If you have been into bodybuilding for any span of time you should have a good idea about the different supplements for muscle gain that bodybuilders use. These supplements come in many forms and flavors which makes you wonder which one you should choose from.
In this article I will discuss three of the top supplements that bodybuilders use.
Before talking about these supplements there is a vital point that you should be aware of. Any supplement that you are considering to take should be treated, as the name identifies it, as a supplement. There is no replacement to natural nutrition that is important not only to bodybuilding but to any other sport as well.
Provided that you are taking your proper nutrition we can delve into the subject of supplements.
On the top of the list comes protein. Protein is considered the building block in bodybuilding diet. Protein helps in repairing the muscle tissues that has been torn during a strenuous workout. It provides the essential and non-essential amino acids that are needed for muscle growth.
There are multiple protein sources that exist naturally such as red meat, white meat, dairy products, and eggs. These sources will provide you with ample quantity of protein that you can consume throughout the day.
For bodybuilders it is recommended to take one gram of protein for each pound of body weight. This amount makes it difficult for many bodybuilders to find all what they need in their natural diet and it gives rise to the use of supplements.
In taking protein through supplements or through natural sources you should be aware of one fact and that is your body cannot synthesize a lot of protein at a single time. So, if you want to take 150 grams of protein you should divide it into five 30 grams portions, taking more than that will be wasted and it will be tough for the liver to metabolize the entire amount.
The second supplement that comes to mind of many bodybuilders is creatine. Creatine is one of the amino acids that are found naturally in the body and it is used to provide the body with the energy that is needed to perform daily activity.
The increased activity that is required when you go into intense training entails that your body consume more creatine that it has available. In this case a supplement is needed.
Creatine is considered a pre workout supplement. However, as post workout portion is often recommended to supplement the pre workout one.
You should take creatine in two phases. Phase one is called the loading phase. In this phase you take 20 to 30 grams of creatine daily. This amount should be divided into two portions to be taken half an hour to an hour before and after training.
Phase two is called the maintenance phase, in this phase the amount is reduced to 5 to 15 grams.
The third supplement is glutamine. This is another kind of amino acid that is found naturally in the body and it has two effects.
First, it helps to retain the muscles that you have already built. When the muscles need a growing nutrient they revert to the glutamine that is produced in your body. Since increased muscle activity needs more amount of glutamine then the muscles will have deficiency and thus will not grow the way that you want it to grow. For this reason you need to supplement your natural resources to do the job.
The second glutamine benefit is that it boosts the immune system. This is important because when you train, not only your muscles are stressed but the whole immune system will be put under stress and thus it needs a booster so that it can recover from tough training.
Taking supplements for muscle gain does not have to be a complicated topic. Presented in this article are the top three. There are a lot of other supplements that are found in the market. Choosing supplements is a personal judgment. You should take care to stick to the recommended dosage and always consult a doctor if you have any medical complications.