Words: Harry Smith
Fitness supplements can play an important role in our daily nutrition, helping us to improve performance or achieve personal goals. When taken correctly, supplements can assist with lean definition, building muscle or simple recovery, as well as general health and wellbeing.
Health foods have come on leaps and bounds in the last decade or so. Now, rather than downing raw eggs like Rocky or devouring masses of chicken like a souped-up Soviet strongman, we can mix and match our powdered and pill supplements with relative ease and to our heart’s content. But, streuth, there’s a hell of a lot of choice out there. We spoke to Chris Richards, a London-based online trainer, to help us to demystify sports nutrition and to pick out the best supplements for growth, power and recovery. Gentlemen, it’s time to get better, faster, stronger. Beat your best with these fitness supplements.
PROTEIN, WHEY & CASEIN
Both are key to maximising lean muscle development, growth and strength. Whey is the essential classic, the quintessential supplement. Casein is slow releasing, slow digesting and ideal before bed.
CREATINE
Anyone looking to increase mass, strength and anaerobic performance should supplement with creatine. It helps you get that one more rep.
BRANCHED CHAIN AMINO ACIDS (BCAAS)
Stock up your body with the building blocks it needs to start repairing muscle fibres as soon as they start tearing.
OMEGA 3
The supplement that is recommend for anyone and everyone, this essential provides far too many health benefits to ignore.
MULTI-VITAMINS
When you’re training hard, ensure that you get all the vitamins, minerals and antioxidants you need to keep your immune system strong. Vitamins C and D and zinc and magnesium are the good’uns.
PROBIOTICS
Gut health is hugely neglected. If you hammer your digestive system for years with alcohol, junk food and ciggies, you’re not going to get the best results out of your training or nutrition.
GREEN TEA & CAFFEINE
Green tea offers a ton of health benefits. It is a powerful fat-burner loaded with powerful antioxidants. The caffeine it contains improves focus, drive and reduces perceived rate of exertion.
ACETYL L CARNITINE
This fat-burning supplement converts fats to fuel. More endurance, more muscle, less fat. Boom.
BETA ALANINE
It’s a lactic acid buffer, so you won’t fatigue or cramp as much when you’re training. This pre-workout booster will make your head and fingers tingle!
GREENS DRINK
A convenient and effective supplement to help increase your daily fruit, vegetable and herb intake and aid your dietary health.
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