Bodybuilding athletes train hard and adhere to a regimented diet. Additionally, they utilize supplements in order to build muscle while at the same time shed any unwanted weight.
Many dietary supplements targeted towards bodybuilding contain potentially hazardous ingredients, including prescription drug components and anabolic-steroidal compounds that could pose harmful side effects.
Protein powder supplements help rebuild muscles and decrease post-workout fatigue, while creatine and L-glutamine may enhance strength and endurance.
Branch Chain Amino Acids
Amino acids are the building blocks of proteins, used by your body for everything from muscle growth and repair to hormonal production. There are 20 amino acids your body can synthesise; three of which — leucine, isoleucine and valine — are considered “branched chain amino acids (BCAAs).”
BCAAs have long been the go-to supplement of choice among athletes and gym-goers alike as a means of building muscle mass and increasing performance. Furthermore, they’re an effective way to prevent muscle breakdown during intense exercise while simultaneously encouraging protein synthesis.
NOW’s Branched-Chain Amino Acids are pharmaceutical grade, free from gluten, wheat, milk, soy, egg shellfish shellfish tree nuts and sesame seeds – so take four capsules daily!
Multivitamins and Minerals
Bodybuilding places significant strain on your body and can cause nutritional deficiencies, so taking a multivitamin supplement is often recommended to help avoid these deficiencies. Vitamin B3 (Niacin) promotes muscle growth by providing enhanced pumps when working out and also improves energy levels, increases good cholesterol and limits bad cholesterol, supports healthy hormone production and supports overall hormone balance. Vitamin A plays an equally vital role for bodybuilders by strengthening both their innate and adaptive immune systems by decreasing inflammation responses as well as providing other functions like improving eye health and decreasing risks related to macular degeneration risk reduction.
Select a multivitamin that’s low in added fillers like preservatives and has an optimal dosage of each nutrient – this will ensure you’re giving your body everything it needs for peak fitness, strength, and performance – such as Novoma Sport Pack from France with optimized dosage and featuring Spirulina as part of its comprehensive multivitamin blend.
Branched-Chain Amino Acids
Amino acids are essential building blocks of protein that are vital for muscle, skin, hair, blood and bone health. Of the 20 amino acids your body can code for, 11 are considered essential – meaning you must consume or supplement these essential amino acids through food or supplementation to stay healthy.
Branchd-chain amino acid supplements containing leucine, isoleucine and valine are utilized by athletes and bodybuilders to promote muscle growth and enhance exercise performance. They’re often taken orally in powder form or through pills or liquid.
BCAAs can help your body preserve its glycogen stores during intense training by preventing protein degradation into energy for energy production, stimulating protein synthesis to build muscle mass and aiding recovery after workouts.
Research suggests that consuming an abundance of dietary proteins – including BCAAs – is associated with lower body fat and healthier weight management; however, more studies must be completed in order to validate this finding.
Pre-Workout Supplements
Pre-workout supplements are designed to increase energy levels prior to physical exertion. Their ingredients may include stimulants such as caffeine, beta-alanine and creatine; caffeine has been shown to improve endurance during high intensity exercises while alleviating muscle fatigue.
Beta-alanine helps combat muscle fatigue during exercise by buffering lactic acid production, while creatine helps replenish ATP stores that fuel muscle contractions. Both supplements should be taken according to label instructions 30-60 minutes before workouts.
Pre-workout supplements may give an energy boost and assist with muscle growth; however, they should not be your sole source of fuel in bodybuilding. Instead, experts advise prioritizing a balanced diet featuring plenty of complex carbs and proteins along with plenty of water consumption; in addition to sufficient sleep hours which allow your body to repair muscles from intense training; it’s also advisable to consult your physician prior to beginning any new supplements.
