A trip through a supplement store's bodybuilding section can feel like walking through the VIP room of Tiffany's Jewelry store. With costly supplements lining the shelves, you may think that the best bodies go to the rich. Fortunately, this doesn't have to be case. Many of the most effective supplements on the market are also the least expensive. Learning about the best buys for bodybuilding supplements will help you grow muscle without shrinking your wallet.
Whey Protein
Whey protein is an effective way to boost muscle growth, according University of Birmingham's Kevin T Tipton. Tipton and his colleagues published research in the July 2006 issue of "American Journal of Physiology - Endocrinology and Metabolism" showing that having a whey protein supplement before or after working out promoted muscle synthesis. Fortunately, whey is a supplement that doesn't break the bank. A five pound container of Optimum Whey Protein costs around $44, according to BodyBuilding.com. That's only about 50 cents per serving. Whey protein is easily mixed with lost-cost liquids such as water and low fat milk.
Creatine
The University of Maryland Medical Center, or UMMC, reports that creatine is a supplement that enhances athletic performance, especially strength training. If taken over time along with a consistent weight lifting regimen, the UMMC adds, creatine supplements may give you bigger muscles than if you trained without it. Creatine is the most common and least expensive form of creatine. A 60 capsule bottle of Optimum brand creatine monohydrate is less than 50 cents per 5 g serving, BodyBuilding.com reports. The UMMC warns that creatine shouldn't be consumed by anyone under the age of 19.
Green Tea Extract
A bodybuilding physique isn't complete unless body fat is low enough so that the muscles you worked hard to build are actually visible. The National Institutes of Health reports that green tea extract is "possible effective" for burning away excess body fat. The UMMC adds that green tea boosts sagging metabolisms and promotes fat loss. Green tea contains compounds known as catechins that are likely responsible for green tea's fat burning properties. According to the retailer's website, Mega-T Green Tea Extract is only around 20 cents per capsule.
References
- UMMC: Creatine
- BodyBuilding: Optimum Whey Protein
- "American Journal of Physiology Endocrinology Metabolism": Stimulation of net muscle protein synthesis by whey protein ingestion before and after exercise
- BodyBuilding: Creatine Monohydrate Products Sorted By Lowest Price
- NIH: Green tea
- UMMC: Green Tea
Member Comments