Walk into any supplement store, or even Whole Foods, and you will see tons of supplements for different things. Pre-workout, intra-workout, creatine, protein, greens, etc. And not only that, there are a bunch of different brands. Which can then bring up a lot of questions…What are they? What to take? When to take them? Do they work? It can be a bit of a nightmare. So today I wanted to give you a few pros and cons of these fitness supplements, let you know if they work and leave you with a few reputable brands.
WHAT ARE FITNESS SUPPLEMENTS?
The definition of supplement is “something that completes or enhances something else when added to it.” Therefore fitness supplements are intended to be added to a training program to help enhance the effects. They can increase muscle size, increase recovery time, enhance workouts etc. There is a lot of research behind these compounds and what they do within our bodies, but there can always be more. Make sure before you start taking any supplements you know all of the information about them and what it can do within your body, and take a look at your diet to ensure you aren’t going to be getting “too much”. There is so much more to learn about these supplements before making an informed decision to use them. Mind you, these are all totally legal and you can take them at your own risk.
POPULAR FITNESS SUPPLEMENTS
If you are familiar with supplements, you know that there are mixed feelings about them. Some people take them daily and see real results, while others find them to be unnecessary and refrain from using them.
PROS AND CONS OF FITNESS SUPPLEMENTS
Research says supplements are beneficial, and then research says they aren’t proven to help much at all. So, it is up to you to make your own decisions about whether or not you’re going to take supplements.
PROS:
• Increased strength
• Increased protein synthesis
• Increased bloodflow
• Increased muscle recovery
• More stamina
• Enhanced performance
• Fat loss
CONS:
• Kidney damage
• GI problems
• Insomnia
• Headaches
• Liver damage
• Nutrient Deficiencies