Posts Tagged ‘Supplements’

Muscle Building Supplements : Using Them Effectively


  

Most muscle building fanatics get carried away and want to achieve too much, too soon, resulting in a search for steroid-like growth, in the least amount of time, sacrificing their overall health in the process. To see solid, long lasting results from your efforts, you first need to get the basics in place, and then proceed on in a steady, consistent manner.

The primary purpose of muscle building supplements is to provide the body with the correct balance of nutrients that may be lacking, thus correcting any biochemical imbalances. It’s simply a mistake to think that a supplement or combination of supplements is going to turn an incorrect diet or regime into the right one.

Still, sometimes your body can do with a little assistance, and there are some worthwhile muscle building supplements. It is, however, essential to get your exercise regime and diet in order before you even consider using any shape or form of muscle building supplement. If a diet or regime is not working for you at present, adding a supplement into the mix won’t suddenly make it work for you.

With that said, let’s look at what you should be doing to in order to maximize your muscle building sessions:

Water - Everyone has heard before about the importance of taking in lots of water, yet so many people continue to overlook this point. Make no mistake, water is more important than anything else, as if your body isn’t well hydrated, then it can’t function properly. As a further point, muscle tissue is 75% water, so, without taking in water, you’ll always struggle to build more muscle.

Protein Powder - Both cost effective and convenient, protein powders are an important part of a body building program. They boost the levels of the much needed muscle building protein in your body, and it would be difficult to achieve similar results by standard food and drinks alone.

Minerals & Vitamins - Whilst there are still people who claim that the benefits if multi-mineral or multi-vitamin tablets and supplements are negligible, no-one can claim that they will do you any harm. There are enough supporters of them to give them credibility, and you have nothing to lose by using them, particularly so if you’re following a limited dietary program.

Creatine - This is the most commonly used muscle building supplement. Why is that? Well, put simply, it works! By all means try out other supplements, but always use them as an addition to creatine, not as a replacement for it. The fact that so many fanatical muscle builders use it is evidence enough of its worth.

Visit this product review website to read more about finding the best bodybuilding supplements for your need.

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Role Of Nitric Oxide In Enhancing Muscles


  

Nitric Oxide is produced in the body. It acts as a signaling molecule that communicates with other cells in the body. The enzymes in the body break down amino acid L-arginine producing Nitric acid. L-arginine in the food first enters into the blood stream after passing through the stomach. Then it moves into the endothelial cells that are found amidst the blood and lymph where the production of Nitric Oxide takes place. L-arginine in its natural state is found in grains, meats, fish, poultry and dairy products. Nitric acid is used to treat insomnia, cardiovascular disorders, pain, inflammations, interstitial cystitis, digestive problems, weight loss, diabetes and injury, female sexual dysfunction and sexual function.

Nitric Oxide deficiency can be identified when one experiences physical weakness and extreme fatigue. It is supportive to the sports and bodybuilding activities. Nitric Oxide is to be consumed before as well as after each workout. Nitric Oxide supplements are offered in the market. Intake of the supplement improves the delivery of nutrient and oxygen to the muscle with improved blood flow. This improved blood flow is facilitated by Nitric Oxide, a vasodilator. The improved blood flow to the muscle mean that more muscle building agents such as creatine, nutrients and oxygen reaches the muscle. Moreover, it ensures that the blood vessels open for longer duration throughout the day. This results in higher muscle gains, quicker recovery after workouts, increased strength, and more staying power due to the longer pumping of the blood. The natural Nitric Oxide production too is enhanced in the body.

Dramatic increase in the growth of muscles to bodybuilders is promised by Nitric oxide products. But these claims are still debated. Some Nitric Oxide supplements available in the market include NO-xplode by BSN, Nitrix by BSN, Mid-Cycle by Fizogen, A-AKG by Pro-line, Cold Fusion by Legal Gear and SuperPump250 from Gaspari. These products can be bought from the supplement and health nutrition stores. Consumers and reviewers assessment about these products can be found in the Internet, for instance, by searching SuperPump250 review for SuperPump250.

Nitric Oxide can prevent heart disease and stroke. Dangerous constriction of blood vessels can be prevented. It may be able to assist in controlling platelet function, lower cholesterol and reduce artery plaque. However, in large concentrations it is toxic to cells and can induce dangerously low blood pressure. People with heart conditions are advised not to take any nitric oxide supplements.

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An Overview Of Protein Supplements


  

Bodybuilding is a trend that has caught on with many people. There are very few people who would not want to have a 6 or 8 pack abs with strong biceps and toned midriffs. The fact is that people want to look good and more than that feel good. A good lean muscular body is a key to self-confidence and increases chances of emotional and professional success.

With the increase in interest in bodybuilding a number of websites have begun to promote their solutions. These solutions promise guaranteed results within a short period of time. Many of these solutions are based on protein supplements. Protein supplements are designed to reduce the wear and tear that results from rigorous exercise and help to build muscle mass. These supplements are readily absorbed by the body and help to increase BMR (Basal Metabolic Rate).

These supplements may be based on different types of proteins. Some of the types of proteins are whey proteins, casein, egg, soy or glutamine. Professional and novice bodybuilders alike use these substances for promoting muscle growth. These substances promise to build muscle and to accelerate fat loss in a very short period of time. Does the use of these substances cause side –effects? How does one ensure that these substances are used in a judicious manner? These are natural questions.

