Bodybuilding Supplements
Are supplements worth it?
for the most part they are not needed, but they can help to
supplement your diet by filling in some gaps of getting
certain amounts of nutrients into your body.
Which supplements are the most important and least important
to worry about?
I think vitamins and minerals are the most important
supplements you can buy, even better than protein powder.
Getting a good 1 a-day vitamin/mineral supplement is a wise
investment. I also suggest taking some extra of the
following vitamins and minerals: Magnesium, calcium, and
vitamin C. Those three vitamins/minerals are very important
to bodybuilding and your overall health.
And all the others are a waste of money right?
Pretty much,
others are generally not essential to bodybuilding success
at all, they are there only for companies to take your money
for no good reason! Don't get me wrong some supplements are
okay to take in small amounts to assist your bodybuilding
efforts, and they are:
Creatine - The fuel source for ATP, an energy system used
for short bursts of power. Creatine is a substance that is
made by the body and used to store energy. It is being
studied in the treatment of weight loss related to cancer.
It is derived from the amino acid arginine. Your body
naturally produces about 1 gram of creatine a day. A lot of
people gain 10-15 pounds within the first few weeks of
taking creatine for the first time, this is all water
weight. But this is good, because it helps the muscles with
strenuous activities such as sprinting or weight lifting. It
can help to improve your form and prevent injuries. I still
remember the first time I took creatine, I noticed a HUGE
increase in the reps of my bench press just two weeks after
taking it, it felt like I was on steroids! This was just
coming from creatine, a natural substance that can be
supplemented in your diet. Now don't think you'll keep
getting gains like this week after week, what creatine does
best for you is to help improve your form and intensity
which is important for a good hormone excreting workout. I
recommend taking about 5-10 grams of creatine per day.
Protein powder - Now now, if you've read my diet article you
know I do not recommend consuming protein powder as nearly
as much as whole foods, protein powder does not increase
your metabolism as nearly as much as whole foods do.
Although I do recommend taking some whey protein isolate
after lifting weights as that helps to get a quick nitrogen
boost into your muscles. I also recommend taking some
caseinate protein right before going to sleep for the day as
this helps to maintain your metabolism overnight. Just
remember though bodybuilding is all about increasing your
metabolism, and one of the best ways to do this is eating
whole protein foods, and protein powder is NOT the answer
for this.
Where is the best place to buy supplements? - The
first thing that comes to your mind is probably GNC, since
that is like in every local mall or pharmacy. Well you
might be happy to know there are much cheaper places to buy
your supplements, and they can all be found online. I
have already done the research myself in finding the best
places to buy supplements online, and I would have to say
that
Netrition.com is probably the best place to buy
supplements, it's also the same place where I have been
buying all my supplements, I have not had one problem with
them yet.. And for your protein powder, I highly recommend
the
Protein Factory, I have been buying from them for
over 10 years and they are MUCH better than any other
protein brand, even better then EAS, twinlab, and GNC.
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