Which Supplements Should You Use

In the world of fitness, supplements are always promoted to have almost steroid-like effects that supposedly “enhance” your performance, help you lose fat, build muscle, etc. But what are supplements really, and which are the products that are proven to work? We are going to shed some light on the most effective supplements you can add to your nutrition plan. 

Stimulation & Recovery

When it comes to training, two primary things happen - First, you go through your workout, where you engage your muscles and nervous system, along with many other bodily systems. After that stimulation period comes the recovery part, where all the components and systems that worked recover and increase their working capacity.

Here are the most crucial things that happen during a workout 

• Muscle protein breakdown

During heavy workouts, we break down muscle protein in a process called “muscle protein breakdown (MPD) .”After your training session is over, that same muscle protein starts recovering in a process called “muscle protein synthesis (MPS).” When your rate of MPS is greater than the rate of MPD, you go through a successful recovery phase that results in greater strength and size of the musculature.

• Creatine breakdown

The primary energy molecule for the body during high-intensity activities is adenosine triphosphate (ATP). However, due to the fact that ATP stores are relatively limited, intense training quickly exhausts those reserves.

By continuing muscle activity, the body restores ATP by using the secondary muscle energy store - Creatine. That is to say that creatine isn’t just a supplement but a naturally synthesized compound that serves as an alternative energy source.

• Nervous System Activity

High-intensity workouts highly engage not just the muscles but the nervous system as well. A well-activated central nervous system would allow you to achieve a greater strength output. There are certain supplements you can use to improve the activity of your nervous system, so keep reading to learn more! 

What Is A Supplement, Even?

Nowadays, some supplement companies advertise they have a magical product that can somehow compensate for training and nutrition. However, supplements can be highly beneficial, but they are not magic pills. By definition, a supplement is a thing added to something else to enhance or complete it. In other words, supplements are added to your already well-established nutrition plan to complete it- Not to replace something lacking.

The 3 Supplements Worth Taking 

In the context of improving athletic output (strength, endurance, etc.) and recovery after that, a couple of supplements are proven to work.

• Protein supplements

Contrary to popular belief, protein supplements contain pretty much the same protein like that in foods. However, in its powdered form, protein is more isolated and can be digested more rapidly due to the absence of other ingredients. Protein supplements can be a viable tool to help you derive a solid dose of protein quickly, at a time of need, such as after a workout. Even more so, a scoop of protein can grant the body enough protein at a moment when you don’t have the time for a complete meal.

Additionally, there is another variation of protein supplements called “casein.” In essence, casein is a protein that digests slowly and can be used before bedtime. Without a doubt, protein is one of the most viable supplements that will help you keep up the rate of muscle protein synthesis and thus, improve gains in the long term.

• Creatine

This second supplement on the list is one of the most researched and proven to work products out there in the fitness world. As we already mentioned, creatine is the body’s natural, secondary energy reserve. The best-known and proven to work form of creatine is creatine monohydrate, supplemented with just 5 grams a day. This amount will help you saturate your muscles’ creatine reserves and thus, improve maximum strength and endurance. Are you looking to maximize your output and blast through your plateaus? Take some creatine.

• Caffeine

There are days when you just DON’T feel like working out, and we’ve all experienced that. Caffeine, however, is one of the best stimulants, proven to enhance and improve your athletic output, as well as mental clarity and focus. This ingredient is used in a variety of pre-workout boosters but can also be found in your everyday coffee or energy drinks. Don’t forget, though caffeine is safe up to 300-400 mg per day and needs some time to kick in and then get out of your system. For this reason, it is recommended that you consume your caffeine ~30 minutes before a workout and not less than 6 hours before sleep otherwise, your sleeping pattern may be disrupted.

Unfortunately, supplements are not the magic they are often promoted to be; however, they can still be made a viable addition to your nutrition plan. As far as effectiveness goes, protein, creatine, and caffeine are the three most potent supplements that any generally healthy person can add to their nutrition plan.

All 3 of these supplements will improve your training output and recovery, leading to better gains over time.

Browse our online store and take a look at our supplements. If you have any questions, don’t hesitate to reach out to the Roex team by chat, mail, or phone. 

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