Which Supplements To Take To Build Muscle

By Russ Howe


While most guys want to learn how to build more muscle, very few of them truly understand which supplements to take in order to help them reach the physical goals they have set out to achieve. Today we are going to teach you how to do this for yourself.

In the fitness industry, your worst enemy isn't something physical. It's information. With all of the various products being released and studies being performed each day, it is hard to find a piece of information which isn't contradicted elsewhere. This leads many people into the bizarre situation of having more information available to them than any previous generation, yet being unable to achieve their fitness goals because they simply don't know who to believe or where to get started.

Thirty years ago, the science behind growing muscle mass was still fairly basic and while those basics were great, the information was sometimes difficult to come by due to the lack of books and studies available. Compare that to nowadays and you'll notice the completely opposite situation, yet neither is good. People often can't commit to a routine or long-term plan because they are being told contradicting information everywhere they turn, so they quit.

It doesn't have to be like that. In fact, it's not supposed to be like that.

The world of supplementation is often quite misleading and confusing because, like all areas of business, it has a lot of companies competing with each other for your cash. In their attempts to persuade you to choose their brand over a rival they need to come up with flashy, over the top statements and promise superior results.

The first thing you will notice when you begin to learn what to look for in a product is that things are not as complicated as they seem. There are a few basic rules with each product to look for.

* Whey Protein

* Creatine

* Like whey, casein protein also has it's uses

* Carbohydrates

* BCAA's

* Glutamine

The six products listed above are by far the most important when it comes to achieving more muscular development in a short space of time. They're listed in order of importance, too, making it easier to prioritize them to suit your goals. We'll now run through a brief explanation of what you can expect from each one.

The most widely recognized bodybuilding product available today is whey protein. It's one of the few things which has successfully made the transition from hardcore gyms to everyday life and is now considered to be a mainstream product. Our body can digest only around 25 grams of protein per serving, so there is no need to opt for a shake which guarantees you 50 or more grams. This will tend to encourage fat gains. Hydrolized whey is slightly faster digesting than the other two formulas, isolate and concentrate, which is why it is the most expensive.

However, the massive difference in prices between these three formulas doesn't reflect the fact that there isn't too much difference in terms of the quality of the protein itself. While a hydrolized product would return optimal results, you will certainly still be able to achieve success using either of the other blends if money is tight.

Creatine is a great strength building product which has been on the market for two decades already. It is designed to increase your ability to perform short bursts of explosive action, which is why it's popular among 100 meter sprinters and power athletes. By using creatine you'll increase your performance in the gym, which in turn will help you reap more rewards from your hard efforts.

With countless different formulas and blends of creatine, it seems every trainer and gym user has a different opinion on which one you should use. However, if you want to base your decision on scientific evidence then you won't have too much difficulty finding the solution. Creatine monohydate is light years ahead of any other formula on the market, despite being the oldest and most easily available of all.

Until recently, the theories behind why casein products are important seemed to stack up but there was no actual research to prove it. That all changed in late 2012 when studies revealed it did indeed do the job it claimed to do. While whey is designed to hit your starving post-workout muscles as quickly as possible, casein does the opposite. This means it is great for consumption before you go to sleep.

Studies revealed that using casein prior to sleep kept the body's muscle building process activated for far longer and resulted in superior gains in lean tissue to those using whey alone.

Immediately following a workout your body desires nutrition. While your protein can be covered with some quick digesting whey, carbohydrates can also be useful during this period. Don't buy into the nonsense philosophies that carbohydrates should be avoided at all costs, because these approaches have been proven to lead to long-term fat gain.

Complex, slow-release carbohydrates are your main sources of energy but in the 45 minute window which follows any gym workout you should look to find the opposite. Remember, during this time your body wants nutrition it can use immediately. So eating some oats which take hours to digest isn't going to cut it for you. Quick-release sources of carbohydrates, such as dextrose and maltodextrin, are very useful during this short period of time.

BCAA supplements are growing in reputation as one of the key choices for size and strength. There are over 20 amino acids, some essential and others non-essential. While you will get a good spread of these from any whey protein product, you can enhance your results even further by supplementing it with an all-out BCAA product as well.

Glutamine rounds out the list today. Designed primarily for muscle recovery, glutamine is also great for improving your body's immune system and encouraging the release of more natural growth hormone, too. This all adds up to a supplement which will allow you to get more out of your gym sessions, so it is a useful addition to a diet.

If you are trying to figure out how to build muscle, one to the toughest areas is nutrition. A lot of gym users struggle on for years without truly knowing which supplements to take to help them reach their goals. This can be an expensive mistake to make, so be sure to take your time and learn the information in today's post before you write down your preferred stack.




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