Although there is an argument that can be made for the fact that some people rely too heavily on supplements, and expect too much from their supplements when it comes to general health, fitness, and overall well-being, what can’t be denied is the fact that when used correctly, and indeed chosen correctly, supplements most certainly have a role to play in helping each and every one of us reach our health, nutrition, and fitness goals, whatever they may be. The health and sports supplement industry is currently one of the most highly competitive and highly successful industries on the face of the planet, so it’s no wonder why there are so many different products to choose from. As far as finding the right supplements for your goals and targets goes, it’s worth noting that you shouldn’t rush into making any brash purchases, and you certainly shouldn’t be taken in by media hype and marketing. If you’re serious about health, fitness, and general well-being, when used alongside a healthy nutritional plan, and plenty of physical exercise, supplements can indeed provide you with that added kick you may have required. Thinking about seeing what supplements can do for you? Take a look at these top tips to help find the right supplements for the right job.
Know your goals
To begin with, before you even think about purchasing any supplement of any kind, the first thing you should do is make sure that you’re clear about what your goals and targets actually are. As an easy example, if you were suffering from an iron deficiency and were therefore looking to make sure you increased your daily iron intake, you’d be best suited purchasing iron supplements. If lean muscle growth is your goal, perhaps a whey protein and/or creatine powder would be best for you? Whatever your goals and targets may be, before you even think about purchasing supplements of any kind, make sure you’re clear about exactly what it is that you’re hoping to achieve.
Browse the web
The great thing about the internet is that you can find out pretty much anything you need to know, about pretty much anything you can think of. If you are looking for supplements that help to burn fat and build muscle for example, by browsing the web, reading articles, forums, and reviews etc, you can learn more about which products would be best suited for you and your goals. Not only that, but browsing the web also allows you to do your research on various products and companies you’re thinking of purchasing these supplements from. If you’ve found a vitamin supplement for example, but want to find out more about the company that developed it, as well as the company that is selling it, and if it actually works or not, by looking for product reviews for said product, you can find out what others have to say on the matter. If a company has a lot of negative reviews for example, you may wish to steer clear and look elsewhere. If the reviews are mixed, you may want to use your own judgement, and if the reviews are positive, you’ll probably want to try your luck and test said product out.
Be wary of drug interactions
If you’re taking any other drugs, either for medical or recreational use, if you do purchase any new supplements, before you take these supplements, first make sure you speak to a professional to help make sure whether or not it would be safe to take these supplements along with any other drugs or supplements you may be using. Remember, some of the ingredients found in these supplements are pretty potent and powerful, and so the last thing you want is for them to react with other drugs and/or supplements you’re using which could cause some pretty nasty side effects, and could possibly even result in something far worse. Nine times out of ten it will be fine to use alongside other drugs/supplements, but speak to a professional beforehand, and again, referring back to our previous sub-heading, why not browse the web and do a little research of your own?
Never store supplements in plastic shaker cups overnight
Whilst plastic shaker cups are ideal for mixing various powders with liquids, try not to store any supplements in the plastic cups for too long as the plastic does still contain toxins and compounds that could be detrimental to your training goals. If fat loss is your goal for example, be wary of mixing up protein shakes or meal replacement shakes and then storing them for too long as the plastic compounds can promote the release of the hormone Estrogen, and unfortunately Estrogen has been found to reduce metabolic function and promote fat gain. Glass or stainless steel cups are far better alternatives.
Try trading protein powders
Protein powders are the most popular sports supplement on the market today, and although you won’t really be able to see any real difference when you try different powders, you will be able to feel differences, and perhaps experience improvements or reductions of productivity in the gym. Then of course there’s the taste. There are so many different flavours of protein powder currently available, that to be able to try them all you would need a small fortune. To help find whether or not a different flavour, or indeed a different brand could be better suited for you however, why not trade protein powders with your friends? You could mix them up a shake using your powder, and have them mix up a shake for you and see how the taste fares. You could even swap a few day’s worth and see whether you notice any changes in how you feel I.E more or less bloated, more or less energy, etc. You won’t be able to see any improvements in your physique over a few days, unless of course you’re in single digit body fat percentages, but you can listen to your body and see which you prefer.
