Buying Cheap Bodybuilding Supplements Online

Cheap bodybuilding supplements can be bought from almost any nutritional shop. You can visit any of the shops and find it displayed just like the expensive ones. Often, when faced with a choice between the expensive supplement and the less expensive one a majority will opt to purchase the cheap supplements; then, of course there will also be those people who decide to purchase the more expensive products because they believe that price alone will make them better than the less expensive ones.

There has been on going debates as to which is better between expensive and cheap supplements. It is not abnormal to be uncertain in the midst of different options. All in all, you must be in a position to choose what seems best for you

The truth is, there is no one best way to state which product is better than another as each product has its own superior features over the other and is more applicable to some individuals. With the limited space for writing, it is not possible to provide an in depth analysis of all the expensive and cheap supplements available today, I have provided a general overview in this piece of writing.

What to look out for

Price alone does not provide a conclusive insight about the product you planning to buy. This means that just because certain cheap bodybuilding supplements are less expensive does not mean they are a weaker or inferior product. Again, just because a product is high priced does not mean the product is of superior quality.

A few years ago there was costly protein supplement that was sold on the market. It was filled with . Needless to say, it did not last in market. True, there are cheap bodybuilding supplements that are cheap because they are purely inferior.

If you happen to stumble upon these, you are better of staying away from these because whatever you benefit by buying these inferior cheap bodybuilding supplements is lost because these products will not deliver as expected and forcing you to go back to the seller to purchase another one.

If you have a hard time in making a distinction between good and inferior supplements the best thing to do is to use some review and price comparison sites available all over the web. These websites can help you evaluate various expensive and cheap bodybuilding supplements. You can use search engines or directories to identify these sites and also some article directories and sites like this one offer more recommended information and sites for your perusal.

Bodybuilding Supplement - General Facts

Body building supplements can be defined as substances used by professional body builders and athletes to instigate muscle building process or for weight loss. Apart from the use for building the muscle mass of the body, these supplements can also be used to improve the performance of the person taking the body building supplements.

Body building supplements can be broadly classified as dietary and exercise supplements. The object of using dietary supplements such as protein, meal replacement and amino acids by a sport person are to improve the body building process by aiding the body with essential nutrients required for it. Exercise supplements are generally used by these persons to increase a particular nutrient level in the body with an object to experience a positive side effect that comes when it combines with the weight training of the body building process. Creatine, which is used by the sports persons to saturate their muscles, can be cited as an example for exercise body supplement that is commonly used by people involved in body building activities.

Proteins that contain high level of amino acids are the most commonly used dietary body building supplement by the body builders. Whey protein, soy protein, egg protein and casein protein are the different types of proteins that are regularly used by the body builders. Regular protein intake will increase the growth and the repair of the muscle tissue of the body. Protein supplement are normally taken by them in powdered form and is generally take soon after the exercise session is over.

Glutamine, the most abundant amino acid that found in human muscle may be depleted due to the rigorous anaerobic exercises by the body builders. In such cases glutamine should be replaced in the body by using dietary supplements to avoid problems like weakened immune system and wasting of muscle tissue.

Branched chain of amino acids, that act as the building blocks of protein are the other dietary supplements commonly used by the body builders.

Meal replacement dietary supplements (MRPs) are meant to replace whole meal that may lead to weight gain. They are available in both powdered and bar form. Generally these meal replacement dietary bodybuilding supplements will be rich in proteins, vitamins, minerals and low in fat and carbohydrates. Apart from proteins vitamins and minerals they may also contain other ingredients such as creatine, monohydrate, glutamine etc to accelerate the body building process.

Prohormones. Creatine, thermogenic products and testosterone boosters are come under the list of bodybuilding supplements that are used widely by the body builders. Compared to dietary supplements these bodybuilding supplements are not safe if used frequently by a person to create greater muscle gaining effect.

Can Bodybuilding Supplements Perform The Muscle Miracle?

While many know that these products exist, they may not be aware of how these body building muscle supplement products work. Unfortunately, because these products are in such fierce competition with one another they have a tendency to employ a ton of over the top advertisement campaigns so as to stand out in the marketplace. Also a number of these ad campaigns leave the false impression. It is if there is a miracle out there that will maximize one's ability to grow muscle.

The Truth About bodybuilding supplements.

First, what must clearly be understood about these supplements is that no body building muscle supplement is a miracle product. There is no product that will magically burn fat and enhance muscle growth while eliminating the need for working out. Of course, there are a number of products that make these promises, but these products are less than honest and even less successful in terms of actually delivering what they promise.

Be Realistic

We need to be realistic about what to expect from body building supplements. They are not miracle products that will pack on 50 or 60lbs of muscle nor will they magically burn off 10 or 20lbs of fat. Body building supplements have their values. These values and benefits are based on realistic nutrition and science and not over the top advertisements. Often, the advertisements and their claims act as substitutes for actual science and this is unfortunate.

Mass gainers and whey protein supplements

Most of the products that advertise as body building supplements fall into two categories. Either mass gainer or whey protein supplements.

What is a mass gainer?

A mass gainer is a drink that provides a massive amount of calories in liquid shake form so as to help someone who is having difficulty gaining weight the ability to gain weight without packing on fat.

Whey protein as a body supplement

Whey protein provides the body with quality protein so as to aid in the repair and growth of muscle after a solid exercise program.

Best bodybuilding tip.

The most important bodybuilding tip to follow is to avoid overtraining. Overtraining is working out too many times per work or working out for durations that are excessive. Excessive is anything longer than one hour straight in duration. Also, it is also unwise to work out if you feel sick or are seemingly suffering from an injury so as not to aggravate the injury.

Now, many would say, If you don't work hard, you won't make any gains. Well, this is partially true. One of the most critical of all body building tips, however, is that not only must one work hard one must also work smart!

Conclusion

There is no body building muscle supplement that can provide any miracles. So avoid looking for them. Instead, look for those products that provide an honest and sensible result. Ultimately if you stick with legitimate products you will achieve the results that you desire. 

Bodybuilding Supplement Shopping Tips

Do you know that 60 million Americans spend 40 billion dollars on bodybuilding supplements, vitamins, herbs, and alternative remedies? Let's face it, when it comes to results, most bodybuilders, fitness buffs, and weight loss enthusiasts are rather impatient and want instant success.

This intense quest for fat burning muscle, and less body fat has lead to a bodybuilding supplement impulse buying frenzy. Many muscle building enthusiasts, who decided to turn away from anabolic steroids, are blindly experimenting with bodybuilding supplements as quick fix muscle building alternatives.

Once bodybuilding supplement marketers know how eager bodybuilders, and fitness buffs passionately desire quick muscle gain, they tend to market very intensely to this results hungry market. Beware - not everything you read in their advertising is true. As a matter of fact, most of their claims are not true. Just page through a muscle magazines. Look at all the claims. My goodness, they sound way too good to be true, don't they?

The fact is most bodybuilders, fitness buffs, and weight loss enthusiasts are so driven for results they tend to believe anything and everything they read. As a result of this costly behavior, I have listed five key points to consider before ever purchasing another bodybuilding supplement again. Consider this checklist below as a nutrition supplement consumer awareness guide that should be utilized prior to purchasing a bodybuilding, or dietary supplement.

1. Don't Buy From Word Of Mouth Or Advertising Claims - When looking at new bodybuilding supplements, don't believe what the advertisers are claiming. Do your due diligence first. Be pessimistic. Also, please be aware of your fellow fitness enthusiast wanting to help you develop bigger muscle, and lower your body fat by recommending specific weak potions they claim work. Don't believe the hype! A few minutes of research will tell the story. Don't be a follower.

It is important to know that some bodybuilding supplement companies own the magazines they promote. Thus, the articles within can be gently directed at promoting their own bodybuilding supplements.

While reading bodybuilding supplement ads, please read the fine print. If they are referring to a specific research study, investigate it further. It is well worth your time. Don't believe everything you read!

2. Check To See If The Bodybuilding Supplement Is Banned - It is important to check the IOC, NFL, and NCAA banned substance list to see if your intended gym supplement is banned by any of these. If so, they can possibly be considered dangerous, and would not be considered a good idea to use.

3. Think Safety - Is your muscle, or weight loss supplement safe? Why would you want to risk your health attempting to achieve faster results? Please consider the risk-to-benefit ratio for all products. Don't sacrifice your long term health in favor of adding three more pounds of muscle. Look for safety data on the particular supplement of interest. You should also ask your physician if there are any risks associated with a particular bodybuilding supplement.

4. Look For Scientific, Placebo-Controlled Research Studies - Do the studies refute or concur with the bodybuilding supplements claims? Have the research results been duplicated by other studies?

It is important to know nutritional dietary supplements are not required to undergo the same rigorous testing of pharmaceutical agents. This lack of regulation leads to the creation of worthless products back by far fetched claims, and funded by enormous marketing budgets.

It is recommended to look in well respected, peer-reviewed, scientific journals for the truth on bodybuilding supplements. You can find most well respected journals on the internet at PubMed, a resource brought to you by the National Library of Medicine.

5. Make Sure To Follow Recommended Doses - If the supplement is backed by numerous placebo-controlled studies, don't exceed the recommended dosages.

I remember one bodybuilder years ago taking upwards of forty amino acids each day. More may not be better, but possibly a risk on your long-term health.

It is also a good idea to discuss your bodybuilding supplement regimen with your physician. If you are taking prescription medications, certain nutritional supplements can interfere with the action of medications.

