscles farther than would be possible if no creatine was in your muscles.
Another benefit of creatine you will certainly love is how it will cause your muscles to expand within a few days of usage. This expansion of your muscles is due to the water drawn into your muscles from the rest of your body and as a result you need to keep yourself constantly hydrated. You should be careful not to exceed the recommended dosage as this could harm your organs. If you have liver or kidney problems it’s best to stay away from Creatine.
Nitrogen Oxide is another of the most popular muscle building supplements on the market today. It is a colourless gas composed of one part nitrogen and another part oxygen and it’s potential in accelerating muscle growth is well documented. Nitrogen Oxide is naturally produced by the body as long as one does not go beyond the recommended dosage there is nothing to worry about.
The most lauded benefit of nitrogen oxide is the vasolidation of blood vessels which facilitates more efficient transportation of nutrients to muscles as well as elimination of waste material from muscle cells. As a result of this persons who take Nitrogen Oxide supplements find they have more energy and don’t tire as easily over the progression of their workouts. One of the reasons for this has to do with the positive impact Nitrogen Oxide has on one’s lungs thereby allowing more efficient transportation of oxygen to revive tiring muscles. In this way, Nitrogen Oxide will help you to get more from your workouts and provide the necessary anabolic atmosphere for muscle growth by facilitating transportation of essential nutrients to muscle cells. What more can one ask for?
For those wanting to lose weight in a short space of time while retaining lean muscle mass Branched Chain Amino Acids (BCAA’s) are the best choice. Calorie restrictive diets to lose weight is dangerous since you not only lose body fat but a great deal of lean muscle weight. You are basically starving yourself but by taking BCAA’s your body is provided with the nutrients without much calories. The fact that BCAA’s does not add much calories to your diet means you can follow a calorie restrictive diet without having to worry about the weakness and fatigue the reduced food intake would cause. The great thing is that by taking BCAA’s you protect your lean muscle tissue so that most of the weight lost will actually be fat and not muscle. Therefore, for persons who want to lose a great deal of body fat in a short space of time without losing muscle mass BCAA’s are a must.
In comparison to other bodybuilding supplements glutamine might not be as popular nevertheless many persons experience great results with it. Some of the benefits of taking glutamine include increased secretion of growth hormones by the body so you can build more muscle in addition to boosting the immune system to withstand the stress your body is placed under during weightlifting. Overrall this is an excellent supplement to take to increase muscle mass and prevent muscle breakdown.
So Which Is the Best Bodybuilding Supplement?
The best bodybuilding supplement will be dependent upon the individual. A supplement that works well for you might not work as well for someone else. Only you can know what is right for you and that takes a lot of experimentation and observation to get it right. At the end of the day bodybuilding supplements will not work miracles but as their name suggests are supposed to be used to supplement a healthy diet and training regime.
Author Bio:
Chris Brown is a 25 year old fitness enthusiast who blogs at Gain Build Muscle. Follow him on twitter.