Have you ever taken a look at the huge variety of workout supplements that are available on the market? Well, there is a huge selection to choose from. If you want to meet your performance and nutritional goals, it’s going to be a lot easier with the help of supplements. However, the bigger question is which supplements are actually safe and worth your money, and which ones are just a waste of your time. You can achieve many of your fitness goals with the help of pre and pro-workout supplements. Read to know more.
Since supplements do not require the regulation of the FDA, it means they have to undergo the necessary third-party testing to ensure your safety. Hence, it becomes essential for you to ask your doctor or dietitian for their recommendation on a certain brand. You could also try doing some ahead-of-time research on your own to find out more about the supplements.
According to researchers, it is suggested that you go for supplements that are either marked as Informed Choice or NSF Certified for Sports. In order to make things easier for you we made a rundown on workout supplements that are good for you based on expert recommendations and suggestions. Keep on reading to find out more.
Pre-Workout Supplements
Are pre-workout supplements actually worth the hype? According to researchers, these supplements are able to help you improve your fitness by giving you the required energy to make challenging workouts easier to do.
Pre-workout supplements are intended to safely give your body a push that is going to help you get to your maximum potential. Since they are able to supply amino acids and nutrients quickly to the muscles, they are able to keep on performing for a longer period of time.
When it comes to pre-workout supplements there are quite a few options that you can choose from, but some of the best ones according to us are:
1. Caffeine
Caffeine is definitely a great option to pick up since it is one of the most popular choices when it comes to pre-workout supplements. What caffeine really does when you take it is it boosts your energy and also increases your focus so you can continue working out for a longer time.
If those are not enough benefits for you then you would also be glad to find out that caffeine helps to increase your metabolism and increase your memory as well. This means that you will definitely see a lot more results after you are done working out.
2. Creatine
If you did not know what creatine is, it is actually a chemical compound that is naturally found in the cells of your muscles. Since this chemical compound primarily focuses on muscle strength and also produces energy, it becomes a useful supplement for people who are doing exercises with high intensity or lifting heavy weights.
Moreover, creatine does not only help you with building the mass of your muscles, but it actually does help with improving your recovery time as well.
3. Beta-Alanine
The main goal of this supplement is performance. When you are doing highly intensive exercises it helps you improve your performance and your exercise capacity so you are not getting tired as easily.
Your muscles can suffer from fatigue and then slow down your workout routine when you’re doing high-intensity workouts. This is something that mainly happens due to hydrogen ions accumulating in your muscles. However, beta-alanine helps you get over this problem by working as a buffer for the hydrogen ions.
Post-Workout Supplements
Obviously, not all supplements work the same way. We mean it in the sense that post-workout supplements in general work completely in a different way than pre-workout supplements. The supplements that you should take after working out should be dedicated mainly to your muscle recovery.
Post-workout supplements are intended to improve muscle synthesis and are able to reduce the pains and aches of working out. This allows your body to repair itself while you keep on working out and training.
If you are thinking about taking post-workout supplements, then these are some of the best post-workout supplements you can consider.
1. Protein Powder
It is hard to go wrong with protein powder since it is not only safe but is also proven to be an effective post-workout supplement. A lot of people know that the main thing required for muscle growth is protein, and by taking in protein powder you are allowing your damaged tissues and muscles to be repaired a lot more quickly.
This is great for speeding up the process of recovering from the soreness in your muscles after you are done exercising. There are many different kinds of protein powder available on the market, but what makes them such popular supplements to use post-workout is how easy to use and affordable most of them are.
2. BCAAs
BCAAs, which are also known as Branched-Chain Amino Acids, are supplements that most people take after their workout sessions due to the muscle-building benefits that the supplement offers. Another great thing about BCAAs is that they are able to help you increase your overall speed and endurance so they tend to be a popular supplement used by runners.
BCAAs are also seen to be helpful for the reduction of fatigue from your body, so for people who experience a lot of fatigue in their muscles after their workout, these supplements might be a good idea.
Final Words
Is it worth taking supplements before or after you are done working out? In our opinion taking both pro-workout and pre-workout supplements is a pretty good thing to consider! That is because they are proven to help boost your workout regimen a lot. They can provide you with a lot of benefits through your exercises so it is a great option to invest in them!
You can also read: Signs you may need to be taking green powder – and how to pick the best one
