Top 5 Fitness Supplements That Really Work

Fitness supplements offer a variety of health benefits ranging from muscle building to weight loss and everything in between. With the wide array of options to choose from, how will you be able to know which one is good for you and which is not? To help you find the right fitness supplement for your needs, we have information below on some of the fitness supplements that are found effective and safe.

Just like other people who aim to improve their physique in a shorter period of time, you may also opt to take supplements to complement your exercise and diet plans and to enhance your performance. There are almost countless supplements available on the market today that gym goers, fitness enthusiasts, and sportsmen take on a regular basis. These supplements offer a variety of health benefits ranging from muscle building to weight loss and everything in between.

Are all fitness supplements good for you?
With everything around us in hyper mode, it is easier for us to opt for things that offer convenience and allow us to get what we want and need, in an instant. Let’s discuss further fast foods and instant products that we believe can help us become healthier and fit without exerting much effort like weight loss wonder pills, supplements, and teas.
Contrary to what many people believe in, using these instant products especially those sold illegally can be detrimental to our health instead of making us fit. Some of these products work in the beginning or may seem to work in the first few days or weeks of using them. But in reality, these types of products can ruin their health and body in the long run.
However, this does not mean that all of these supplements are bad for your health. There are some that really work and there are also some that are just a hoax.
Which supplements are good for you and which really work?
With a wide array of options to choose from, how will you be able to know which ones are good for you and which are not?
The key is to read the labels and to know the ingredients of the supplements. Don’t just really on what is being advertised. Instead, take time to check the ingredients and do your research. This way, you will know if the supplement is good for you or not.
So, what supplements really work? To help you find the right fitness supplement for your needs, we have listed below some of the fitness supplements that are found effective and safe.

1.Whey protein

You already know that protein plays a vital role in your health and it is an important part of your diet whether you are bodybuilding or not. It is likewise the main building block of the body and an essential component of the cells. Aside from the fact that some parts of your body are made mostly of protein, like your nails and hair, the body also uses this macronutrient to repair and build tissues, to make hormones, enzymes, and other important body chemicals, and to build and maintain blocks of skin, cartilage, bones, blood, and muscles.

Though you can eat foods that are high in protein like lean meat, nuts, seed, beans, legumes, and dairy products, sometimes the amount of protein you get from these foods are not sufficient enough, especially if you are trying to improve your physique by building lean muscle mass. Since protein is a macronutrient like carbohydrates and fats, your body will need an ample amount of it. In order to provide your body with the right amount of protein, you will need to take protein supplements.

There are different types of proteins and all of them are not created equal. There are also different protein supplements and each of them serves different specific purposes. There are protein supplements that are specially formulated for those who are trying to achieve a “Hulk-like” body figure. If you are trying to build lean muscle but want to stay lean, you can take a protein supplement that is dedicated to this purpose.
One of the most popular and most widely used fitness supplements is whey protein. This protein source is considered the simplest and cleanest way to increase protein consumption and to meet with your body’s daily protein requirement. It contains a wide range of essential amino acids like cysteine that can easily and quickly be absorbed by the body. It also contains high levels of Leucine, which is directly responsible for muscle growth or protein synthesis.

How does whey protein help you?

Whey protein helps your body gain lean muscles and repair damaged tissues after workout. Studies also show that whey protein can help you lose significant amounts of body fats while increasing your strength. So, if you want to strengthen and build muscles, then taking a whey protein supplement will help you achieve your goal. Studies also show that whey protein can help lower cholesterol levels, improve satiety, and promote weight loss.

Whey protein supplements are available in dietary capsule supplement form or in powder form. However, it doesn’t taste very good on its own. That is why it often comes in a flavored powder form, which you can easily add to your food, drink, or shake. The most common flavor, though, are vanilla, strawberry, and chocolate.
Though not considered dangerous, you should always remember to take protein supplements in moderation or within the recommended dosage. Going beyond the recommended amount can cause side effects such as reduced appetite, headache, fatigue, nausea, cramps, and stomach pain.

2.Beta Alanine

Beta-alanine is a non-essential natural amino acid that is responsible for boosting the carnosine level in the muscle. Just like other non-essential amino acids, beta-alanine is used to make other chemicals in the body that can affect the muscles.

It is not necessary to provide your body with the needed amount of beta-alanine from foods, as the body can make it on its own. However, because the body only creates just the right amount it needs under regular circumstances, the produced amount may not be sufficient enough if you are working out, exercising, or playing athletic games.

In order to supply the additional demand and to give your body extra room for more carnosine production, you will need to take dietary supplements that contain concentrated amounts of beta-alanine. By doing this, you are making your body more resistant to fatigue.
How does Beta Alanine help you?

Beta-alanine supplements are ideal for those who want to enhance their exercise or workout capacity, boost their athletic performance, improve their physical functioning (especially for elderly), and build lean muscle mass. Beta Alanine helps reduce muscle fatigue by creating more carnosine and increasing its amount in your body. Carnosine stabilizes the muscle’s PH level and prevents acids from building up, thus allowing you better performance in sports or workouts. It likewise helps reduce muscle fatigue, strain, and corrosion while boosting your aerobic endurance.

