What are Sports Supplements

44
rate or flag this page

By killimanjaro


Sports supplements are substances taken by athletes involved in weight training or other sports to help build lean muscle mass or cause fat loss.

Sports Supplements may also be used to improve athletic performance and improve the recovery from training. An important distinction exists in many training groups in weight between supplements and anabolic steroids. There is a misconception among non-users to supplement that supplementation for muscle-building is the same as the use of steroids or, at least, leads to the use of steroids. However, this is often challenged by supplements users on the grounds that supplements do not mean to change the levels of natural hormones (mainly those of testosterone) beyond natural limits, while anabolic steroids do.

Main Sports Supplements for Body Building

Creatine is an organic acid naturally in the body that provides energy for muscle cells for short bursts of energy (such as weight lifting) through creatine phosphate reconstitution of the ATP. A number of scientific studies have shown that creatine can increase strength, energy, muscle mass and reduced recovery time. In addition, recent studies have also shown that creatine improves brain function and reduced mental fatigue.

It increases what is known as cell volumization by drawing water into muscle cells, making them bigger. This intracellular retention should not be confused with the myth that causes bloating creatine (cross or water retention). Creatine is sold in a variety of forms, including creatine monohydrate, creatine ethyl ester and, among others.

Glutamine is the most abundant amino acid found in the muscles of humans and the body's natural levels of glutamine are exhausted during the anaerobic exercise. Some studies revealed that glutamine is beneficial in raising T-helper/suppressor cell ratio in long distance runners.

Nitric oxide is a free-form gas produced by the body to communicate with other cells. It is created when enzymes break down the amino acid arginine. The main advantage of nitric oxide is its role in controlling the flow of blood and regulate the activities of the brain, lungs, liver, stomach and other organs. It also helps in controlling blood pressure, dilates blood vessels and is used by the immune system to fight against viral, bacterial and parasitic infections. It is the ability of nitric oxide to increase blood flow which is of most interest to bodybuilders who can benefit because the increase blood flow provides more nutrients to the muscle cells thus helping them to grow during the adaptation and recovery, also its ability to reduce inflammation helps muscles that have been subjected to extreme stress.

Protein powder is generally consumed immediately after exercise, or in place of a meal. Having enough protein intake allows for efficient growth and repair of muscle tissue.

  • Whey protein is the most commonly used type of protein. It contains high levels of all essential amino acids not produced by the human body and is absorbed by the body very quickly.
  • Casein protein (protein or milk) is the most rich in glutamine, an amino acid that helps recovery, and casomorphin which helps the body absorb amino acids over a long period.
  • Soy protein contains all the essential amino acids, and is an alternative protein for vegetarians. Soy also contains isoflavones, a type of phytoestrogen, which have a weak estrogenic activity.
  • Egg white protein is a lactose milk and protein.
  • Hemp seed contains comprehensive and highly digestible protein and hemp oil is rich in essential fatty acids

Where to buy Sports Supplements

Try the Sports Supplements Store, there you can find auctions products that allow you to get great deals. If you don't want to wait until the final of auction, you can choose the "buy it now" products.

Print   —   Rate it:  up  down  flag this hub

Comments

RSS for comments on this Hub

No comments yet.

Submit a Comment

Members and Guests

Sign in or sign up and post using a hubpages account.


optional


  • No HTML is allowed in comments, but URLs will be hyperlinked
  • Comments are not for promoting your hubs or other sites

working