Nutrition and Supplements for Muscle Recovery

January 17th, 2012

People say that eating is responsible for 70% of your success in the gym, and I tend to agree with this number. You can work out all you want, but if you don’t give your body the nutrition it needs, when it needs it, your results are going to suffer immensely.

When you work out in the gym, you’re actually breaking down your muscle. It’s only after the gym, while you’re at home relaxing (or doing whatever it is you like to do at home) that your muscles have a chance to repair themselves to be bigger and stronger than they were before.

Your muscles can only be fed by stores of nutrition in your body for so long, before you need to feed it with food. Without this extra nutrition, your muscles literally don’t have the building blocks to use to build up your muscles again. Rest and recovery is extraordinarily important to building muscle, and the most important part of it is nutrition. Below I’m going to go over some of the best supplements around, and why I think you should consider taking them yourself.

Protein

Protein is present in many forms, and is available to both vegetarians and meat eaters. By far the most popular form of protein is Whey, and for good reason. It’s available in powder form, so it’s quick and easy to add it to some water or milk, and bring it along to the gym with you. That way you can grab it and have it right at the end of your workout, which is important if your goal is to increase lean muscle mass.

Creatine

Creatine, like whey protein, is most conveniently taken in powder form. It’s been scientifically backed by a massive amount of research for years, and thus athletes all over the world make it a staple in their diet. What kind of benefits can you expect from creatine? Increased strength gains, faster recovery in between sets, and faster recovery between individual workouts. This is, perhaps, one of the most beneficial supplements there is when it comes to muscle recovery.

Glutamine

Glutamine has been shown to increase growth hormone by as much as 400% if you take at least 2 grams of it per day. Growth hormone helps you build more muscle, and it definitely helps with recovery. The importance of this benefit alone cannot be underestimated. Another important thing about glutamine is that it prevents depletion of lean muscle mass.

3 Secrets the Nutritional Supplement Companies Don’t Want You to Know

January 17th, 2012

Americans spent billions of dollars last year on natural remedies. But with so many different products to choose from in the aisles of your local health food store, how do you know which ones are worth buying and which ones you should avoid. Its important to note that there are many vitamin and nutritional supplements that can work wonders for your health however if you make the wrong choice, you may cause yourself irreparable damage. Before you make any long term decisions about your health, take a moment and discover these 3 amazing secrets related to supplements.

Stunning Secret # 1 The difference between a nutritional supplement and a drug.

Stunning Secret # 2 The implications of taking supplements while also taking prescription drugs.

Stunning Secret # 3 The importance of taking only name brand supplements from approved sources.

The Difference Between a Nutritional Supplement and a Drug

In many cases, there is not much of a difference. Both substances can have extremely powerful effects and cause problems if taken incorrectly. A key element is how the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) view them. For the most part, the FDA treats supplements as if they were foods. They are technically defined as products taken by mouth that contain an ingredient intended to supplement the diet. Drugs on the other hand are legally defined as substances intended to diagnose, treat, or prevent disease. Because of this definition, most supplements get as much attention from the FDA as a package of throat lozenges.

The Implications of Taking Both Prescription Drugs and Supplements

Be very careful because some supplements interfere with prescription medications or cause dangerous side effects when taken with prescription drugs. The simple solution to avoid this danger is to always consult your doctor before taking any supplements even if you think they are harmless. You should also discontinue use of supplements if you are scheduled for any invasive medical procedure. Studies have found that certain supplements interfere with anesthesia, can cause excessive bleeding or elevate blood pressure.

The Importance of Taking Only Brand Name Supplements

One myth that has run wild is that supplements are safer than prescription drugs because they are thought to be natural and chemical free. Unfortunately research has not shown this to be true across the board. Many independent tests have found that some supplements were contaminated with potentially harmful ingredients such as pesticides, bacteria and heavy metals. More recently, Consumer Reports tests found that labels on supplement bottles did not contain what they said nor was the dosage information correct. According to their research, a good strategy is to rely on more well known companies like GNC or vitamin shoppe [http://www.brian-stephenson.com] over lesser known brands. These and other better known brands appear to have more consistent quality and safety.