Beta-alanine supplements are generally safe for oral consumption. However, this supplement should not be taken in extended periods of time or in high doses as it can possibly cause side effects such as tingling and flushing when consumed beyond what is recommended.

3.L-Glutamine

Glutamine is the most commonly occurring amino acid that is naturally produced by the body. It is also essential to muscle mass, protein synthesis, energy restoration, immune system functioning, intestinal health, and metabolism. Glutamine also helps in fighting off harmful bacteria and viruses, transporting nitrogen into the muscles, and transporting substances to the blood. It also serves as the building blocks for proteins.

When your body goes through intensely stressful situations like when you are doing workouts or athletic sports activities, this amino acid can be drawn out of the muscles, which leads to catabolism.
Though the body makes its own glutamine, sometimes, the required amount will go beyond what the body can produce. And it will normally take at least a week to gain back the right amount of glutamine in the body.

How does L-Glutamine help you?

L-Glutamine helps prevent catabolism and reduces muscle soreness and fatigue during and after exercise. By taking fitness supplements that contain L-Glutamine, you are providing your body with the right amount of glutamine during heavy workouts, thus preventing depletion and catabolism. This makes it possible for you to do rigorous exercise, workouts, or other physical activities without worrying about depleting your natural stores.
If you want to ask if L-Glutamine can help you gain and strengthen your muscles more or if it can directly enhance your performance, there are some people who have used L-Glutamine supplements who reported such benefits. However, there are not enough scientific studies that prove these claims yet.

4.Branched Chain Amino Acids (BCAAs)

Among the 20 amino acids in the body, nine are regarded as essential or indispensable. These types of amino acids are essential to your diet. This means that you need to eat foods that contain these amino acids since the body cannot make them on its own. Of these nine essential amino acids, three are grouped together – isoleucine, valine, and leucine. They are called branched-chain amino acids or BCAAs.

This group of three vital amino acids has long been known to be effective in stimulating and increasing protein synthesis and in helping reduce the rate of protein breakdown.

How does Branched Chain Amino Acids help you?

Branched Chain Amino Acids are known to be effective in increasing muscle growth. Taking dietary supplements with BCAAs can also help reduce muscle soreness after exercise by keeping blood levels of the lactate dehydrogenase and creatine kinase enzymes lower, minimize exercise-induced fatigue by reducing serotonin production in the brain, and prevent muscle wasting or breakdown.
The great thing about BCAAs supplements is that it can help you both during and after a workout. It can help repair muscles during post-workout stages and help them recover faster after workout and at the same time provide your body with enough energy. Branched Chain Amino Acids can also help in curbing the production of cortisol and other hormones that work against your body and hinder you from building muscles. Apart from that, BCAAs supplements are also found effective in enhancing fat loss, preventing weight gain, maintaining healthy blood sugar levels, and reducing complications associated with liver failure.

BCAAs supplements are ideal for those who want to build muscle mass and to spend less time at the gym due to muscle fatigue and soreness.

5.ZMA

Zinc Monomethionine Aspartate, Magnesium Aspartate, and Vitamin B6 supplements or simply ZMA is usually used by gymnasts, athletes, bodybuilders, and other heavy fitness and workout enthusiasts who are seeking for a recovery aid that works faster than other supplements. This natural mineral supplement is consists of vitamin B6, zinc, and magnesium aspartate.
How does ZMA help you?

ZMA supplements are primarily used as a recovery aid. Aside from that, this supplement also helps strengthen and build muscles mass and increase the production of testosterone, which regulates fat distribution, fertility, and red blood cell production. Other notable benefits of ZMA supplements include but not limited to improved sleep quality, better immunity, increased libido, and improved stamina.
Though there are no major side effects reported yet, it is still best to take ZMA supplements within the recommended dosage. When taken in high doses, zinc and magnesium can cause cramping, diarrhea, and nausea.
Endnote:

The above-mentioned supplements are those commonly used by athletes and fitness enthusiasts. There are many other natural supplements available on the market. What is mentioned here are the top 5 most effective and most trusted ones.
Bear in mind that not all of these supplements are effective for you. That is, the supplement that works great on other people may not work well in your body. It is always best to consult your doctor first before trying out any fitness supplements to make sure it suits you well especially if you are experiencing some health problems. Your doctor can recommend the right supplement for you, though.

Also, be mindful of the fake supplements spreading around the market that claim almost instant result. For instance, weight loss supplements that claim promising results in shorter periods of time or that claim you can lose massive weight without exercise and diet or perhaps fitness supplements that advertise they can help you build muscle mass and make you achieve a “Hulk-like” figure without a workout, are essentially fake news. Instead of helping you achieve your fitness goals, you may end up getting health complications. So, better safe than sorry.

Remember, if you think it is too good to be true, it probably is. As you research what is right for your body and what you are trying to accomplish, always purchase dietary supplements at a reliable shop or from your local pharmacy