Bodybuilding Supplements And Nutrition: Protein, Creatine And Building Muscle

The right diet coupled with a vigorous weight lifting program will build muscle just fine, but some bodybuilders want an extra edge to help them in building muscle. Taken after working out, bodybuilding supplements can help an athlete feel less tired and more ready to take on whatever the day throws at him or her.

Bodybuilding supplements are often loaded with vitamins and some form of protein, and both contribute to bodybuilding nutrition.

Without protein, human muscles cannot grow or repair themselves. When a person gets done with a workout – whether it's an aerobic or anaerobic  – their muscles have actually sustained some damage. Make no mistake: working out is a healthy activity, and the human muscle rebuilds itself in just a matter of time after exercise. Thanks to the power of amino acids, protein acts as a catalyst for this rebuilding process, and is a popular choice for weightlifters.

Bodybuilding supplements often use protein from whey, a protein-loaded byproduct of the cheese manufacturing process. Whey is low in both fat and lactose, the latter being the sugar found in milk that some people have trouble digesting. Whey's low lactose content means that athletes that are lactose intolerant will have an easier time stomaching protein powders containing whey than other types of protein supplements.

Another type of bodybuilding supplements are those containing creatine. Human muscles already contain the compound known as creatine, but weightlifters take creatine supplements to aid them in achieving their fitness goals and building muscle. Research suggests that creatine may also jump start the brain. In tests conducted on vegetarians – because meat contains creatine, it would have complicated the study – those who took creatine pills were able to spit back more numbers from memory than those who took placebo pills. The subjects who took creatine supplements also fared better on a general IQ test. Products containing creatine can be combined with whey protein bodybuilding supplements to further accelerate recovery time.

Many bodybuilding supplements come with statements that the Food and Drug Administration hasn't evaluated. Because bodybuilding supplements are treated like foods instead of drugs, the FDA doesn't evaluate efficiency claims. Bodybuilding supplements must also state that the product isn't supposed to treat or cure any disease; any such claims would result in a lawsuit. However, health benefit claims are perfectly normal to see on bodybuilding nutrition products. These health claims may be disputed – customers should look for the following asterisk that draws their attention to the FDA disclaimer – but the protein, vitamin,s and minerals some bodybuilding supplements contain are definitely good for the body.

There are countless brands of bodybuilding supplements on the market, and these are available at grocery stores like Kroger or retail outlets such as Wal-Mart. Body Fortress manufactures whey protein supplements in 32 ounce jugs, or two pounds of whey protein powder. Body Fortress's vanilla flavored protein supplements give the user 23 grams of protein per serving and only one gram of sugar. With 110 calories per serving, these bodybuilding supplements from Body Fortress act as a mini-meal when coupled with milk, yogurt, or ice cream. The vanilla powder can also be added to orange juice to create an orange crème flavored drink.

Pregnant or nursing women as well as those taking medications should consult their doctor before taking Body Fortress bodybuilding supplements. Body Fortress also prides itself on selling bodybuilding supplements at reasonable prices. Some bodybuilding supplements can get pricey, especially at specialty stores like GNC. However, Body Fortress gives weightlifters two pounds of protein powder for just $15 – enough for a protein shake every day of the month.

It should be noted that bodybuilding supplements are not the same as steroids. The latter are frowned upon in professional sports like baseball and football, as well as the world of weightlifting. Steroids cause side effects which endanger the health of the user; bodybuilding supplements, by contrast, are safe and healthy. The array of bodybuilding supplements on the market today offers something for every weightlifter, whether they're looking to gain muscle mass or just recover faster from their workout.


Sources:
Creatine Boosts Brain Power. BBC News. 12 Aug. 2003. 16 July 2007.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/health/3145223.stm

"Food and Drug Administration." Wikipedia. 16 July 2007. 16 July 2007.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/FDA#Regulation_of_f ood_and_dietary_supplements

High Performance Creatine Drink Mix. Body Fortress.com. 2007.16 July 2007.
http://www.bodyfortress.com/pages/productDetail. aspx?PID=2

Nutrition Facts. 32 Oz. Whey Protein: Vanilla. Body Fortress. 16 July 2007

Whey Protein. SupplementData.com. 4 Aug 2007. Nutros.com. 4 Aug 2007.
http://www.supplementdata.com/nsr-0202e.html