Bodybuilding Supplements: How They Really Help Our Bodies

Photo Credit: Sergio Raul Abreu (commons.wikimedia.org)

Staying healthy and fit is not just an activity or passion for most of us nowadays. It is now becoming a lifestyle. Creating a balance within our body system is a necessary thing to do to live a long and healthy life. The healthier we become, the more we are equipped to face the life and all the things that are ahead of us.

With this, taking in supplements becomes a part of our daily life. It is not just a fad, or a whim or something we just decided to do; it is necessary. Our body needs to restore and these supplements will help us bring our bodies back to health.

One of the most popular dietary supplements nowadays is bodybuilding supplements. These supplements have different types and functions differently as well. They are either taken as replacement to meals or taken with them to provide the body with different needs. Some of these are as follows.

1. Source of vitamins supplements
2. Source of protein to build and repair muscles
3. Promotes safe and fast weight loss
4. Improves athletic performance
5. Enhances weight gain

Below are also a few reasons on why we need dietary supplements in our body. Healthy or not, there are really some essential nutrients and minerals that can only be taken from supplements and not from the usual food we eat.

1. Bad habits – We are social animals. We drink some, we smoke some. Fast food is part of our daily diet. We spend most of our time sitting and we can now do things at a click of a button. These and more are just some of the bad habits we have acquired through the years that have contributed in making our bodies unhealthy. Some individuals manage to go away from this lifestyle while some cannot. Thus there is a need to take in supplements to be able to help the body recover from the bad effects of the bad habits we have.
2. Poor food preparation – The food that we consumed are either raw or over-cooked. Over-cooked food loses their nutritional value. Our fast-paced lives deprive us from choosing the food we eat. We often settle for what is readily available. Taking in vitamins is indeed necessary because we are not getting the nutrients we need from the food we eat anymore.
3. Living up to the Standards of the Society – Being slim and sexy for women, or having big bulky muscles in men is the new definition of being beautiful. In a society where being beautiful requires you to eat less or to eat more is equally stressful and confusing at the same time. That is why women take in diet pills to help them lose weight without the need of depriving themselves to eat. Men on the other hand take in bodybuilding supplements to help them achieve the physique they want to have.
4. Stressful Environment – Almost each and every one of us has busy lifestyles. We tend to spend more time on our hobbies, work, passion, and careers. Staying healthy is not on top of our priority lists. To be able t have the energy that can help us sustain the needs of the demanding lives we have, taking in dietary supplements and making it part of our daily habits is really a must.

Bodybuilding supplements and other dietary supplements, nowadays, is a necessity. Everyone who wants to have a long and healthy life needs to include these vitamins in their diet. We do a lot of activities that may have contributed in deteriorating the balance in our body. Eating fruits and vegetables and other sources of vitamins and minerals will never be sufficient to bring back our bodies to its full healthy state – dietary supplements do.

Resource Link:

10 Reasons You’re Not Building Muscle (bodybuildingsupplements.uk.com)

Vitamins, Minerals and Anti-oxidants (blogbytravis.com)

What You Need to Know about Creatine Intake

Usually found in the muscles, creatine is a chemical that the body itself produces. There are a lot of food sources you can check out if you want to have more creatine in your body. Consuming the right amount of fish and meat on a regular basis can be most ideal. In addition, there are a lot of products (such as supplements) sold in the market that will help you get the ideal dosage in a day.  

This is very important especially for serious body builders and athletes who always need to stay energetic in order to improve their performance and muscle mass. This is for the reason that creatine is directly involved in helping boost muscular energies you need to work harder and longer. Seeing the results of all your workout efforts will be a lot quicker if you make it a habit to take foods that are rich in creatine.    

Of course, there are certain factors involved in measuring the effectiveness of this. For example, experts have observed that adults ages 60 or older are not benefiting as much as those younger than them in terms of consuming creatine foods or supplements. Studies confirm that young athletes usually perform better than their usual capacities during sprinting and other intense exercises.

Another possible benefit of creatine is that it can delay the symptoms and effects for those who are suffering from the early stages of Parkinson’s disease. People with heart failure problems can also benefit from this because it gives them greater endurance and strength. The same can be said for those with muscular dystrophy and other muscle-related diseases. Moreover, symptoms of gyrate atrophy (an eye disease that eventually leads to loss of sight) can be slowed down.

Be warned, however, that creatine also has its limitations. For instance, those with rheumatoid arthritis can look forward to having stronger muscles but that doesn’t automatically mean that their physical conditions will improve at the same time. ALS or Amtotrophic lateral sclerosis (more widely known as Lou Gehri’s disease) conditions do not get better with creatine intake as well.

Generally, creatine is safe for most as long as they do not go beyond the recommended dosage. Otherwise, this can lead to health concerns involving the heart, liver, and/or kidney.

Needless to say, body builders and athletes considering increasing their creatine consumption should consult with their doctors first. This is necessary in order to minimize any negative side effects you may encounter just in case. You may also visit health-related websites to search for creatine info and other interesting facts.