It is alright for bodybuilders, and fitness buff to want that quick fix, but not at the expense of long-term health. Most bodybuilding supplements claim to be the super miracle cure, but really are not. They are just expensive placebos that could possibly harm your health. Once again, to be a safe, smart consumer, follow the five nutritional supplement recommendations I have outlined above. You, your body, and your pocketbook all deserve the absolute truth.

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Body Building Supplements

It's unanimous according to my research and expert opinions, that body building supplements are a necessity. But, not because it replaces hard weight lifting workouts, but because of our hectic lifestyles. After all, they are not called 'supplements' for nothing.

Supplement means "more" or "in addition to". Body building supplements are not meant to replace workouts or meals, they are there to enhance our busy lifestyles. Consider an individual who only consumes 1500 calories per day and wants to do some body building. Knowing that one should consume at least 15 times his or her body weight in calories ( 150lbs X 15 = 2250 calories), he or she can't possibly do this without adding body building supplements.

Not only this, it makes it a lot easier to consume those 2500 calories every 2 -3 hours, or in six meals a day (i.e. a whey protein shake is about 432 calories, while a whey weight gain is about double the calories).

So adding body building supplements, is the key to achieving your calorie intake while eliminating the common excuse of "not enough time", by providing you with a quick solution to get the nutrients you need in body building.

Most experts agree and recommend generally five body building supplements, consisting of protein supplements(whey protein,meal replacements, weight gainers, and protein bars) creatine, glutamine, multi-vitamins, and essential fatty acids.

In this quick-paste lifestyle, the first body building supplement you just can't do without is whey protein. Let's face it, nobody has the time to plan and prepare six meals a day, so whey protein is your alternative to huge amounts of calories in one meal.

The next most important body building supplement, has got to be creatine monohydrate. 'Creatine' as is commonly known, supplies your muscles with energy, and also increases your strenght alowing you to lift heavier weights.

Glutamine is also a very important body building supplement, because it is an amino acid that is produced by our bodies. But most of the time, our bodies demand more than it can produce because of our high activity lifestyle. So you should supplement with glutamine to increase your glutathione levels, a powerful antioxidant.

Multi-vitamines are a body building supplement that are also necessary to body building, because when you train, your body's need for many minerals increases such as in magnesium and selenium. The multi-vitamin ensuresnthat you are not deficient in all of these areas.

Finally, the next most important body building supplement is, essential fatty acids (omega 3). The best source of omega-3 fatty acids is of course flax seed because it enhances insulin sensitivity within muscle cells.

It stands to reason, that you don't have to use all of these body building supplements in body building. These are just the suggestions by body building experts. As an example, if your a regular fish eater, you might be getting enough omega-3. In any event since most body building pros use these body building supplements, then there's no reason why you shouldn't copy if you are serious about body building.

Do You Really Need Bodybuilding Supplements?

If bodybuilding is an interest that you are beginning to take seriously, you have probably wondered if supplements are a good choice for you. With so many products on the market to choose from, all promising the ripped physique you are working hard to achieve, how can you know which ones are legitimate and which are hype?

Here are some basics of bodybuilding supplements for you to familiarize yourself with, and help you with the decision if supplements are among the tools you need to meet your bodybuilding goals.

Supplement or No Supplement?

It's a controversial issue for most bodybuilders today. Some hardliners believe that the only way to train is to avoid supplements and instead stick with dietary choices that provide desired results naturally. And of course there is that school of bodybuilders who insist that supplements are the one and only way to burn fat and achieve increased muscle mass quickly.

Once you begin to enter the competitive ring, you can be sure that your competitors will be using any substance that is legal for that competition. If you decide to avoid using bodybuilding supplementation, you will still be competing with bodybuilders who are using substances such as creatine, protein and glutamine. If your goal is to simply buff up, bodybuilding supplements might help you reach your preferred physique faster. Before taking in any type of supplement, however, consult your doctor as there are side effects and risks involved.

What Supplements CAN Do

There is a range of benefits that can be attained from bodybuilding supplements, at least for the most serious bodybuilding enthusiast. Amino acids, the building blocks of muscle, also make up the base of protein. A protein supplement boosts muscle growth, but there are different proteins and varying needs. Creatine provides muscles with extra energy, improving the power in your workouts.

During muscle growth, Glutamine is used to improve muscle recovery. With the multitude of supplements available, you will do yourself a great service to learn all you can about the benefits of each one to find the best product for your needs.

What Supplements CAN'T Do

Bodybuilding supplements can help you reach your fitness target, but they are only a small part of the process. Supplements will increase the effectiveness of your workouts, but they will not replace them. Serious, successful weightlifters live by a low fat, high protein diet to achieve a ripped, strong body. Bodybuilding supplements only speed up the process; you must put in the work to achieve the best results.

Bodybuilding Supplements and Digestive Enzymes

Bodybuilding is necessary for the heavyweight lifters and body builders. So mostly they are the buyers of Bodybuilding supplements. Other than them, the people who want to low down their body fats are also the users of the Body Building Supplements. These not only helps in building our body but also aid in improving the performance of the body. There are two types of Body building Supplements- the exercise supplements and the dietary supplements. Dietary Supplements contain amino acids and other nutrients those are required to build a body. Exercise Supplements are those that help to increase the nutrient level of the body. Now a days the players commonly used creatine as bodybuilding Supplements since this product provides them instantaneous strength and saturate their muscles in such a way that they can perform in a higher level without getting weak.

Digestive Enzymes present in Bodybuilding Supplements

Body Building Supplements mostly include egg, meat, milk and milk products and soy proteins. The supplements when taken regularly help in bodybuilding by promoting tissue growth. After the vigorous activities of exercises intake is very important. Enzymes are one of the main components that are present in the bodybuilding supplements. In order to digest and absorb food Enzymes play the prime role. The digestive Enzymes secreted in our alimentary canal break down carbohydrates and lipids of the food. The enzymes can be secreted from the digestive glands as well as from the hormones. The digestive glands of our body are pancreas, liver and small and large intestine.

Proper Dose of Bodybuilding Supplements

Before using the Body Building supplements doctors should be consulted for necessary advice since these might not suit all individual's body type. In cases of malnutrition ions and whenever there is problem with absorption of digested foods, the body building supplements are often used. They are present in all the food products, especially in fruits and vegetables. When food is prepared at very high and low temperatures the bodybuilding supplements present in the food material are destroyed. So it should be kept in mind before cooking food that the food should be cooked in such a manner that the vitamins and mineral content of the food retained its original value. The other things to be noticed are the intake of them in proper quantity as per the instruction of the doctor and trainer. Researches are going on to make body building supplements which are best for future use.

Bodybuilding Supplements and Creatine Fact Guide

Bodybuilding supplements are the substances that help in the growth of the muscle and especially used by athletes and weight trainers. Creatine is also used as body building supplements. Creatine is the organic acid which occurs naturally in the body and supplies energy to the muscles. In case of short burst of energy like lifting weights creatine is very effective in providing energy. Researches have proved that creatine helps in proper functioning of brain and reduces mental tiredness. Creatine helps in drawing water into the muscle cells and thus makes them larger, which is also called cell volumization. It is thought that creatine causes bloating or water retention inside the cell. Thus creatine is the key factor in intracellular water retention.

The natural sources for creatine are kidney meat, red meat, offal etc. Creatine are commercially sold in various forms like creatine ethyl ester, creatine monohydrate, creatine malate etc. each forms varies from other in prices as well as in required doses. Over use of creatine can have stressful effects on kidneys and can have really harmful consequences.

Various types of Creatine Facts

Fact 1 is the most popular body building supplement to maintain fitness and for building the body muscles. This supplement enhances anaerobic performances.

Fact 2 is the monohydrate form of creatine, which acts as a precursor to phosphocreatine. This is an organic compound present in muscle tissue. The creatine monohydrate aids in storing energy and providing the energy whenever muscular contraction is needed. This supplement enhances phosphocreatine levels in muscles, which helps the muscle to work more as they act as energy reservoir.

Fact 3 is also creatine monohydrate , which acts as a energy reservoir of the muscle cells. This is an odorless white-colored crystalline powder, which appears colorless and clear in solution.

Fact 4 supplies energy to the skeletal muscles. Approximately ninety five percent energy of body is supplied from skeletal muscles. The remaining five percent of body energy is scattered to the muscles of other part. The greater part of this energy is concentrated in the brain, heart and testes. A skeletal muscle can not produce creatine but can utilize the creatine generated in kidneys and liver.

Whenever dietary consumption of creatine is less in that of your body, a limited supply of creatine is possible by the intake of body building supplements.

Using Bodybuilding Supplements To Build Muscle Mass!

OK, first let's get something straight here...

If you think that buying a shake or taking a few pills will all of a sudden make you huge, then you are mistaken.

No supplement will help you if you are not training and dieting correctly -- they will just give you very expensive urine. All aspects of your program have to be in order for you to get the maximum benefit from sports nutrition supplements. From my experience, supplements enhance your program by:

1. Adding an element of convenience: Using food supplements like Meal Replacement Powders and whey protein help to eliminate the common problem of 'not enough time', by providing you with an quick efficient way to get your required nutrients each day.

2. Increasing strength and decreasing recovery time: Using vitamin and amino acid supplements help to minimize the negative side effects of weight training and speed your recovery.

