The Best Supplements for Muscle Gain

The supplement industry has used advances in science and technology to manufacture product lines designed to increase the potential for muscle gain. To gain muscle, you must take in more calories than you burn, along with several nutrients and amino acids. Muscle gain supplements focus on both of these aspects.

Weight Gainers

Weight gainers help provide the proper nutrition needed to gain muscle. Many of these products contain around 1,000 calories per serving. Most have a balanced spread of protein, carbohydrates and fat. Weight gainers come in powder and liquid forms, allowing for easy and quick access and use. Optimum Serious Mass and CytoSport CytoGainer are two popular weight gainers.

Creatine

Creatine is an organic acid consisting of three amino acids. It is not a steroid and is naturally produced in the body. Creatine gives the body energy in the form of ATP, the body's primary energy source. Creatine directly affects the performance of muscles and is essential during high-intensity activity such as weightlifting. These supplements come in powder and pill form and are easily carried and mixed. They are commonly used pre-workout and post-workout. Gaspari Super Pump 250 is a popular creatine product.

Whey Protein

While carbohydrates and fat provide the body its necessary energy and insulation, protein is essential for muscle growth and repair. Those whose diets lack protein from food sources can use whey protein to make up the difference. Whey protein usually comes in powder form, although products such as Muscle Milk offer a quality, yet slightly more expensive blend. Whey protein mixes into shakes with fruit, milk, oats or even water. Optimum Nutrition's 100% Whey is a whey protein product.

References

• Bodybuilding: Diet and Supplements
• Bodybuilding For You: Creatine
• Bodybuilding: High Calorie Weight Gainers