In the bodybuilding world, supplements are often treated as magic potions. Lots of people think they can just pop a pill or drink a shake, and they’ll go straight from “scrawny” to “stud”.
But that’s not how it works!
They’re called “supplements” for a reason — they’re supposed to supplement the other things you’re doing, like eating right and following the right exercise regimen. Once you’ve taken care of everything else, you can move onto supplements.
But which supplements are best for bodybuilding? With all of the pie-in-the-sky promises out there, it can be hard to separate hype from fact. Once you see the facts, though, you’ll understand why these 3 are our top picks:
1. Protein powder
As you may remember from high school science class, protein is the building block of muscle. That’s why bodybuilders need so much of it! However, it’s hard to get ALL of the protein you need from food alone. (After all, who wants to eat a steak every couple of hours?!) That’s why a protein supplement is best for bodybuilding — it gives you the pure protein you need, without subjecting you to a bunch of carbohydrates and fats that you don’t need.
The more protein you take in, the more new, strong, lean muscle you’ll build. And, as an added benefit, protein helps you recover after a workout, too. So, you’re getting your money’s worth out of this supplement from start to finish!
2. Creatine
A creatine supplement will replenish the creatine phosphate that your body naturally produces. You’ll use up your natural supply during an intense workout because creatine phosphate is responsible for giving your muscle fibers bursts of energy. Once you run out of it, you’ll feel like you ran head-first into a wall. But by increasing your levels through a supplement, you’ll be able to work out harder, for longer periods of time, without wearing out.
3. L’Arginine
Some protein powders include L’Arginine, but this supplement is so important to successful bodybuilding that you need to keep your eyes peeled for it — and get a separate supplement of it if your other supplements don’t contain it!
L’Arginine is an amino acid that increases your blood flow. As a result, more oxygen and nutrients can get to your muscles faster. “Normal” people don’t need an L’Arginine supplement, because foods like nuts and chocolate contain enough of it for their daily needs. However, this amino acid isn’t naturally produced by your body, so if you want your muscles to get bigger, you’ll need a healthy dose of it — and that’s something you can only get from a supplement.
L’Arginine is one of the best supplements for bodybuilding for another important reason — it prevents your body from retaining water. So, instead of looking big and bloated, you’ll well-defined. That’s what every bodybuilder wants!