The Benefit of Convenience

There are many 'old school' trainers and bodybuilders who profess the uselessness of supplements. They are constantly preaching that they don't work, and that you don't need them. Well, to tell you the truth they are correct, somewhat. Remember that not too long ago there were no supplements. Bodybuilders built huge physiques without meal replacement powders, creatine or prohormones.

There was no such thing as exercise 'machines'. They used multi-jointed, compound free weight exercises that not only increased their muscular size, but also make them incredibly strong. So, if you look at that way it can be done and you don't need any supplements. However, the decision whether or not to use supplements should involve the consideration of other factors that may come into play when speaking of dieting today. The first of which is time.

Many people today just do not have the time to live, eat and breathe food. Very few people like to cook, and even fewer cook on a regular basis. When was the last time that you actually had six meals that you actually cooked yourself? Many of those who are against dietary supplements continue to preach that you should get all the nutrients that you need from your diet. 'Eat a balanced diet and you will get all the nutrition you need'. Well, 100 years ago that may have been true, but today this type of advice is questionable.

The fact is, most people's idea of a good meal is restaurant or (even worse) fast food. To ask someone to eat specific amounts of protein, fat and carbs seems like an impossible request considering that most people can't even get their minimum requirements of good fat or fiber. Experts will continue to spout 'eat a balanced diet,' while Americans feast on nutritionless fast food and sugar. Not only do our bodies have to deal with the ever-increasing external stresses of everyday life, they also have to combat nutrient-depleting, tissue damaging exercise.

If I did not have the option to supplement my diet with whey protein, I probably would not have gained as much weight as I have. Now, I'm not saying that the whey protein is why I gained weight, but it did help me a great deal.

I am usually very busy and I just don't have the time, nor the desire to eat six, planned whole food meals per day. Supplements like meal replacement powders and whey protein fill in this gap for me.

I typically have three real food meals and three protein supplement meals -- that makes up my required six meals each day. When I'm away from home, or not able to get an adequate meal, my MRP is always right there when I need it. It gives me a quantifiable amount of protein so that I can keep track of my nutrient intake. In my opinion, this is much better than just grabbing something and then trying to guess at how much protein, fat or carbs you just ate. Getting in all of your required meals and nutrient amounts is crucial to your success.

My mass diet requires a very high daily protein intake -- Over 300g per day. Just to give you example of how much that is, here are some examples of what 300g of protein is equal to:

Tuna -- 50 oz of canned tuna (the average can is 6-8oz.), which is 1,750 calories and 25g of fat

Chicken -- 38 oz of chx breast (equals about seven 6oz breasts), which is 1,313 calories and 38g of saturated fat

Beef -- 43 oz of lean ground beef (about 2.7 pounds of meat), which is 3,214 calories and 215g of saturated fat

Eggs -- 50 large whole eggs, equals 3,750 calories and 250g of saturated fat

Egg whites -- 100 egg whites, equals 1,600 calories and almost no fat

Pure whey protein -- 15 scoops of EAS Precision Protein, equals 1,500 calories 7.5g of saturated fat

It is very possible to get this amount from eating whole foods only -- But it will take work. Also, as you can see from the above numbers, getting all of your protein from regular food will also bring a lot of unnecessary elements like extra saturated fat. Yes, our goal to gain mass is to eat a lot of calories (including fat), but your main fat intake should consist of unsaturated fats that are liquid at room temperature like olive oil, flaxseed oil, sunflower oil and safflower oil. Whey protein supplements will help to give you the extra protein without the fat.

Increased Strength and Decreased Recovery

In addition to a whey protein supplement, I recommend that everyone should be taking a multi-vitamin, plenty of vitamin C, and glutamine. Creatine can also be added if you are over 18.

Multi-Vitamin

Weight training increases the body's need for many minerals like magnesium and selenium. The multi-vitamin ensures that I am not deficient in any major essential vitamin or mineral. Deficiency symptoms include muscle weakness and suppression of the immune system, muscle cramping and fatigue.

I always take a multi-vitamin without iron, because grown men do not need additional iron. We get enough from our food. Men and postmenopausal women should never take iron supplements unless they have iron-deficiency anemia, which is only diagnosed by blood tests. The body has no way to eliminate excess iron except through blood loss. Women who menstruate are protected from iron overload, obviously. Iron is also an oxidizing agent that can cause damage to the heart and arteries, and is a major risk factor in arteriosclerosis.

Vitamin C

Vitamin C essential to prevent free radical damage, which is accelerated after the heavy trauma of weight training. It is also essential is helping to repair connective tissue which helps decrease the amount of time you are sore. I train very heavy and extremely hard. When I train my legs, I am usually sore for about 5-6 days afterwards.

If I do not supplement my diet with vitamin C, I would normally be sore for almost 10 days! So, it really helps me to recover and get back to training. I typically take around 3,000mg in divided doses. That would equal quite a few oranges!

Glutamine

Glutamine is an amino acid that is produced by our bodies, but most of the time our bodies demand so much, that it can't create enough. I supplement my diet with glutamine to increase my levels of glutathione. Glutathione is a powerful antioxidant, which helps to combat the stresses of exercise trauma, and prevent muscle protein breakdown.

I especially believe that it helps prevent my body from breaking down my new muscle while I am asleep, so I never go to bed without taking it. I take about 15g per day (in divided doses), which would be impossible to get naturally.

Creatine Monohydrate

Creatine's purpose is to supply our muscle with energy. It is also found in red meat, but you would have to eat an enormous amount of meat to get the same benefits as taking pure creatine powder. Everyone knows about creatine so I will not go into it here, but I do want to say that the major benefit from taking creatine is that it will increase your strength.

This will enable you to lift heavier weights, which will stimulate more muscle growth. Many people make a big fuss over the muscle volumizing effects of creatine, because if you stop taking it, you lose that extra fluid that creatine brings into your cells. So what! You certainly DO NOT lose the extra muscle creatine helped you to gain.

I can honestly say that I could not have built the body I have today without the convenience and enhancements supplements provide. I simply don't have the time or desire to do it any other way. This is a choice that you must decide for yourself. You will be spending your money on these products, so make sure that you know their place in your program.

Don't get caught up in product hype. Supplements will help, but they will NOT do the work for you.

The Side Effects of Bodybuilding Supplements

Many body builders turn to discount bodybuilding supplements in order to achieve more noticeable results in a shorter amount of time. In addition, supplements can help to maintain energy levels so that workouts can be longer and more effective. However, both brand name and discount supplements can cause side effects, which should be considered before starting a supplement regimen.

One of the most popular bodybuilding supplements is creatine. Creatine monohydrate is used to increase muscle fullness and body mass. It also helps in shortening the recovery time after an intense workout. Creatine can cause your muscles to retain water, which can lead to dehydration in some people. Also, there might be up to a five pound weight gain during the first week. There are no major known side effects of taking creatine, but some people experience gas, bloating or diarrhea during the first few weeks of use.

Glutamine is taken by those who are doing frequent intense workouts. It is an amino acid that occurs naturally in your muscles, and it also works to help maintain your immune system. It can become depleted through diet or hard workouts, and a supplement can help to keep up immune response. There have been no reported side effects.

Andro supplements have received a lot of negative press as androstenedione is banned at the Olympics. However, andro supplements are not illegal and many believe they help build muscle mass and strength. Andro supplements cause an increase in female sex hormones. When taken by men, it can cause breast growth as well as a decreased sex drive. It also increases the risk of heart disease.

Caffeine is used to burn fat in a way that discourages fatigue. It can increase concentration and some feel it helps with motivation. It also has an effect on muscle contraction. It can be easy to take too much caffeine because many people also drink soda, coffee, or eat chocolate while taking the supplements. If too much caffeine is consumed, side effects include heart palpitations, nervousness, irritability, dehydration and diarrhea.

As with any type of medication or vitamin, you should make yourself aware of the possible side effects of the drug to determine whether the benefits of taking it outweigh any negative outcomes. While many supplements do not have any side effects, some have side effects which should make you think twice before purchasing them. All it takes is a little bit of research and you should be able to take supplements without having to worry about any unwanted results.

Bodybuilding Supplements of Digestive Enzymes

Enzymes, like those found in bodybuilding supplements are simple or conjugated proteins synthesized by all kinds of living organisms, animals as well as plants. They act like biochemical catalysts that facilitate and accelerate biochemical reactions taking place inside our body. Enzymes that aid the process of digestion and the consequent absorption of nutrients from food are called digestive enzymes. You may be including the most nutritive foods in your diet, but unless your body is able to actually absorb all the nutrients present in the food, you are not going to benefit fully from your diet. That's where the role of digestive enzymes arises, especially if you are engaged in the sport of bodybuilding and are using natural bodybuilding supplements, then consider including digestive enzymes too in your bodybuilding supplements kit.

Digestive enzymes are enzymes that help break down proteins, carbohydrates and fats in the food into a form that can be readily absorbed by the body for growth and carrying out various functions. They are secreted by various glands present in the gastrointestinal tract (alimentary canal) and by accessory digestive system organs e.g., salivary glands in the mouth, glands in the stomach and small intestine, pancreas, liver, duodenum, etc.

Digestive enzymes secreted by different glands perform different functions but broadly speaking fall into one of the following three categories: amylases, proteases and lipases, which are enzymes that help the digestion of carbohydrates, proteins and fats, respectively. For example, ptyalin secreted by the salivary glands initiates the breakdown of starches into simple sugars like maltose and dextrin; pepsin, the main gastric enzyme, helps break down proteins into smaller peptides; trypsin produced in the pancreas breaks down peptides into smaller fragments, which are further split into individual amino acids by the enzyme carboxypeptidase, and so on and so forth. A number of enzymes (e.g., sucrase, lactase, maltase, intestinal lipase) are produced in the small intestine too that break down disaccharides into monosaccharides (simplest forms of sugar like glucose and fructose) for absorption.

