Supplements are more or less the main money driver of the fitness industry. They come in all different shapes and sizes and come with the promise of them being some form of magical formula that will suddenly transform you into a greek god or goddess, but in reality just taking these products isn’t the way to improve how you look.
Supplements will never replace good nutrition and training!
That being said, alongside a good nutrition regime there are several supplements that are worth looking into as they can help aid your training, progress to your results and overall health.
Below is an extract from the ACM Fit Nutrition Handbook and we are going to look at some supplements that are worth taking if your budget can stretch that far:
Multivitamin/Multimineral
While it is important to eat micronutrient rich foods like fruits and vegetables, Multivitamins are a good way for getting all the essential vitamins into your body. A lack of a certain vitamin or mineral can have a negative impact on health and and how you feel, so a multivitamin and/or multi mineral supplement is something that is ideal for most people just to ensure they’re getting everything they need.
Fish Oils
Fish Oils can be taken to improve our health by supporting healthy cholesterol levels and supporting bone/joint health.
Fish Oils can improve the ratio of HDLs and LDL (High Density Lipids and Low Density Lipids) to improve our overall cholesterol levels.
Even if you are still in your youth, it is important to look after your body as lifting heavy weights so regularly can naturally take its toll on the joints. Fish Oils can reduce inflammation and soreness of joints which can help us later in life.
Protein Powder
Protein Powder is something that is greatly misunderstood and sometimes gets a bit of a bad rep. Protein Powder is purely and simply an easy and convenient way to get more protein in your diet. If you can get enough from food then there’s no need to have it! If you’re struggling to hit your daily requirements then it might be an idea to look into it.
Creatine
Creatine is something which is worth looking into for people looking to gain size and strength as it helps draw more water into the muscle cells, making a better environment for growth and also gives you more energy when lifting weights. Take 5g per day, everyday.
Vitamin D
You know when it gets to the winter time and you start to feel a bit down in the dumps, early mornings get that little bit harder and you’re just not 100% you? Well that’s likely because we aren’t getting as much sun which means less Vitamin D3!
This great vitamin helps promote hormone regulation and improves your mood and concentration. While you can find Vitamin D3 in foods, the best source is the sun and if you don’t get a lot of that then supplementing would be a wise move.
Magnesium
Magnesium is a mineral that has lots of great benefits to the body such as hormone regulation, better sleep, better recovery. Unfortunately it is something that gets greatly depleted during exercise so topping up your magnesium stores can be very helpful.
Summary
So there you have it, a quick overview of which supplements are worth looking at, depending on how far your budget can stretch!
Need further help with reaching your fitness goals? Email adam@acmfit.com for details on Personal Training & Online Coaching.
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