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Home: Weight Lifting and Nutritional SupplementsThe idea of nutritional supplementation for weightlifting and bodybuilding is a simple one. We know that there is a basic equation to building muscle through weightlifting and resistance training: push your muscles to their limits, followed by appropriate rest to build new muscle, and give your body the proper nutrients it needs to build muscle. Supplementation comes in at that last part of the equation. While many lifters can develop a good routine of "on again/off again" training and can stick to it - always eating the right foods that give the body what it needs to build muscle and build muscle quickly isn't always that easy. Supplements make sure you are giving the body what it needs to recover and build muscle after workingout. Nutritional supplementation for the bodybuilder or weightlifter fall into a few categories, and once again how you supplement will depend on what your ultimate weightlifting goals are. Nutritional supplements for weightlifters are usually products designed to increase muscle like proteins and creatine. Products designed to increase metabolism like fat burners. Supplements that safely simulate the effects of harmful anabolic steroids, and products that aid in recovery and promote joint health like Glucosamine and MSN. Protein is one of the most essential building blocks to making new muscle. It is cannot be stored in the body so to build muscle you need to constantly replenish your bodies supply of protein. Unfortunately the foods that are highest in protein are often also the highest in fat, and as a bodybuilder or weightlifter you are always trying to decrease your fat intake. Also you are probably loading on carbs, and again most foods high in carbohydrates are low in protein, so most weightlifters will supplement with a good quality protein powder. Protein powders come in variety of types - such as whey protein or soy protein - and flavors, and can be used not only in drinks but in recipes like those found in the Zone diet. Check with your personal trainer or healthcare professional for the right protein supplement for you. Protein builds muscles, a chemical known as ATP, Adenosine Triphosphate is the fuel that powers them. One of the other most popular supplements that is taken by weightlifters is Creatine. Creatine is naturally found in meat and fish. Creatine when it gets into the muscles combines with phosphate and creates ATP. The more ATP the stronger the muscle and the more resistant it is to fatigue. ATP gives the muscle bursts of energy that allow you to weightlift longer and stronger. And finally there are the supplements that are the so-called anabolic alternatives. We all know about the dangers of steroids. To avoid the potential problems of taking steroids but to achieve the same type of effect safely, these products all basically work the same way. They use a combination of herbal and other natural ingredients to naturally enhance or stimulate the body's own production of testosterone. And while these products are generally safe, and do not involve the ingesting of hormones, since the are intended to and can change the levels of hormonal activity in the body they should still be used with precaution by teens and women.
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