During a workout, muscles break down and must be replaced, to do this a certain amount of vitamins, minerals, and sugars are necessary to utilize proteins effectively and maximize muscle building from working out.
Nitric Oxide
In order for muscles to perform at peak efficiency during a workout, they need all the oxygen and nutrient-rich blood they can get. Nitric oxide, (a.k.a.- NO or NO2) is a free form gas naturally produced by the body upon breaking down the amino acid Arginine. Nitric oxide is used by cells to signal to one another; specifically, it is used to signal smooth muscle cells within blood vessels to dilate. This allows for more blood to effectively reach the muscles during a workout. More blood flow means better performance and more muscle gain.
Nitric oxide comes in a pill or powder, and both have been shown to be equally effective. Xtreme NO is a popular nitric oxide supplement and has shown in clinical studies to improve workout performance and maximize muscle gains.
Creatine
In the past twenty years, creatine has become one of the most widely used muscle building supplements available. It is produced naturally in the liver, kidneys, and pancreas, and is also found predominantly in meat and fish. Creatine is delivered to the muscles through the bloodstream, where it is then converted to creatine phosphate, or phosphocreatine. This metabolite is responsible for replenishing the body’s main source of energy, ATP.
When ATP is used, it converts to ADP for some time before being restored to more usable ATP. High phosphocreatine levels will restore these energy stores much faster, meaning you can work out for longer and build muscle faster.
EFA’s: Essential Fatty Acids
Essential fatty acids are fats that are necessary for muscle growth, but are not produced naturally by the body. Supplementation and proper diet is therefore necessary for a muscle builder seeking the most gain from their workout.
EFA’s can be broken down into two groups, Omega-3 and Omega-6. Omega-9 fatty acids are also necessary but not classified as “essential” because humans can produce a small amount on their own.
EFA’s perform a wide variety of functions that support cardiovascular, immune, and nervous systems. To a muscle builder, these are all vital functions and all play a role in muscle performance and recovery. Some of their functions include regulating vasodilation, transporting oxygen from blood cells to muscle tissue, regulate collateral circulation, regulate water retention and rigidity of muscle cells, anticoagulant of blood cells, smooth muscle regulation, and breaking up LDL plaque buildup inside blood vessels.
All these functions come together during a workout to see users an average of 50% more stamina, improved muscle growth during recovery, faster recovery time, and improved cardiovascular function.
Protein Supplements
Protein is an essential muscle builder that no one hoping to build muscle can be without. Protein is used to repair and replace broken down muscle with a even greater amount of muscle. This is a defense mechanism employed by the body in order to adapt to changing conditions and make it easier to perform the same task next time it needs to be done. People who have enough protein present in the blood during and after a workout will see gains. However, if you don’t have enough protein in the diet after breaking down the muscles, there will be no material with which to repair them, and you will see a loss of muscle mass.
Don’t worry though, as getting enough protein in the diet is not difficult, as they are found predominantly in fish, red meats, and dairy products. Eating enough of the right kinds of these will ensure your body has enough protein to make more muscle. The body is especially hungry for these immediately after a workout, so having a protein shake ready will maximize recovery time and muscle mass.
