Body-Building Supplements: How They Work & How They Don't

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Supplements that enhance muscle mass have been an openly acknowledged secret among a lot of men who drool over hefty shoulders and stone-like biceps. But, mind you, these men first put their hands on what we all know as protein supplements. Regrettably, such protein supplements have their own set of drawbacks and do not work much in one’s favour. It is in such cases that body-building supplements come into play. If you have also tried several inroads to reach your goal and still don’t see any light, body supplements are for you, but you take them, you must consult a medical professional for a green flag. This is because even body-building supplements have their own issues.

Increased muscle mass
Resistance training can allow one the growth of muscles, but till the time the body is provided with the necessary nutrients, there is no way that you will see any results. According to a research study that was published in 2002 in Nutrition & Metabolism journal, whey protein may help on compared with other sources of protein by promoting growth of muscle size and thereby, allowing one to recover from workout.
Increased strength in the muscles

While it may seem improbable what some supplement manufacturers claim dramatically, there are some supplements that really work to improve the muscle strength. For instance, a research study that was done and mentioned in the 2003 issue of the Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research said that creatine supplementation improves the strength of the muscles significantly when it is combined with resistance training.
Increased burning of fat

A lot of muscle supplements contain branched-chain amino acids that act as building blocks of protein and are a great contributor to the building of a muscle. According to a study published in 2011 issue of Journal of Sports Medicine and Physical Fitness, the use of branched-chain amino acid supplements can increase the process of burning during training sessions.
Gastrointestinal issues

There are certain muscle mass products that can irritate the gastrointestinal tract post consumption. One such body-building supplement that can cause a health issue pertaining to gastrointestinal tract is creatine. It can upset the stomach and cause diarrheoa. Besides, if you are not tolerant to lactose, you may experience nausea, bloating and cramps from the use of dairy products like whey.
Damage to the kidney

According to several researches, creatine can cause long-term damage to the kidney. One has to take a lot of creatine to be able to get any muscle, and a lot of the creatine ends up in the urine. To rid the extra urine off, one has to produce more urine and this puts a lot of pressure on the kidneys.
Sleeplessness or insomnia
Two of the components in some muscle mass products is creatine in combination with caffeine to allow one to engage in more intense workouts. The regular use of products that contain caffeine can lead to health problems. Although, caffeine allows one to be more active, thereby causing one to spend more time at the gym than average, it can also lead to restlessness, anxiety and insomnia, especially if the supplement is taken close to night time.

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