Though digestive enzymes are absolutely vital for anyone to stay in good health, they can lend special benefits to sportspersons engaged in bodybuilding. As mentioned earlier, the best of diets can become futile in the absence of sufficient amounts of digestive enzymes. Production of digestive enzymes starts declining not only with age, illness and poor eating habits, but also when the body is under extreme physical stress, as during bodybuilding exercises. On top of it, when one is seriously into heavy sports like bodybuilding, the diet is much more heavily loaded with proteins compared to a normal person's diet, putting excessive strain on the digestive system. Supplementing the diet with natural digestive enzymes helps proper digestion of the extra proteins and their efficient absorption to build the required muscle mass. In the absence of adequate digestive enzymes, a high-protein diet can give rise to indigestion problems such as acidity and flatulence.

The right way to take them is important. Digestive enzymes deficiency can lead to mal-absorption of essential nutrients from the foods we eat, leading to a host of diseases related to poor digestion and deficiency of nutrients. The best way to ensure that digestive enzymes requirements are adequately met, apart from taking in natural bodybuilding supplements, is to adopt the right eating habits. These include consuming enzyme-active plant foods like fruits, vegetables and sprouts, preferably in raw form, cooking the food rightly (high-temperature methods like frying completely destroy the activity of the enzymes present in foods), and chewing the food thoroughly to allow the digestive enzymes in the saliva to mix with the food. And if you are a bodybuilder, or otherwise enzyme-deficient for some reason, taking digestive enzyme enriched bodybuilding supplements at mealtime is the answer. A variety of digestive enzymes are available on-line too.

Best Legal Bodybuilding Supplements

A large number of body building supplements are now available in the market targeting the people involved in bodybuilding activities. These substances are meant to accelerate the process of muscle mass increase in human beings. While some of these products are safe to be used by all, some others are found to be adverse to the health of the user. So it is always important to select a safe and legally approved bodybuilding supplement from among the large number of muscle mass increasing aids.

The components of products that a bodybuilder normally use for the purpose of increasing the lien muscle mass in the body include protein, Creatine, Glutamine and branched chain of amino acids. The other supplements that are commonly used by these people include meal replacement products, testosterone boosters, thermogenic products, and products that contain prohormones.

All these products, if not added with steroids are found to be used safely by a person involved in bodybuilding activity. The best legal body building supplements are the products that contain only legally permissible bodybuilding components in it. Finding the best legal bodybuilding supplement from among the vast variety of products now available in the market requires some knowledge about the positives of the different components used in each of these products.

It is always better to make an attempt to understand the use of each the component used in a drug by enquiring the details and the role of them in increasing the muscle mass. It will help you to find out the best legal bodybuilding supplement in the market. To be the best legal bodybuilding supplement it should contain components that can help you to gain size by increasing the lien muscles in the body. Make sure that the product in your hand is made of such things.

The best legal bodybuilding supplement will not use harmful chemicals such as steroids in it. These chemical based drugs are banned completely in natural bodybuilding competitions.

The Best legal body building supplements are the drugs that contain components such as whey protein, casein protein, soy protein, egg white protein, glutamine, amino acids etc. Use of these natural muscle mass boosters will help you to gain muscle mass without risking your health. The other supplements that you can use without worrying about the complications include meal replacement products and prohormones. Meal replacement products are the pre-packaged drink mixes that can replace your regular meals.

Bodybuilding Supplements and Protein

Athletes who are engaged in weight training or in the sports, which are requires the building of muscle mass uses these bodybuilding supplements. Bodybuilding supplements on usual manner are used by athletes. Sometimes, supplements helps in meliorating the performance in sports. They are also proved to be helpful in improving the level of convalescence from events as well as training.

Significance of Body building Supplements with protein

The bodybuilders require to intake more protein supplements than any average human being. The reason behind this is that, bodybuilders do workouts, which demands more metabolism. At the time of workouts our body experiences an increase in the consumption of amino acids as they are important for the production of oxidative energy. At the time of workouts if the protein in a large amount are broken down and simultaneously not supplanted, one can develop a negative amino acid balance. This will effect in falling back of the body at the time of hard work. In order to compensate these negative effects one needs to gain bodyweight of 1-2 grams per pound in the assemblage of protein supplement as well as foods.

Content of Protein Supplements

Protein Supplements are made of amino acids, which are considered as the primary units of muscle. One can not build muscle without having protein. For bodybuilding one needs to have fat, carbohydrates along with protein. Whey, soy, egg and casein are the commonest Protein supplements amongst the bodybuilders and athletes.

Whey Protein: Whey Protein contains all the amino acids that are essential at their high level. On usual manner the human body does not produce them originally. The body immerses this protein very promptly.

Casein Protein: This type of protein is also known as Milk Protein. Casein Protein is enriched with glutamine. This protein helps in fast recovery. It also has casomorphin. It helps in absorbing the amino acids across a long time.

Soy Protein: Soy Protein is comprised with all essential amino acids. For the vegetarians Soy Protein has been considered as the alternative protein. Isoflavones, a type of phytoestrogen is also present in Soy protein.

Egg: The white portion of egg contains lactose- and dairy-free protein. It works also as the most effective protein supplement and is extremely beneficial for health of the young and old alike.

Blended Proteins: Acombination of Whey Protein, Soy Protein, Casein Protein, egg protein altogether is known as Blended protein.

Ingredients of Bodybuilding Supplements

With the number of discount bodybuilding supplements available to the public now, it can be confusing to know which supplements are the best for your particular goals. One way to help choose a supplement is by considering the ingredients.

Creatine is a common ingredient found in discount supplements. It exists naturally in your body and can be found in foods such as tuna and red meat. However, you can’t get the creatine amounts you need simply by eating more of these foods, because they are also high in saturated fats. Creatine based products help give your muscles energy. It is especially effective in providing energy for muscle movements that are quick, making it ideal to help increase the efficiency of your workouts. If you have just started taking creatine, you will notice that it helps you put on weight rapidly, especially during the first month.

L-Glutamine is another popular ingredient in bodybuilding supplements. Glutamine is a naturally occurring amino acid found in your muscles. During training, glutamine levels drop dramatically, and it can take almost a week for them to return to the levels that they were prior to the workout. L-Glutamine supplements work to stop this depletion. Glutamine also plays a role in maintaining the immune system and the health of the small intestine. Because it is so often depleted by bodybuilders, they are more susceptible to illness. Taking a glutamine supplement can not only help maintain muscle mass, but can also help to keep you healthy.

Ribose is another naturally occurring ingredient that helps with muscle energy. Supplementing with ribose will help you recover quicker from intense workouts, allowing you the opportunity to make rapid improvement. Ribose is taken in large doses initially in a process called “loading.”

These are only a few of the active ingredients that you might find in supplements. Most supplements also have some sort of flavoring that makes them more pleasant to take. When selecting a supplement, you will need to do a careful evaluation of what you are hoping to gain by taking it. You should investigate whether the particular ingredients bring with them any side effects and determine whether the benefits outweigh any negatives. Many gyms or body building associations have trainers who can provide guidance on which are the best supplements to take. With a little bit of research, you should be on your way to increased muscle mass and optimal performance.

Supplements - A Guide To Buying Bodybuilding Supplements

Have you ever found yourself staring at a huge assortment of products and do not really know what you need?

This exact thing can occur when you are shopping for bodybuilding supplements. Knowing what your goals are and what you need can be very difficult for beginners --even the pros may find themselves sorting through dozens of products before they find the one that works for them.

The good news is that you can make this process less painful by simply shopping at the right kind of website. Look for a site that offers more than a few products -- you want a site that offers a wide variety of supplements and related products. Wait a minute here!!! We just say that lots of products causes confusion.

Yes, It does cause confusion, but the solution is to find a supplement site that is interactive. Interactive in this context means that you want to find a quality site that offers product reviews and ratings. Ideally the site will allow customers to interact and provide their own reviews of the supplements. Having access to customer generated reviews can be extremely valuable feedback for the potential customer.

An interactive site allows the customers themselves to review and let others know what works and what does not. An added bonus is that you yourself can return and offer your own product reviews as well. Over time this process can help build a comprehensive knowledge base on the various supplements out there.

Got an idea of what your bodybuilding goals are? Well another thing to look for is the capability to sort through the supplements based on your goals. You can only do this on a quality,well maintained site that has specifically incorporated this feature.

Are you looking for the best selling or top supplements...once again find a website that has already found these products for you. Answers to questions such as what is the best protein source or which supplement has the best reviews can help you tremendously.

Suppose you do get a product and you are not really sure about how to use it in a way that offers you the biggest benefits. Perhaps you need access to additional information after the purchase. Once again, look for an interactive site that supplies added resources. Articles and videos can provide a wealth of information. In some cases these are free...learn to use them.

You will continue to use products that work for you so look for a source that continually supports your business.The key to buying supplements is to look for a website that establishes itself as a centralized hub that offers not just products, but additional material and resources.

Are Bodybuilding Supplements Really Necessary?

Bodybuilding supplements generally fall under the classification of dietary supplements, therefore they are not regulated by the FDA. There is absolutely nothing guaranteeing the purity of body building supplements, or the safety of using them. In addition, the manufacturer can claim benefits of the product that have not been tested or proven.

