Though there are many philosophies surrounding the best way to improve gains and boost endurance after a workout, most fitness fanatics agree that a post-workout supplement is an important part of almost any exercise regimen. Whether they’re “necessary,” per se, may be up for debate, but the usefulness of these products is indisputable, especially when your goal is to increase your muscle mass or speed recovery after a tough workout. However, there are many different varieties of post-workout supplements out there, so how do you know which one is right for you? To hear more about these products, including whether a post-workout supplement is necessary, keep reading as the experts at aminoVITAL® explain.
Common Types of Post-Workout Supplements
When scanning the shelves of your local health food store or perusing the different types of post-workout supplements available online, it’s easy to be overwhelmed. With so many options out there, it might be helpful to go over the different types of supplements and what they do. Find out more below.
Protein Shakes and Powders
Most people are familiar with this option. Shakes and powders that offer whole proteins are among the most widespread post-workout supplements. There’s no doubt that they’re useful, but they’re also sort of the baseline product; while they may provide benefits, they lack some of the advantages of more specialized products.
Branched-Chain Amino Acids
Though each of the three branched-chain amino acids – leucine, isoleucine, and valine – can be found in many types of protein, consuming them on their own can make for a much leaner and faster-acting post-workout supplement than conventional protein. BCAA supplements also offer a few advantages, such as an ability to combat fatigue1 and reduce soreness2 after a workout.
Creatine
Another widely used variety of post-workout supplement, creatine has consistently been shown to provide increased energy during exercise. Consuming a supplement with creatine can help restore your body’s supply of this compound, providing fuel for the next workout.
Fish Oil
Many people take fish oil to improve heart health, thanks to the omega-3 fatty acids it offers, but this supplement can also help after a workout. That’s because fish oil’s omega-3s can help reduce inflammation, a source of soreness after exercise.
Glutamine
Another type of amino acid, glutamine has been shown3 to reduce soreness and aid recovery after exercise, making it an effective post-workout supplement. Look for amino acid supplements that contain this compound along with BCAAs for additional support.
Do I Need to Take a Post-Workout Supplement?
The answer to this question can vary from person to person, but we’ll do our best to answer it here. Generally speaking, the straightforward answer is that you probably don’t need a post-workout supplement. However, there’s a reason that so many fitness fans use these supplements anyway: Adding one of these products to your routine can significantly increase the rate at which you can build muscle mass, reduce soreness, and prepare your body for the next round of exercise. In other words, for someone who works out frequently or who wants to get the most out of their exercise routine, a post-workout supplement really is necessary.
Take Post-Workout Supplements for Recovery
When you work out, and especially when you engage in very strenuous exercise, your body breaks down your muscle tissue. This happens to provide extra fuel during times of activity, and it’s worsened by the fact that straining the muscles creates tiny tears that need to be repaired as well. The result of these stresses is that your muscle tissue may be in rough shape immediately after a workout.
Without an effective post-workout supplement, your body may be unable to repair the damage done to it, meaning that you probably won’t be performing at your peak during the next workout. Also, it’s worth noting that your body’s stores of glycogen, a form of glucose stored in the muscles and used as fuel during exercise, will probably need to be replenished; a post-workout supplement that contains some amount of carbohydrates, such as aminoVITAL®’s Rapid Recovery post-workout mix, would be ideal for this.
Try Post-Workout Supplements for Greater Gains
In addition to their role in repairing damaged muscles, a post-workout supplement can provide your body with the resources it needs to build up your muscle mass and increase your strength. Immediately after exercise, your body enters a state of relatively rapid muscle synthesis, during which it works to create new tissues to repair and reinforce those that were damaged by your workout.
Downing a post-workout supplement at this point can supply the elements used to craft those new muscle tissues, such as the amino acids used to create new cells. Leucine, one of the branched-chain amino acids, can even kick-start this recovery process early, since it’s the compound that triggers muscle protein synthesis.
Try an Amino Acid Supplement for Total Post-Workout Support
When deciding on a post-workout supplement for your exercise routine, consider the advantages offered by amino acid-based supplements from aminoVITAL®. Not only can these products supply your body with the things it needs to recover from a long workout, but they can also provide energy before and during your workout, improving performance and streamlining the recovery process. An added bonus of using amino acids instead of protein is that they take effect much more quickly, since free-form amino acids need much less digestion than whole proteins. To learn more about these products and how they can support you after your next workout, visit aminoVITAL® online or call us today at (888) 264-6673.
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