Vitamins and Supplements to Fuel Your Performance

No matter what your personal goal is, whether it’s to lose weight, gain muscle or get fit, there are certain supplements and vitamins that may benefit your fitness regime. Which one should you take? Here are some which may accentuate and complement your routine.

Vitamin D

Vitamin D is known for its effects on bone and calcium metabolism. Low levels of this vitamin correlate with an increased risk of illness and stress fracture in athletes; therefore if you’re deficient in Vitamin D, this may affect your athletic performance. Consider taking this vitamin if you live in area which doesn’t get much sunshine, which could contribute to deficiency.

Whey Protein

Whey is a quick digesting protein that should be consumed within an hour after your last workout to jumpstart protein synthesis. Along with muscle repair and recovery, whey has the ability to do things like increase energy, help with depression, and benefit the hair and skin.

Creatine

Creatine is scientifically proven to help increase strength, which means it allows you to pack on muscle faster than any other supplement. Naturally found in red meat and fish, this addition to your regime can provide the body with energy and translate to muscle growth and improved athletic performance.

Vitamin B12

This vitamin assists your body in converting carbohydrates into glucose. Your body uses glucose for energy so before exercise, you need to consume carbohydrates to have the energy to get through your workout. If you have a B12 deficiency, these carbohydrates will not properly be converted into energy, which will leave you feeling fatigued and unable to finish your workout.

BCAAs

Branch chain amino acids are 3 essential amino acids – leucine, isoleucine and valine – that are the building blocks of protein. The body obtains these nutrients from meat and they’re great for when you’re trying to preserve muscle because you’re not taking in fat with BCAAs. Many high-grade whey proteins contain BCAAs, and when taken together they can provide greater boosts in energy and strength.

Consider adding one or more of these vitamins and supplements into your fitness regimen and you may see a difference in the productivity of your work out. Along with accentuating strength gains and weight loss from your hard work inside of the gym, some supplements can also provide additional benefits like increased energy, an enhanced mood, and an overall healthier appearance.