Another question surrounding bodybuilding supplements is whether or not they are even necessary to achieve the desired results. Many people are actually overtraining, spending hours at the gym too many days per week. When they find that they aren’t putting on any size, or making any progress at all for that matter, they turn to bodybuilding supplements to add the muscle. Instead they should focus on shorter, high intensity sessions less frequently. Chances are, by allowing your body enough time to recover and the muscles to grow, you won’t even need bodybuilding supplements.

If you have tried modifications to your routine and to your diet and nothing seems to work, you will find yourself faced with the decision of whether to use a supplement. Keep in mind that there can be side effects and you should be aware of all of the ingredients and their specific purpose. It can’t be a bad idea to check with your doctor about the kind of supplement you are considering. This could help you avoid a lot of problems right off the bat. Choosing your bodybuilding supplements wisely by educating yourself on all aspects of it will be a great benefit to your overall health in the long run.

How Bodybuilding Supplements With L-Arginine Can Enhance Your Muscle Growth

There's been a lot of talk lately about the natural bodybuilding supplement called L-Arginine. So many bodybuilding supplements are out there being marketed as indispensable to achieving the perfect body that one must stop and investigate the different effects and benefits of these supplements and find out whether they're on the money or just all hype. L-Arginine is fast proving itself as one of the good guys, especially since it's a natural bodybuilding supplement and gives a lot of benefits, not only to bodybuilders and athletes, but to people of all ages.

L-Arginine is an amino acid, which are the building blocks for protein. This particular amino acid actually promotes muscle growth and increases protein synthesis at the crucial moments after strenuous exercise. This is the reason why L-Arginine is currently the supplement of choice for bodybuilders and athletes. L-Arginine is actually one of two forms of arginine, whose molecules rotate to the left, and is found to be agreeable with our natural biochemistry.

Arginine is often referred to as a "semi essential" amino acid, not because it is only somewhat important but rather that the body doesn't produce its own supply of arginine naturally. To elaborate, amino acids that the body produces are called "non-essential," because it's not essential for you to look for external sources and ingest them. But when an amino acid is semi-essential or "non-essential," it means you must consume food and drink that are rich in that particular amino acid or take supplements in powder or tablet form.

Arginine is found in large amounts in nuts, particularly cashews, almonds, walnuts, pecans, Brazil nuts, hazel nuts, peanuts and coconuts, in pumpkin, sunflower and sesame seeds, in dairy products such as cheese and dry milk, in wheat germ and flour, granola, buckwheat, oatmeal, and chocolate. It can also be found in beef, pork, poultry and seafood, however it is not advisable to get your arginine through meat protein as you will need bigger amounts of meat protein to achieve the required levels of needed arginine, and these large amounts of protein is not good for your liver and kidneys. Additionally, bodybuilders who are trying to build muscle will not want to gain extra weight, as protein-rich food is also high in fat.

Interestingly, studies show that undigested or "free" amino acids that are absorbed by the blood without first being digested by the stomach are the most effective, which is why arginine is more popularly taken as a bodybuilding supplement, in powder form.

Amino acids are known to prevent or retard heart disease, enhance memory, treat depression, contribute to better sleep and stress management, and are good anti-aging catalysts. Arginine, in particular, aside from its protein synthesis and muscle enhancement skills, builds the immune system and speeds up the repair and recovery of injuries, controls free radicals, supports healthy cholesterol and aids in fat metabolism. Breaking down arginine produces nitric oxide, which promotes optimal blood circulation, which is popular with bodybuilders as good blood circulation ensures the speedy distribution of nutrients to the muscles.

Other quite important functions of arginine are its capacity to secrete hormones, and to release the Human Growth Hormone. Its capability to transport, retain and manage nitrogen helps regulate the amount of salt in the body, also valued by bodybuilders who would rather not be bloated when they need to flex and show off their muscles. Arginine is also used to promote sexual potency and fertility. It is also used in therapeutic management of diseases such as Alzheimer's, many kinds of cancer, liver disorders and arthritis.

However, despite all the amazing benefits of arginine, one must be careful not to overdose on it, which may be quite easy when ingested as a bodybuilding supplement, and due to the fact that the RDA has not yet established a recommended daily allowance for arginine. What experienced bodybuilders do is what is known as "tolerance mapping." You consume a particular amount of the natural bodybuilding supplement and study the effects it has on your body for a week. A week later, you increase or decrease your intake and study the changes, and determine whether these changed effects are helpful or harmful.

This may take a while and is largely a hit and miss method, but quite advisable as our bodies are not built of the same biochemistries and correct dosages will vary per person. Caution should always be employed when taking any bodybuilding supplement, and although arginine is one of the good guys, caution works here, too.

Bodybuilding Supplements Misconceptions

Bodybuilding supplements are used as add-ons in the bodybuilding process of a bodybuilder. They are used for fast muscle growth and to reduce the recovery time after an intense workout. They are also used for making workouts more effective and beneficial for the bodybuilder. But besides these useful facts, there are several misconceptions related to these bodybuilding supplements People think that bodybuilding supplements are not safe and are dangerous. But the fact is that they are not at all dangerous if taken in correct dosage. These supplements should be taken in prescribed dosages otherwise the side effects of these supplements would harm the body in many ways and can even cause death to its user.

Another misconception that is taken over by most of the people is that bodybuilding supplements are illegal. It is true that some organizations like Olympics or FIFA have banned the usage of these supplements so that there would be no partiality with other athletes. But globally these supplements are free to use unless the government of a country have banned their usage. These supplements are available at stores and a person can even buy them online. So there is no chance of having them illegal. Furthermore, people believe that bodybuilding supplements would work without any workout and proper nutritional diet. But this is totally false. These supplements do not work without a rigorous workout along with a natural nutritional diet of fruits and salads.

If a person is not working out and is only taking bodybuilding supplements as his diet then they would be of no use and hence the body would become bulky containing lots of fats. The muscle growth of the body would not occur and the person would become unfit and unhealthy. So, proper exercise and diet are very essential for the effective usage of these supplements Besides these facts there are several side effects of these supplements that need to be discussed. Over usage of these supplements leads to various side effects like heart attacks, cancer, loss of memory and so on. Some of the side effects are so severe that they can even take the life of the user. So these supplements should not be over used and must be prescribed by a physician before their usage.

Bodybuilding Supplements Facts

Bodybuilding supplements are nowadays becoming more and more common among the people especially the youth. Every single male feels complex if another person comes in front of him having more bulky muscles than himself. So in order to compete in the race of looking good, every person these days is trying to build muscle mass on his body. This too is done by the shortest possible way by them by adopting these bodybuilding supplements. These supplements carry out the basic function of building muscle mass of a person's body, reduce the time to recover after an intense workout and increase the time period for which a person's body can tolerate the intensity of a particular workout session. These bodybuilding supplements are very useful if used in a controlled manner. However these supplements are associated to many myths which must be cleared by telling the actual facts.

The most common myth that people come across about these supplements is that these products are dangerous. But the fact is that these are not at all dangerous if taken in proper and controlled dosage. But if they taken in excess then they may cause damage to various systems of our body and can even cause death of the user also. Some people also think that these supplements are illegal. But the fact is that these products are not at all illegal but for some organizations like the Olympics, FIFA, ICC etc they are illegal. These organizations do not want any discrimination among the athletes. As a result of this, they have banned the usage of any kind of supplements. If they were illegal by the government then they would not have been selling openly on the internet and the common market.

Another common disbelief about these supplements is that these products would help a person to build his body without working out. But the fact is that these supplements provide the body with essential fats. Without workout, the body would accumulate fats inside it and the person would only become fat with them and the body of that person would get out of shape. So a rigorous exercise schedule is necessary along with the usage of these bodybuilding supplements. Similarly there are many myths and disbeliefs that are associated with these bodybuilding supplements. People must be aware of all the facts about these products before actually using them.

Bodybuilding Supplements and Amino Acid

Athletes who are engaged in weight training or in the sports, which are requires the building of muscle mass uses these bodybuilding supplements. These on usual manner are used by athletes. Sometimes, supplements helps in meliorating the performance in sports. They are also proved to be helpful in improving the level of convalescence from events as well as training.

Amino Acid Supplements

Amino acid supplements are considered as another most significant supplements necessary for bodybuilding. In science the Amino acids most popularly are known as the "building blocks" of the body. In an actual sense they functions as the molecular units that contains proteins. Now these proteins can be of 20 specific amino acid by nature. The functioning of them includes the configuration of antibodies. On usual manner these antibodies fights against bacteria and viruses. It also helps in constructing of nucleoproteins. The operation of them also includes building up cells and renovation of tissues. It also acts as the transportation system in the whole body of Oxygen. Another most important function of Amino Acid is that is participates in the activities of body muscles. In the hormonal and enzyme system of the body also, it plays crucial roles. These are the core reason behind the Amino acid being the essential supplement of body as well as bodybuilding.

Amino Acid supplement products

There are many Amino acid supplements available in the market. Amongst them top 5 products are as follows:

ISS Research Complete Amino 2200: Particularly meant for the bodybuilders. This product enriched with amino acid helps in developing muscle tissue, fast recovery and obviously in growth.

SciVation Xtend: Xtend has been considered as the scientific blend of aminos, which helps in generating energy. This blend contains established ratio of a chain comprised of amino acids, glutamine, citrulline malate and vitamin B6. This branched chain helps in generating energy as well as quick recovery.

