Spotting a Bad Workout Supplement

Photo Credit: William Bigelis (flickr.com)

The workout supplement industry is considered by non-users as one big scam. They argue that all you need to get results is diligent trips to the gym and a eating the right foods at the right time. This is true, but this is exactly why supplements are called as such: they supplement whatever it is that you take. Protein can be found in chicken, for instance, but eating too much chicken just for additional protein can be counterproductive; hence protein supplements. While there are a lot of good supplements out there, there are still bad apples in the basket.

How do you spot the bad ones? The first thing you can do is to do some research. Most of the bad ones often have banned substances. Anything you come across with that contain steroids should be avoided like a sprinting zombie. It's also worth noting that some specific brands have been "reworked." Jack3d and OxyElite, for instance, were pulled from shelves for containing a potentially lethal substance. These have been since reworked and put back into the market. Just make sure you pick the second incarnation of these said products if there's any.

One good example is Mesomorph, which had a loyal following. Its manufacturers took out one component and renamed it Mesomorph 2.0. If you encounter one without the "2.0," it might be better to stay away from it. Acai berries are the same thing. They had bad rep because of false advertising, but it does have its advantages.

Sometimes, it's not the harmful ingredients that make the supplement bad. It's often what they mix into it that dilutes its quality. As a good rule of thumb, it is best to find supplements that have minimal ingredients. For instance, there are different types of creatine supplements. If a product that's branded to be a creatine supplement but has too much of other stuff in it, it may not be worth the purchase if you're strictly going for creatine.

At this point, you may already figure out that the secret is to look at the nutritional label on each product. Always do that and familiarize yourself with what these ingredients do. If you find an ingredient that you have not heard of before, it's probably because it isn't useful; or worse, harmful to your health. There are a lot of interchangeable terms when it comes to supplement ingredients, but if you find one that you can't pronounce, chances are it's made up or it is a questionable component of the product. Better stay away from those.

Related Links:

5 Olympic Athletes Share Their Workout Secrets (webmd.com)

7 New Weight Loss Supplements With Top Scientific Ratings (forbes.com)

How to Choose Your Workout Supplement

Photo Credit: banana mufu (flickr.com)

Proper exercise and a healthy diet is enough to build muscles. For someone in a hurry, however, the results can take forever to be noticed. This is especially true if one feels like working out is a chore and not a goal-oriented affair. If it is faster results you need, the answer is simple: work out more. The problem is that we have different body types and different levels of endurance. This is where supplements come in: to give us a boost with our gym trips.

How do you choose your pre workout supplement? The first thing you're going to need is information. You will want to know what a supplement is then determine what kind of supplement you need. There are pre workout supplements, post workout supplements, weight loss supplements, and more. It's important to know what you need. For instance, a protein powder and creatine combination is a staple in bodybuilding as it gives the best results in building mass. If you just want to be in shape and lose some pounds, you don't really need them.

Once you've determined the supplements you want, check various products and find some reviews for them. If you want real reviews, visit various bodybuilding forums. This way, you'll know if a review is a paid one or not, as various forum members will call it out if it is. For instance, APS Mesomorph 2.0 has pretty fair reviews on NutritionWarehouse's webpage, but forum reviews often still call out side effects that may or may not be experienced by first time users.

This is actually the next step in the process. Once you've chosen the supplement and have reviewed the reviews, you should then start looking for possible side effects. This shouldn't put you off of using supplements. Almost every supplement has a side effect. For instance, most pre workout supplements that contain beta alanine will come with a prickly or tingling sensation. This is viewed by most bodybuilders as a sign that the supplement is working as it should be. However, this can turn into a full-blown itchiness if you take too high of a dose.

Most supplement side effects can be circumvented. It's also the same with creatine, which works by fueling your muscles with whatever water reserves your body has. This leads to dizziness, headaches, and other symptoms that lead to one thing: dehydration. Should you find yourself using creatine, be sure to take a lot of water with it.

Finally, for the best experience, seek advice from a nutritionist or physician. They should be able to tell you what supplements are good and which ones are bad. Once you get the green light from them, knock yourself out.

Related Links:

Branched-Chain Amino Acids (webmd.com)

Nutritional Supplements Flexing Muscles As Growth Industry (forbes.com)