Let’s face it. We are a society obsessed with fitness, diets, and supplements. The question that arises is what supplements are actually effective and which ones are just a waste of time?
Why Are Nutrient Supplements Important?
Well, there is a time and place for supplementation, but it isn’t just for athletes or elite athletes. Anyone who wants to be their best physical self can benefit from proper supplementation. Today we will discuss some of the most common nutritional supplements that are used by well-conditioned athletes, which you can use before, during, and after your workouts to help boost your strength, endurance, recovery, and muscle growth.
1. Vitamin E
There is some controversy about whether Vitamin E, which is found in vegetable oil, is the best antioxidant. The American Dietetic Association suggests taking 200 to 300mg of vitamin E daily.
Vitamin E from Nature’s Radiant Foods combines the benefits of vitamin E and lutein, two antioxidants found in small amounts of corn and soybean oils. Strand’s book is a good one, and one of the best Edifying Vitamin E pages.
2. Creatine
Creatine is an amino acid that finds its way into the body’s energy supply. Athletes have used creatine to recover from prolonged workouts and increase muscle mass. creatine is somewhat like steroids in the sense that there is a degree of testosterone increase, but no other associated side effects.
3. Fish Oil
Fish oil supplements are an artificial source of Omega-3 fatty acids. The required amount of fish you should take is about 1 gram a day. Note that better quality fish oil supplements will feature health-enhancing EPA and DHA contents, respecting the integrity of the fat cells.
4. Multivitamins
A multi vitamin is a supplement that provides you with 4 different but yet important vitamins and minerals. The two most common vitamins to be found in multivitamins are A and B complex. The most common type of A to be found in multivitamins is B5, also known as thiamine. Vitamin B5 is essential for the metabolism of carbohydrates, fats and proteins. It also aids in removing harmful chemicals from the body.
5. Protein powder
Protein is one of the most common foods that people consume daily, however protein powder can add volume to your meal, and protein has whey protein molecules which are harder to break down than whey. Adding a scoop of protein powder to your breakfast, salad or lunch is a simple way to get the recommended amounts of the amino acids needed daily.
6. Antioxidants
Antioxidants are considered one of the most important supplements to add to a healthy diet. Antioxidants work by inhibiting oxidizing substances, including free radicals which are independent and imbalance in the body. Free radicals have been linked to a variety of diseases and health issues including cancer, cardiovascular disease, wrinkles, cognitive impairment, dementia and more.
There are some well known and highly effective antioxidants from which you can benefit. Vitamin C, for example, is thought to benefit the circulatory system, bones, and the health of teeth. It is also a good source of many B vitamins. As an antioxidant it is already working to reduce the risk of cancer, cardiovascular disease, stroke and some forms of cancer.
7. Chromiumis
Chromiumis a mineral that assists in more than 300 vital metabolic processes in the body. The unfortunate part is that chromium is widely used as a food additive and often 200 times more than what’s actually needed in the body. The mineral helps diabetes, obesity, cardiovascular disease and numerous other medical conditions. Talking about compelling research, another quick side benefit is the fact that chromium does wonders for the kidneys and liver.
Final Words
In conclusion, the importance of including nutritional supplements in your diet can not be emphasized enough. Quality information on the above minerals and other nutrients should be obtained from your doctor, the FDA and your local gym. With the correct information at hand, you might as well take your workout to the next level because the more goals you have, then the more goals you’ll reach.
There is not one antioxidant or vitamin that can protect you from all the challenges of the environment, but you can improve your ability to fight those diseases when you are in your home. That means you can implement changes in what you expose yourself to that will get your general health and wellness and reduce the chances that you will fall ill.