Universal Animal Nitro: This product contains the perfect ratio of them depending upon the human muscle protein. That is why this Animal Nitro has been considered as the first as well as the only amino acid supplements beneficial for bodybuilding. It is also known as Human Muscle Protein complex.

Optimum Amino 2222 Softgels: Optimum Amino 2222 Softgels gives 2,000 miligrams amino acid of high quality.

For human beings there are 20 standard Amino acids, which are considered as essentials. These are Lysine, Valine, isoleucine, leucine, threonine, methionine, phenylalanine and tryptophan.

Bodybuilding Supplements And Your Gene Type

Bodybuilding supplements are the same for everyone right? Think again. If you have ever had a recommendation from a friend or acquaintance of yours about certain supplements that you should try or a food that is full of certain vitamins and minerals that might have a desirable effect on you and tried it just to find that the effects were not what you thought they would be, you are not alone. No, it is not because this person gave you bad advice. No, it isn't because this supplement doesn't really work...it could be your fault, or at least the fault of your forefathers.

Believe it or not, studies have shown that people really do react to the same food and the same supplement different from one another for a reason, and this reason has all to do with gene type. Depending on who you are and the actual makeup of your genes, you may digest food and react to a supplement different than the next guy. Not only is it a part of life, but it is a part of your genetic makeup.

The art of nutrigenomics is studying the discrepancies between different people and the way they react to things like food and supplements, based on their genetic makeup. The fact that genes can influence the way that you metabolize certain things is the result of scientific research, and it is possible to be tested to find out how your body reacts to certain foods and possibly even do something about it. While you can't necessarily change the makeup of your genes, it is possible to alter your supplementation and diet if necessary to work in accordance with your genetic makeup.

The study of nutrigenomics and the different laboratory testing facilities out there are all set to search for the little clues to your health, the ones that are found in your genes. Finding a certain gene or lack thereof in your body may be the clue to helping you achieve better health.

Your gene type is something you were born with and something you will die with. If gene types could be altered, cancer genes would be removed and so would other less desirable genetic traits. This is one that you are going to have to live with. Luckily, the science of nutrigenomics provides scientists and athletes with the keys that they need to be sure that things like natural bodybuilding supplements are not being wasted, that one's genetic type is engineered to be responsive to such a thing.

The next time you are looking into bodybuilding supplements, vitamins, or an extremely healthy food that you are looking to do wonders for you, consider the fact that it could be your gene type if things are not going the way that you planned.

Bodybuilding Supplements and the Right Mindset

Deciding to get into bodybuilding with or without taking bodybuilding supplements is a monumental decision, and one that can easily affect the rest of your life-for the good. If you combine it with the right kind of diet and adequate mindset, bodybuilding can be fun and relaxing, and work very well for helping people change their lives and put them on the right track to physical health.

Whether you have joined a gym or decided to work out at home, there are many different things that can hold you back from your bodybuilding goals, so keep in mind that no matter how many bodybuilding supplements you have or how often you work out, the right mindset is just as important. Why? Well, the mind is a part of your body after all, isn't it?

Having the Right Mental State. Consider the many reasons why you have decided to get into bodybuilding. Perhaps you are going for the body you have always wanted. Maybe you want to compete. Maybe you just want something to focus on. Either way, if you are not having the right kinds of thoughts and you are not able to picture yourself having attained your goals, all of your weight lifting and push-ups and sit-ups may be for nothing.

You may think that bodybuilding is all about the exercise and the food that you eat and the shakes that you drink but it's not. Bodybuilding is so much more than that, as any trained bodybuilding professional would tell you.

Training and diet relies on mindset as well. Training and diet are the two most important components in any bodybuilding regimen. If you work out a lot, as bodybuilding requires, you are going to have to make sure to complete that with the right nutrition including to keep your body in shape and spur the positive reaction to the exercising that you are doing. Some natural bodybuilding supplements may help you with that.

Your diet and training will be impossible to maintain, at least together, if you don't have your mind in the right place. It just happens that life can get in the way sometimes, but this can only happen if you let it. Let your bodybuilding goals be your safe harbor, a place where you can get away from all of the negative things you have going on in your life.

Life has a way of getting you down and hindering you from your goals. So do the many things that life can have going on whether it be work or social or family obligations, but only if you let it. If your bodybuilding goals are important enough to you, you won't let them hold you back.

Bodybuilding is about flexibility, consistency, preparation, and the right mental state. If you do not have all of that, then the chances of you reaching your bodybuilding goals the way that you want them to is going to be drastically reduced. If you are serious about your goals, which you most likely are, you must learn to put other things aside and focus on what you have ahead of you. Taking some bodybuilding supplements will not change that by itself.

Bodybuilding Supplements, Do They Really Work?

Let's face it, when it comes to hyping a product, the bodybuilding supplement industry would be hard to beat. Incredible claims of huge, steroid like, muscle growth and strength are commonplace and it seems that every new product reaches a new high on the "Hype-Meter".

Having been involved in bodybuilding for over 20 years, I think I can offer at least some input and guidance on what a novice bodybuilder can expect when it comes to purchasing supplements with their hard earned money.

One of the questions I hear more than any other from young bodybuilders looking to get huge all the way to stay at home moms looking to lose a little weight is, "Does this stuff really work"? My reply is always the same, "What do you mean by, 'does it work'"? The reason I give this reply is that most people seem to expect some sort of magic bullet when it comes to supplements. The reality is that, yes, many of these supplements do "work" but only when they are implemented in a complete fitness program.A perfect example would be fat burners. The majority of fat burners that are currently on the market contain 3 or 4 herbal ingredients that are designed to increase your metabolism and/or decrease the appetite. Most people who purchase these products have a genuine desire to lose weight. And most of them will also try to incorporate a fat burner into their weight loss program that also includes proper nutrition and exercise. There are however some people who think that they will "melt away pounds" by simp ly taking the supplement and not doing any work on their own. The "magic bullet" mentality only leads to frustration when the product in question doesn't "work" for them.

When it comes to the niche market of bodybuilding supplements however, nothing can quite come close to the hype. It's important to keep in mind that the manufacturers of these supplements are paying professional bodybuilders to endorse their products. When a young man (or boy) sees a picture of a professional bodybuilder holding up a can or jar of a particular product, the image of that huge athlete is a very powerful advertising tool. Combine that with the over-the-top ad copy and you can see why many people are skeptical of these products. It would seem that rather than asking "Do they work?", the real question should be, "Will I look like that if I take this?"

The hard, cold answer to that question would be a resounding, "No". The reality is that all professional bodybuilders lead an extreme lifestyle that involves training, eating, sleeping and most importantly, huge amounts of anabolic steroids, growth hormone and other drugs to get the degree of muscle they have. They did not get that muscular simply by using bodybuilding supplements.

The good news however is that bodybuilding supplements can indeed help you in your training. Once again, assuming that your workouts are productive, your diet is one of good nutrition and you are allowing your body to recover by getting proper sleep, there are many supplements that are fantastic to help you increase your muscle mass, lose weight, increase pumps and gain strength.

Creatine, NO(Nitric Oxide) boosters, testosterone boosters, weight gainers and more are all excellent choices to help you reach your goals. Just remember, there are no magic pills that will turn you into a giant bodybuilder overnight but if you are committed to bodybuilding and ask me "Do bodybuilding supplements work?", I'd definitely say, "Yes!"

The Safed Musli Plant and Natural Bodybuilding Supplements

Safed Musli, also known as chlorophytum borivilianum is a rare plant found in India which has recently proven to be a very beneficial addition to natural bodybuilding supplements. Well known for its abilities as an aphrodisiac, Safed Musli has become increasingly popular and sought out worldwide. It is an herb which appears annually and is able to withstand major changes in climate. The plant belongs to the Liliaceae family and is typically grown in Andhra Pradesh. Safed Musli plants stand approximately one and a half feet high with long, skinny leaves which are deep green and white with tuberous roots.

Its outstanding medicinal properties have become an important staple in bodybuilding supplements. Safed Musli is comprised of many steroidal glycosides. It contains compounds such as 8-hexadecenoic acid, palmitic acid, 3-heptadecanone, methyl pentacosanoate and stearic acid.

The ever-growing interest in natural products has boosted the demand for Safed Musli especially in Europe, the United States and countries in the Gulf. With increasing popularity around the world, the plant is continually being researched and tested in new herbal remedies and products.

Ancient Use of the Safed Musli Plant in India

The Safed Musli plant is traced back to India where it has been used for many years as a vital medicinal plant. The species first attracted attention in 1954 in India as it was incorporated into many Ayurvedic tonics and used as an aphrodisiac. From there it began to reach rare status as demand for the plant dramatically increased. The plant has been an integral part of Ayurdvedic medicine, treating conditions from diabetes to arthritis and even high cholesterol.

Ayurvedic literature celebrates Safed Musli as a miracle plant with amazing abilities. Some of this literature includes Rasendra Sarsangrah, Bhavaprakash nighantu and Raja Ballabh Nighantu where the plant is referred to as "Vajikaran" meaning aphrodisiac.

Saponins, A Key Ingredient

The underlying benefits of the Safed Musli plant are the saponins within in. Saponins are found in the roots and have tremendous therapeutic abilities. Their name is derived from the Latin word for "soap" which refers to the frothy nature of saponins when they are combined with water.

