Many fitness lovers and bodybuilders are not new to the world of supplements. In fact, according to research done by BMC, at least 43.8% of gym-goers have reported using supplements to complement their workout regimen.
FITGENIC explains that while exercising is an important part of a healthy lifestyle for everyone, physical activity puts some additional stress on the body.
While you can meet your nutritional needs with a healthy diet, to support your active lifestyle, you may want to get some additional help. That is where post-workout supplements and pre work out supplements come in.
Type of supplements
Supplements are used by people involved in weightlifting, athletics, bodybuilding, mixed martial art, and more. They are used to enhance weight gain, promote weight loss, build muscles, or improve athletic performance.
Here are some supplements that you can consider taking:
SARMs
Selective Androgen Receptor Modulators (SARM) was developed by drug companies as a safer alternative to steroids. Just like the name suggests, this drug acts on the hormones in a selective way and helps the user to shed fat and build muscles fast.
SARMS works well on the body without adverse side effects. They don’t destroy the liver, shrink balls, or cause some abnormal growth of hair that steroids are known to do. SARMS supplements such as Andarine are safe to use, but sporting men and women should not use it.
Amino Acids
Three types of amino acids are referred to by BCAAs; valine, leucine, and isoleucine. These three help users to push through those rigorous exercises and also help the body recover post-workout. They play a huge role in effective muscle recovery.
Supplementing with amino acids helps people who are new into fitness or anybody who does fast workouts or prolonged workouts. They help reduce fatigue and also promote muscle creation.
Glutamine, which is also an amino acid made by the body, can help speed up recovery time post-workout and reduce muscle soreness. However, it can be depleted by prolonged or intense exercises—this why you need to take the supplement.
Your body needs an adequate supply of supplements to maximize muscle growth. Taking isoleucine, valine, and leucine will do just that, and they are also a good source of protein.
Creatine
This is one of the most common and widely researched supplements. Creatine is quite effective when it comes to supporting muscle size and strength. The body uses this supplement to produce chemical energy called ATP.
ATP is what the body will use to power up the muscles as you exercise. This will help you have the energy that you need to finish your daily routine in the gym. Creatine is safe and is very effective for strength sports and weight training.
If you want a supplement that will give you lean mass and increase your muscle strength, Creatine is the way to go.
Protein
Protein has a major role to play when it comes to fitness recovery. Taking a protein supplement post-workout will provide the amino acids that the body needs for muscle repair and synthesis. Whey protein is very rich in the BCAAc that are responsible for repairing sore muscles and triggering growth.
This supplement has a high quantity of leucine, which is the most potent amino acid and is ideal for pre or post-workout. The best and most effective way to supplement using protein is by taking it in powder form. Add it to your smoothie or glass of water, and you are good to go.
Electrolytes
Our bodies have minerals like magnesium, calcium, potassium, chloride, sodium, and phosphorus that help regulate pH levels, muscle contractions, nerve signals, and body fluids. We lose these essential minerals through urine and sweat.
When the electrolytes are imbalanced, you are bound to have some effects like muscle cramps, headaches, irregular heartbeat, dizziness, and weakness. You are most likely to have these side effects after sweating a lot in the gym.
Putting electrolyte supplements in your water helps to replace the lost minerals so that you do not have to deal with those unpleasant side effects.
Omega-3s
Fish oils such as Omega 3 fatty acids are central to general health. They provide several benefits, such as hormonal output, cognitive function, and fat burning. One way to ensure that you have enough fish oil for your active lifestyle is by using a supplement.
Omega 3 has the ability to fight inflammation, support a healthy heart, free radicals, decrease muscle soreness, reduce fatigue, and more. You stand to gain more with this supplement. Algae oil and flaxseed oil are some of the most common plant-based options for Omega 3.
Beta-Alanine
This is a natural amino acid that is produced in the liver. The muscles use it to produce carnosine, which is a molecule that helps to regulate the level of acid in the muscle cells. If you have ever felt a burning feeling in your muscles when you start getting tired as you work out, it’s because your muscle cells were becoming acidic.
Keeping the muscle cells pH at a certain level will help fight fatigue and help you perform more. This supplement makes that happen.
Beta-alanine helps to maintain and boost carnosine in the muscles. Carnosine may also help the proteins in the muscle cells use calcium. This will help them contract efficiently and powerfully.
Caffeine
Caffeine is a very popular fitness ingredient. It is common in energy drinks and pre-workout supplements. It is a very powerful booster because it stimulates the brain and nervous system. This effect causes you to feel energized and alert.
Caffeine boosts the adrenaline level and strengthens your heart’s muscle contractions. It will also improve your focus and increase your tolerance to pain. To keep your tolerance to caffeine low, you may want to take it only before intense workouts.
Use These Post Workout Supplements for a Better Fitness Plan
Post-workout supplements help the body to recover so that one can continue to train despite the after-effects of the training program. If you are looking to add mass and work out more, you will need these supplements.
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