Are Supplements Important for Bodybuilding and Athletes?

Posted on Sunday 29th of April 2018 at 02:45:40 AM

Sports and bodybuilding supplements are big business. The question is, is the sports nutrition industry a farce or do dietary supplements actually benefit users?

If you’re involved in bodybuilding, mixed martial arts, athletics and the like, supplements are important. Sure, you can get decent results if you are eating well and getting your nutrition from foods alone. But, getting results is generally a lot more difficult.

For instance, glutamine, which is an amino acid that aids muscle recovery and promotes muscle growth, is hard to get in sufficient amounts through the foods that we eat.

If you need extra protein, it can be challenging to get it through foods without taking in other unwanteds, whereas whey isolate supplements provide a good source of pure protein.

Are Sports Supplements Necessary for High Performance?

Taking sports supplements isn’t a must. As mentioned, it is possible to get great results from foods if you’re getting all the macronutrients and micronutrients that your body needs.

However, with our modern, fast-paced lifestyles, following the type of diet that can provide the nutrition needed to operate at peak physical levels is not feasible for most people. Just finding and accessing all the necessary foods can prove to be incredibly arduous.

This is where dietary supplements come into play. They support a healthy and physical lifestyle, filling in the nutrition gaps in our diets and helping us to perform and grow.

Supplements make it easier for athletes and bodybuilders to achieve their goals. This is why the global sports nutrition market is expected to reach $44,003 million by 2021.

Are Bodybuilding Supplements Required for Muscle Building?

Supplements aren’t necessary for building muscle. That being said, supplements can accelerate muscle growth and help bodybuilders get the most out of their bodies and training.

Will sports nutrition supplements get you massive and ripped overnight? No, and no diet is going to do that either. It takes work, commitment and time to develop muscle and improve fitness. Supplementing can speed up the process, though. Often, quite significantly.

In addition, when you’re taking the right bodybuilding supplements, the process of building muscle becomes less painful, as the body tends to recover more efficiently.

Post-workout supplements, for example, boost muscle repair and reduce muscle breakdown, while rehydrating the body and replacing the nutrients that are lost during workouts.

Should You Take Dietary Supplements?

It’s a personal choice, of course, and supplementing isn’t for everybody, but most bodybuilders and athletes can benefit greatly from the rational use of quality sports supplements.

For those who are new to nutritional supplementation, it is always best to take it slow when starting out. That is, test the best supplements over time. See how they work for you.

Are supplements important for bodybuilding and athletes? Yes, there are many who will argue firmly that they are, yet supplements are only one part of the equation.

To become stronger and fitter and perform optimally, one must subscribe to an appropriate regimen. Eat well and train hard. Rest enough. The supplements will bolster your efforts.