Saponins contain natural medicinal properties which promote optimum health. They are involved in hemolysis, stimulate the immune system, act as an expectorant and reduce inflamation. Saponins also contain properties that combat fungi, bacteria and protozoa.

Aside from the Safed Musli plant, saponins can be found in many other forms in nature. These include the following: fenugreek herb, ginseng, red onions, soy beans, agave plant, bacopa monierri, paprika, alfalfa herb and disogenin which comes from wild yam root.

Modern Use of Safed Musli in Bodybuilding Supplements

Recently, research on how the saponins contained in Safed Musli effect testosterone has shown traces of stigmasterol as well as hecogenin. Both of these components are ideal ingredients for natural bodybuilding supplements. Stigmasterol shares a similar structure to testosterone. It is believed to latch on to the same body receptors that testosterone attaches to which causes stigmasterol to act nearly the same as testosterone. In similar fashion, hecogenin has an ability to convert to specific compounds that resemble testosterone and yields the same results on the body.

Taking supplements containing Safed Musli benefit the body in many different ways. They can improve strength and physical endurance, buffer lactic acid, fight general body weakness, aid in recovering from the physical exhaustion of exercise and build muscle mass while lowering heart and respiration rates as well as systolic blood pressure. Other effects include an elevated libido, sperm count and helping to increase spermatosis.

Additional Uses of Safed Musli

Besides its uses as a bodybuilding agent, the Safed Musli plant is frequently used for the following: an alternative to the popular drug Viagra, a cure for weakness and debilitating illnesses, a therapeutic practice in Ayurveda, Allopathy and Unani, remedies for arthritis and diabetes, a drug to help improve immune functions as well as a cure for natal and post-natal complications.

Women's Bodybuilding Workout Routine

I wanted to talk the time to talk about my women's bodybuilding workout routine. There are a lot of women out there that want to learn how to train in this properly, but there really isn't much of any information designed for the female frame. I've been training for almost a decade now and in that time, I've learned a lot of what it takes to be successful and I'm going to share that with you.

I think the best exercise you can do is the deadlift. This is the most compound exercise that you can physically do at the gym. It works most of the muscles in the body, all at once. Studies have shown that doing this type of exercise will actually produce a specific type of stress on the muscles that actually encourage them to have much higher amounts of growth. I think it's a valuable part of any women's bodybuilding workout routine.

Another exercise that no routine can go without is the bench press. It is the most compound exercise designed for the upper body. It will work your chest, triceps and shoulders, encouraging a lot of muscle growth in those areas.

Last, but not least for women's bodybuilding workout routines is squats. This is the ultimate lower body exercise. It works all parts of the legs and in around the glute area. It provides the same type of stress as the deadlift, which encourages a much more efficient form of muscle growth and will lead to better results over time.

Bodybuilding and Overcoming Daily Workout Fatigue

"How can you have a great workout without having to feel so tired the rest of the day." The answer might surprise you.

You probably know women and men that are so busy, that the only time they can workout is at 5:00 in the morning. Maybe you have to do that too. I worked out with several of these people and found out what they do for a living and why they're working out so early.

Turns out that they are doctors, lawyers, sports therapists, construction workers, security guards, parents, one was even a US Congressman. They all enjoy working out, but several mentioned about feeling fatigued the entire day (after having a good workout).

So I set out to find an answer to this problem.

Many of these people were taking protein supplementation. It's great for helping you to be relaxed, but can contribute to the feeling of being tired. Kind of like the "sleepy" feeling after having a large meal. But with a good workout, you really have to be taking protein to fully realize the benefits of these "intense" workouts.

I also found that many of these people weren't getting enough sleep. They were lucky to get 7-8 hours of sleep, although some claimed only 5-6 hours at most, as the rest of their lives were very busy (hence the reason for early morning workouts). So even just adding an hour of sleep each night, if possible, can really help.

Some of these people were drinking workout drinks with caffeine. While this is great to get "going" in the morning, the residual effect can be a "tired" feeling the rest of the day, unless they drink some more caffeine (which can then keep one from being able to go to bed that night to get enough sleep).

But... the most surprising answer came from someone that had been working out for 25 years. He told me he found a new supplement that was college documented to improve strength in the gym, and yet prevents fatigue while working out. He said he did not get nearly as much fatigue during his workouts anymore, and he did not feel fatigue during the day either.

The supplement he was referring to is called GAKIC from Muscletech (GAKIC is their trademark). I'm not putting any type of self-serving affiliate link in this article, as you'll have to find this supplement on your own. I got some at GNC. This guy said he'd just started taking it and has felt great during the day, after an intense workout.

GAKIC stands for Glycine-l-Arginine-alpha-Ketoisocaproic Acid Calcium. It doesn't have creatine or any stimulants (as far as I can tell). You may recognize that it has l-arginine which is the main ingredient in many of the nitrous oxide type of supplements... but I can't tell if this product enhances the NO pathways or if it's the calcium that seems to delay fatigue. Either way, I heard it's good stuff. The manufacturer claims that it works the first time you take it and that it's powerful enough that you are supposed to only take GAKIC on workout days, so one container lasts about a month.

I tried it and did not get a tired feeling when working out, and did indeed feel good all day long. If you find yourself just getting exhausted during or after a workout, GAKIC could be worth checking out.

Female Fitness and Bodybuilding - Any Woman Can!

The challenge for female fitness and bodybuilding is that, well, it doesn't seem quite the feminine thing to do to lift weights and look muscular. 'It's really a mans sport', was the cry and for a long time, women just weren't taken seriously at all, even by themselves.

Nowadays, all this has changed and there are thousands of followers in the female fitness and bodybuilding genre. Many women take part in regular competition, looking fit, glamorous and beautiful, all at the same time.

Female Fitness And Bodybuilding - It's About Repetitions, Not Crazy Weights

So, if you’re a woman, female fitness and bodybuilding might just be what you need - if you want to look and feel really good about your body. The secret is to ensure that by getting a great physique and well as looking feminine, you have to be clever about the way you take up your particular exercises.

And the really important part of female fitness and bodybuilding, is that women want to retain their femininity without the fear that they are going to look like, or even (goodness forbid), turn into a man! Be assured - it won't happen! It cannot happen. Because genetically, women just aren't built to get to the same stature of men, however much they work out.

It's almost impossible to become as big as a man, however much your muscle mass increases and the exercises that you do. In fact female fitness and bodybuilding is an ideal way for many women to develop a wonderful physique that is feminine and attractive to men, whilst building self-confidence and feeling good about yourself generally.

Women typically, will not be able to manage such heavy weights as men, so using reps as an important component in their development is vital. Slight bodies will find using smaller weights regularly is a much more effective way to develop the muscles than potentially damaging heavy weights.

What's Female Bodybuilding All About Then?

Nowadays, female fitness and bodybuilding is pretty well organized, from the casual amateur who just wants a better toned and developed body, to the really serious professional who sees competition as their goal. It's come a long way from the days when a female bodybuilder was just a shiny, glamorous object of drool, in a skimpy bikini.

In fact it's over 30 years since the first competitions began and it wasn't until the early 80's that they became a regular feature. Like all emerging sports, in a number of competitors emerged as the front runners from those early days. As you might imagine a selection process began, where potential candidates for progressing professionally were picked up by sponsors.

Pretty soon national and international bodies, just for women bodybuilders, became established, shortly followed by major national and international competitions too. As the opportunities to compete increased, more and more women took female fitness and bodybuilding seriously, so the competitions became more intense too.

It was the inception of the American Federation of Women Bodybuilders, in the 1980's, that paved the way for serious recognition that the sport was here to stay, for female bodybuilders.

How To Become A Serious Player in the Female Bodybuilding World

If you are thinking of stepping up to the plate in the female fitness and bodybuilding arena, what do you need to do?

Well, you'll need to get a few things just right.

- Nutrition is a vital component of any bodybuilding routine and for women, this is particularly important, both because of the varying hormone levels you experience each month and that bodybuilding is quite demanding.

- Timing and dedication to the sport are vital too, though some women really struggle with this as they are often strongly pulled towards their motherly responsibilities

- Exercise is, of course, a part of female fitness and bodybuilding - remember, reps work better than maxing out on weights alone, true for any bodybuilding activity, female or otherwise.

See, it's not much different from the activities that your male counterparts will focus on. If you decide to take up female fitness and bodybuilding in a big way, there is now, literally, nothing to stop you.

Vegetarian Bodybuilding - Is Successful Vegetarian Bodybuilding Possible?

Bodybuilding is a sport in which competitors display their perfectly built muscled bodies. Bodybuilders rely on intense exercise to build muscle. During exercise the muscle fibres get slight tears which shows up as body pain the next day. Bodybuilders take plenty of rest after a short burst of intense training. During this period, the tears in the muscles get repaired. A good diet ensures that that the repaired muscle cells are longer and thicker thus increasing the strength and size of the muscles.

Natural bodybuilding is bodybuilding without the help of illegal stimulants, steroids or other performance enhancing drugs

Vegetarian bodybuilding is going a step further. Athletes and sportsmen all over the world are increasingly taking to vegetarianism. Carl Lewis, Martina Navratilova, Billie Jean King and Edwin Moses are prime examples of successful vegetarian sportsmen.

There are different types of vegetarian diets. Lacto vegetarian, the vegetarian and vegan diets are some of them. Vegetarianism is actually a lifestyle focusing on a healthier today and a disease less tomorrow.

Nutritious diet, planned exercise and adequate rest are the three requirements for success in bodybuilding.

