Diet pills and muscle builders are popular dietary supplements used by fitness enthusiasts, athletes, bodybuilders and recreational trainees. Supplements may improve your training results when combined with an effective diet and exercise plan. Always consult with your doctor before adding any dietary supplement to your exercise or weight loss program.
Significance
The dietary supplement industry that includes diet pills and muscle-building supplements has grown into a multi-billion-dollar-a-year behemoth. Many supplement companies promise you faster results, claiming their products can burn fat and build muscle. It is important to remember that there are no magic pills when it comes to fitness. Your diet and exercise program make the largest impact on your fitness results. However, some effective supplements can improve your results more than diet and exercise alone.
Function
Diet pills can boost weight loss by speeding up your metabolic rate. Thermogenesis means the production of heat within the body and its end result is more calorie-burning. Natural substances that impact metabolic rate in this way go by the name thermogenics, reports "Supplements 101" by Jim Stoppani PhD. Other weight loss aids may suppress hunger, increase energy and improve fat burning hormone production in the thyroid gland. Muscle building supplements impact muscle growth by supplying the amino acid building blocks of muscle, increasing protein synthesis and decreasing muscle breakdown, according to "Natural Anabolics" by Jerry Brainum.
Muscle Builders
Protein supplements such as whey, casein, soy, egg and vegetable protein powders make natural additions to a muscle growth program. Protein breaks down into amino acids, which the body uses to repair damaged muscles. Certain amino acids can further improve muscle-building when taken in isolation. For example, L-arginine boosts production of the gas nitric oxide, or NO, which promotes muscle growth and fat burning, according to "Everything You Need to NO" by Jordana Brown. Branched-chain amino acids, or BCAAs, metabolize directly in muscle tissue and trigger protein synthesis, says Brainum. Creatine and beta-alanine improve muscle energy production so that you can train longer and harder.
Diet Pills
Common ingredients in diet pills include caffeine and other stimulants and green tea extract, containing EGCG, or epigallocatechin gallate. In fact, the combination of 200 mg of caffeine and 300 mg of EGCG has been shown to increase metabolic rate, according to "Homemade Supplement Secrets" by Jeff Anderson. Other effective ingredients are L-carnitine, forskolin from the herb coleus forskohlii, CLA, or conjugated linoleic acid, and 7-keto, according to Stoppani.
Warning
The stimulants found in many diet pills are not for everyone and can have serious side effects. Individuals with heart disease, or at risk for developing it, should not take any central nervous stimulants. Young athletes and beginning bodybuilders often rely too heavily on muscle-building supplements. Dietary supplements never replace proper nutrition. Reading labels thoroughly and following directions carefully goes a long way toward ensuring your safety. However, you should always consult with your doctor before using muscle builders or diet pills.
References
- "Muscle & Fitness Presents 2010 Edition: The Ultimate Supplement Handbook;" Supplements 101; Jim Stoppani PhD; January 2010
- "Natural Anabolics;" Jerry Brainum; 2006
- "Muscle & Performance;" Everything You Need to NO; Jordana Brown; January 2010
- "Homemade Supplements Secrets;" Jeff Anderson; 2008
- "Xtreme Lean;" Jonathan Lawson and Steve Holman; 2005
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