I’ve tried plenty of different supplements during my 8 years of regularly going to the gym – protein supplements, fat loss supplements, muscle building supplements and pre-workout supplements. The first few months, I was skeptical and didn’t bother with them whatsoever, but then I decided to give them a try and soon after implemented them into my daily nutrition.
In all my time using supplements, I found out that not all of them work, however, there are some that contain natural substances which are scientifically proven to help you stay healthy, lose fat and build muscle when used properly. The three most popular work out supplements among bodybuilders, which do posses the natural ingredients I speak of, are whey protein, creatine and beta a-lanine.
Whey Protein
Protein is an important part of every nutrition plan, and consuming enough protein can help you build muscle and help you recover from work outs. You can get your daily protein dosage from whole foods, however, that will require you to spend more time shopping, cooking, prepping and it can get pretty old. The protein makes a fast and easy snack, is low in fat and carbs and is more affordable per gram. Whey isolate protein is processed to remove lactose and fat, which results in improved digestibility. It’s typically consumed after a workout, and a protein shake can be a replacement for a meal.
Creatine
Possibly the best out of all work out supplements, in my personal opinion, is creatine. It’s one of the most well-researched supplements, and the benefits it brings are evident. For starters, you build muscle faster, you become stronger and it improves muscle recovery and anaerobic endurance. And the best thing about creatine is that it does all of this in a safe and natural manner. Simply put, creatine increases your body’s creatine stores, and most of them go to your muscle cells, which results in you having more energy readily available. This leads to improved performance and muscle growth.
Beta-Alanine
Beta-alanine is an amino acid that combines with the essential amino acid L-histidine, and together they form a molecule called carnosine which is stored in your brain and muscles. Carnosine is involved in quite a few physiological processes that happen in the body, and one of them is the regulation of the acid levels in your muscles. This is important because when muscles contract repeatedly, they become increasingly acidic, and eventually fatigued. Carnosine helps prevent muscle fatigue, and that’s the biggest reason it’s popular among bodybuilders.
Save