Supplements – A Wonderful Servant but a Terrible Master
| Supplements, just like technology, are a wonderful servant but a terrible master. Muscle building, fat burning, and recovery can all be aided with nutritional supplements but they should never be a foundational aspect of a fitness program. Replacing metabolic activity with a fat burning pill is just the same as checking your e-mail, twitter, or facebook five dozen times a day. Both can be fun in the short run but eventually your office chair will start to feel snug around the buttocks. Just as Google can simplify your web surfing, supplements can expedite your efforts toward sound nutrition and invigorating exercise. Here are three supplements that are so |  |
good they shouldn’t even be considered supplements.
#1 – Whey Protein - It is the fastest acting protein available which is great to have when you wake up, before workouts, after workouts, before meals to reduce hunger, or at in between meal snacks for a healthy boost of lean protein. It’s incredible. It is also loaded with Branched Chain Amino Acids to also help recovery, maintain muscle mass when dieting, or pack on muscle when you’re lifting heavy weights. Replacing calorie laden foods with the goodness of lean protein should be a part in everyone’s diet and is at the apex of supplementation.
#2 – Multivitamin - The good old fashioned multivitamin. These help regulate your biological systems and provide valuable micronutrients. Without having full reserves of all these essential vitamins and minerals your body will be too distracted to help you reach your fitness goals. If you’re lacking any vitamins you won’t be at your highest fat burning or muscle building capabilities. Buyers beware the brand name or generic bunch. Most of these are chelated, which means they are coated with the same stuff that’s on your driver license and will probably trek straight through you.
#3 – Fish Oils - These support heart and joint health as well as healthy brain function by giving a boost to your neurotransmitters. Fish oil contains DHA (docosahexaenoic acid) and EPA (eicosapentaenoic acid) which are omega-3 fatty acids used for their anti-inflammatory properties. They are similar to the healthy fats found in olive oil, nuts, and avocados that are essential but not produced by your body. Look for softgels that are enteric coated so the fishy taste and smell stays in your belly and not on your breath.