Nutritional supplements based on protein should be used in a proper manner. The dosage, duration and type of protein that is to be used should be decided only after professional consultation. As is the case with any drug, nutritional supplements may cause more harm than good, if not used in a proper manner.

Once you know what type of protein supplements to use, check out he various brands that are available. There are various types and brands of optimum glutamine powder. If possible get a recommendation about the brand that you should use.

Using protein supplements is safe, as long as you go about doing so in the right way. Used judiciously, protein supplements can help you in your efforts towards losing body weight and building muscle.

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All You Need To Know About Proteins


  

A main component of our body is protein. Protein constitutes about half of body’s dry weight. The major source of natural protein from diet includes beef, chicken, lamb, fish and legumes such as beans and lentils. Amino acids are released when the proteins are digested. The source of energy is these amino acids. The amino acids are also used to produce new proteins or are also converted into hormones. 22 different kinds of amino acids make up proteins. Some 50 to tens of thousands of amino acids are usually linked together to form protein. Amino acids are of two types. There are the non-essential amino acids which the human body manufactures. There are also the essential amino acids that food supplies.

Adult women are recommended to take intake 0.75 gram per kilogram of body weight of protein while adult men are supposed to consume 0.84 gram per kilogram of body weight. The extent of intake of protein depends largely on the weight as well as the age of the person. The  primary source of protein are meat, fish, poultry, dairy products, eggs, beans and lentils, seeds and nuts, soy products and grains especially wheat.

Athletes and bodybuilders may require excess protein in order to support the rigorous training and muscle repair. The generally recommended intake of protein is twice the amount taken by less active people. However, some bodybuilders have taken the need for extra proteins beyond rational limits. Though consumption of excess protein is generally considered to be not harmful, yet there is risk for people with such problems as kidney problem, diabetes and overweight. The powdered protein supplementary industry has been vigorously over stressing on protein supplement. These are expensive too when natural food, for instance, skim milk powder is cheaper. There are a range of products to choose such as Ny-Tro Pro-40, BSN Cell Mass, BSN No-Xplode, Controlled Labs Purple Wraath and BSN Syntha-6.

A protein intake of 40 percent along with 40 percent carbohydrate and 20 percent fat is recommended by some bodybuilding coaches and weight trainers. When a bodybuilder takes 4000 calorie which is quite reasonable, it means an intake four times the normal recommended protein intake and twice that of the acceptable norm.

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Post workout nutrition


  

It’s necessary that you eat proper food following your workout sessions to compensate for the lost energy and nutrition. In order to speed up the results of your regular workout, choosing the right foods is essential. Proper nutrition post workout therefore, has to become an integral part of your daily workout regime.

The muscle tissue tends to break down after an intense workout session. To counter this, you should have an easily digestible meal immediately post workouts helping the muscles recover sooner than usual.

Very often, the importance of this meal is not realized and, therefore, skipped. This meal, however, is most important when it comes to recouping the muscles and achieving the desired results in the shortest period of time.

The meal should contain carbohydrates and protein in the ratio 3:1 making it easily digestible. The nutrients are quickly absorbed into the body and the meal is easily digested. Such a post-workout meal should consist anywhere between 350 to 500 calories depending upon the individual. For muscle growth and quick recovery, this is very important.

Fatty foods normally take longer to digest. So, be sure to avoid a fatty meal. Including fat in your post-workout meal will slow down the digestion and absorption processes. You need to be sure that this never happens. Have a quickly digestible meal, therefore, to help faster muscle growth. Muscle building burns more fat, however.

Here are some ingredients that you can include in your post-workout meal:

-Whey protein isolate – this is an easily digestible protein

-Pineapples

-Raisins

-Maple Syrup (Natural)

-Yogurt (Fat free or low fat)

-Frozen fruits

A smoothie can be a good post-workout meal. Use a blender to blend 2 frozen bananas and about ½ a cup of berries, along with some skimmed milk and a scoop of protein powder (any flavor), until smooth. You can choose the ingredients based on personal preferences.

Taking supplements after a post workout meal can be a good alternative to taking whole foods. This is because consuming whole foods immediately after an intensive workout session can sometimes be too heavy for some individuals. A sample post workout diet supplement is as follows:

Sugar – 50 grams

Whey Protein – 40 grams

Glutamine – 10 grams

Creatine – 5 grams

Arginine – 5 grams

Add about 32 ounces of water and mix all of the above together.

During your workout, keep sipping a bit of the mixture at regular intervals. Add another 16 ounces of water when you’re half way through your workout. This is necessary for increasing the body fluids and adding more volume to the blood, which in turn will help pump more blood during your workout.

People who don’t like to eat immediately after a workout can opt for the protein rich smoothie. The smoothie can be prepared and chilled for 40 to 45 minutes before consumption.

Since the post-workout meal serves a specific purpose – treating the body muscles soon after workout and helping them recover faster - it’s natural for you to have noticed ingredients that are otherwise uncommon in our regular meals. Although rich, this meal helps regain the lost energy but not add any additional calories since all that you consume is quickly absorbed to compensate the loss.

If not more, the post-workout meal is at least as important as any other regular meal of the day. You will delay muscle recovery and muscle growth if you skip this important meal. Post workout nutrition is, therefore, extremely essential to effective and safe body building.

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