How Important Are Supplements?

For many people who exercise strenuously, and I mean those who workout 6 days a week and really pay attention to their health and overall lifestyle, the body will naturally require more nutrients so that it can repair and grow. I’m not necessarily even talking about bodybuilding specifically, but as with any sport or fitness regimen, you’re putting your body through incredible amounts of stress. Sometimes, this level of stress means that you have to go above and beyond the everyman / everywoman routine and nurse yourself with supplements and vitamins that would otherwise be difficult to get even from whole food sources. With whey protein for example, which is commonly used by bodybuilders as a quick-releasing protein source, it will provide you with essential amino acids - building blocks of protein which cannot be created by the body. This example is more or less case in point that supplementation is imperative if you are to get the best results from your fitness regimen. 

This is just an example, however, as there are in fact an abundance of supplements out there that’ll help optimise your performance, and rest and recovery period. It’s true that someone who never hits the bench may have no use for whey or creatine. But even avid cyclers or those who run and swim will at some point face an injury or some obstruction to their performance that could perhaps have been avoided if the correct measures were taken - if the correct supplements were taken.

Glucosamine is a very popular natural source which athletes use to prevent, or decrease the effects of joint or muscle pain. The body synthesises it naturally. However, it is not known to be found in any food source. This means that those who do take part in any one, or all, of said triathlon of sports, could take preventative steps and use this supplement to help keep their body tissue healthy and free of pain and inflammation. Glucosamine is just one of many examples.

Personally, I use a handful of supplements which helps me to both reach my daily macronutrient goals, and also speed up the recovery process by helping my muscles repair and grow. I’ve even found an improvement in my level of performance itself. As a student, I make the most of the 10 percent discount at MyProtein. Their prices are unbeatable for the quality of their products. They also deliver very quickly too. As someone who has goals of building mass, I never go a day without having their whey protein isolate, which is the core of any post-workout shake. Dextrose and maltodextrin are two more supplements I also choose to have for the spike they both cause in your energy levels. Both are carbohydrates that score high on the glycemic index, but dextrose is a simple carb which quickly spikes your energy and maltodextrin is complex so takes longer for your body to break down - making it slow-releasing much the same as a food like oatmeal for example. The fact it’s high in sugar shouldn’t scare you. When taken during exercise it can greatly improve your performance and endurance and you’ll burn it all off as you workout anyway. Many athletes use it and it’s a great supplement to have. It’s also very, very cheap.

There are hundreds of minerals, vitamins, supplements and other sources that you can’t provide your body with just purely through foods. And these sources could be the difference between an injury and a slight nick, or results you get in 12 months that you could have got in 6. Analyse the stresses you put on your own body and work out accordingly which product from your local health shop or nearest Holland and Barret can help get you to where you want to be with regard to your own lifestyle.