Nutrition is the base for success in bodybuilding. Unfortunately, supplements have become more important than nutrition these days. This is mainly due to the large publicity that health supplements get. All supplements are not really effective and they are sometimes addictive. Abuse of supplements and stimulants to burn fat and help workout result in bad health later on.

It is the right mental attitude along with right nutrition and correct training that really matters in bodybuilding.

A vegetarian bodybuilding diet should contain Vitamins, proteins, carbohydrates and fats in the right proportion. One common myth about vegetarianism is that vegetarians do not get enough proteins. This is not true. Soy, nuts, seeds, lentils, legumes and beans are rich sources of proteins and they also provide vitamins, minerals, fibers and antioxidants which are not found in meat. So a vegetarian diet is actually healthier. . Aerobic exercises like cardio burn off fat and anaerobic exercises like lifting weights build muscle. Scientifically planned exercise is a must for bodybuilding and it should never be in excess. An injury due to over training must be avoided so that all the work done till then doesn't go waste. Hence proper technique is a cardinal rule to be followed while training.

Adequate rest is the most important part in bodybuilding. This is the time when the muscles repair themselves and the cells grow. If you do not get enough rest the muscles fibres do not get rebuilt and continuous exercise may tear the muscles causing injury.

Bodybuilding And Forced Repetitions Dilemma

Dilemma of forced repetitions in extreme bodybuilding is old as this sport itself. Most bodybuilders are grown up with mentality “no pain no gain”. That is why majority of them can not or will not stop training even when muscles are so tired they can not do a single repetition more. That is why the so called “training partner” of “helper” function has been invented. Majority of top bodybuilders have a partner accompanying them and assisting them with that third repetition when muscles start to rebel. The purpose of doing this is clear. If I do one or two repetitions more, the pressure on my muscles will increase and so will increase the growth of the muscle. Right?

No it is not right!

Let us take a deeper look into this subject. What does that extra forced repetition mean? It simply means you have done it but with less effort and less power than previous repetitions that you have done without training partners' helping hand. Muscles were subject to lower tension. You did not accomplish that weight with the same strength you would have when weightlifting alone. In other words you have completed the repetition with “less” weight than planned.

Now try to compare this doing with the commonly known and bullet proved rule in bodybuilding which says that muscles are growing only if they are under maximal pressure. The answer is clear. Two or even more forced repetitions have just caused muscle tiredness without any positive effect at all. A tired muscle can not be brought to its maximal charge as it simply can not lift that weight anymore.

One has to realize that those kind of forced repetitions lead to early damages, as muscle in that moment looses its natural coordination. Training partner is an extremely important person for a professional bodybuilder. But his role is not to lift weights instead of you. His role is to encourage, motivate you to complete quality trainings and achieve better results. Training partner is there to help you lift more than you would dare if training alone. It is wrong to use a training partner to help you damage your muscles. You will never be able to wrap up that training with 100% effectiveness.

All Natural Bodybuilding Workout Routine

Most people refuse to believe that it is possible to build muscles using all natural bodybuilding programs. This is why bodybuilding has had such a bad reputation especially because of the famous bodybuilders who use steroids.

All natural bodybuilding simply means the use of natural methods to build body muscles i.e. with no use of any muscle enhancers or anabolic substances. Real athletes use methods by following a routine that features well structured bodybuilding diets and natural performance enhancing supplements.

Tracking progress in natural body building is important. Any bodybuilder should clearly outline his or her targets or goals so that it could be easier to access progress. If you don't have well defined goals, then your chances of success will be very slim.

Take some time to learn as much as possible about bodybuilding in order to be able to "custom build" your body in a way that suites you best. Learn as much as you can about natural supplements, training and dieting. Don't give up half way through - this process is about serious commitment.

One of the best way to stay in the game for longer is to start by establishing clear reasons why you want to use an all natural program. The truth is, when it comes to a sport such as bodybuilding you are either doing it naturally or not. This is an especially important point when considering professional bodybuilding. Remember that in competitions, you are not permitted to use any unnatural supplements. The reason is simple, if others were to use steroids, then it would defeat the whole purpose of the sport - it would simply be unfair to those choosing to go the natural route.

It may look difficult at first especially for beginners but it is possible to use methods that are natural for building body muscle. Anyone, including you, can build them and be successful as a bodybuilder by simply designing specific and highly effective diet and bodybuilding workout routines. All in all, using natural ways is the best way to build muscles - it's not just for making you feeling confident and looking great but it is a sure way to stay healthy.

You may want to visit a physician to do a check up before you start. Some people have conditions that prevent them for lifting too much weight and taking some certain foods substances. You may also need to consult a professionally trainer to help you develop the best program for you.

Best Bodybuilding Supplements To Gain Weight, Build Muscle And Increase Strength

If your looking to build superior ripped muscle by adding additional weight in the form of muscle or dramatically increase your overall strength and workout intensity then bodybuilding supplements may hold the key to what you're looking for and for good reason. Many aspiring weightlifters and bodybuilders know that taking the right muscle enhancing supplements means increased gains and taking the wrong muscle building supplements means a waste of money and even worse, perhaps possible injury or illness from the adverse side effects.

No discussion about bodybuilding supplements would be complete without talking about creatine monohydrate. This is considered by many to be the grand daddy of muscle building supplements. Actually, you may not be aware of this but creatine does occur naturally in our bodies. It's produced from a combination of three amino acids; arginine, glycine and methionine. Creatine is renowned for providing a short energy burst, which makes it beneficial to weight lifters and bodybuilders that are serious about reducing their lactic acid buildup, increasing their strength, providing more energy for your workouts and adding muscle weight gains in a short amount of time.

Another beneficial bodybuilding supplement is whey protein. This is considered to be the highest grade of protein and since protein is the building block for muscles it only makes sense that whey protein can help in this endeavor. Here's a fact that may surprise you. Whey protein actually contains some of the same ingredients that are found in a mother's natural milk. This is one of the main reasons you find whey protein in bay formulas. It's good for the body. The big benefit for weightlifters revolves around the fact that whey protein provides many important nutrients; especially the much needed amino acids. As a result whey protein is valuable to repairing and rebuilding the muscles after a strenuous workout. For this reason whey protein is a fantastic bodybuilding supplement.

One final bodybuilding supplement that deserves to be mentioned isn't just for muscle bound weightlifters. In fact it can be used by anyone interested in adding the necessary nutrients, vitamins and minerals that they may be missing out on due to the normal diet. These meal replacement supplements, as they are commonly called, are very quick and an extremely convenient way of proving your body with protein, carbohydrates and other vital minerals and nutrients. Most replacement meals come in several tasty varieties and are engineered to either help you lose weight or gain muscle weight. For bodybuilders the weight gain meals are what they are most interested in consuming.

As you can gather there are literally hundreds of different bodybuilding supplements on the market but the three mentioned above provide the best hope of obtaining additional muscle weight and increasing your workout intensity levels and post workout recuperation.

Bodybuilding - Build Muscle Faster by Using Supersets With Your Bodybuilding Program

If you're on a bodybuilding program and are trying to build muscle, supersets might just be the thing you need to kick your progress into high gear. Many of those involved with bodybuilding have used it before and have seen great results by doing so.

Supersets are an advanced weight lifting technique where you are going to pair two opposing muscle groups together, working one and then immediately moving to the next.

Here is information about the benefits such a technique provides along with how to integrate this into your current workout program.

Benefits of Supersets

Decreased Gym Time

One of the biggest benefits of supersets is decreased time in the gym.

For those who are busy, they can be a great way to get in a good workout without having to spend hours at the gym. By doing two exercises at a time, you essentially cut your rest time in half, thus dramatically shortening the sessions.

Increased Testosterone

Another key benefit of supersets is that they will also increase your testosterone levels quite a bit due to this decreased rest time. If you have more testosterone moving throughout your body, you're going to have a correspondingly increased rate of weight gain.

Just with this, be sure you are still lifting as heavy as possible because that is also another requirement for increased testosterone levels.

If you decrease the weight too much, this will not be effective in building muscle as that overloading stimulus is not being applied.

Increased Muscle Pump

Finally, the last benefit you'll see when you do supersets is an increase in the muscle pump you experience. This is virtually how big your muscles look initially after a workout. If you've ever done a hard biceps and triceps session for example, you've likely experienced just what a muscle pump can look like.

While the size may not be permanent, it can really help to improve motivational levels and make your workouts feel like they are really working.

Integrating Supersets Into Your Workout Program

To start including supersets into your workout program, you'll want to choose a day where you are going to work two opposing muscle groups. This could be such muscles as the biceps and triceps, the chest and back, the quads and hamstrings, or the inner and outer thigh.

All of these work opposite each other and are great for doing supersets.

Once you've decided which muscle groups you're going to work, then select one exercise for each.

So, using biceps and triceps, you might do bicep curls followed by tricep kickbacks. Or, for quads and hamstrings you could do leg extensions followed by hamstring curls.

What you will then do, is perform the first exercise, move directly to the second, and then take a rest for about thirty seconds to a minute. The quick movement from the first exercise to the second is really what is key here so try not to short yourself on this.

If that means taking a longer rest break in between each superset, so be it.

Also keep in mind that supersets are a little more intense and as such, you don't want to do them every single workout and for all exercises you do. Focus on one or two muscle pair groups at a time and keep the remaining exercises in your program done as usual.

So, if you'd like a change with your workout program, give supersets a try. They can really make a difference when you start stalling and not getting the results you're looking for.