Protein Supplement – Weight Loss Diet Solutions

Where does Whey Protein Come From?

Whey protein supplements are oddly enough, the result of the cheese making process. It’s a byproduct that has some very nice benefits, hence the reason it’s so popular today.

Whey isn’t perfect, but following the directions on the label closely will decrease your chances of having any problems with it. Don’t overdo it and don’t skimp either. Striking the right balance is key.

Why Use Whey Protein?

Soy is another popular source of protein, but many feel whey is superior because it contains 50% more leucine than soy isolate protein does. What is leucine and why does it matter anyway? Well, leucine is a branched chain amino acid. Branched chain amino acids, or BCAAs, are metabolized in the muscle tissue, making them great for muscle growth and health. Aside from muscle building (which not everyone is interested in), foods high in BCAAs have a reputation for increasing physical and mental energy to a small but satisfying degree.

Whey Protein Helps Immune System

A surprising benefit of taking whey is a boost to your immune system. Whey contains high levels of an amazing antioxidant – glutathione. Glutathione is the king of antioxidants. The reason it’s so much more powerful than many other antioxidants (which help us by neutralizing some harmful free radicals) is because it exists within our cells. This is the single best position for neutralizing free radicals. It also boosts the power of other antioxidants.

The benefit that makes it the most popular protein supplement is its speed. It acts quickly and can be prepared in just a minute or two. After working out, our cortisol levels are on the rise. This rise isn’t significant, but it can bothersome to anyone who’s concerned about muscle health because this hormone is catabolic, meaning it breaks muscle down. Getting calories into your system quickly after exercise helps to normalize cortisol levels. A snack that includes whey protein is a great way to do just that.

Great as it may be, it shouldn’t be abused either. You don’t want to consume it in ridiculously high amounts or without drinking extra water. It’s better to be conservative than end up wishing you had been. High amounts of protein could lead to increased fat storage and some even speculate that it’s bad for organs like your kidney and liver (although this hasn’t been proven). Being responsible is literally the first and most important step you need to take.

Whey protein can be found in a number of different sources including powders, shakes, and energy supplement bars. It’s a great option for those who want to supplement for health or muscle growing purposes. The reasons why use whey protein is to build muscle mostly but there are these other benefits as well.

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Is Creatine The Best Body Building Supplement?

Choosing a body building supplement is not always easy, just because there are so many possibilities. Before you go to the store or go online with credit card in hand to order a truckload of products, check out our guide to creatine. Who should take it and who should not?

Why Take Creatine Body Building Supplement?

One reason for taking creatine is that it gives many of the same benefits as a protein supplement. It is excellent for increasing muscle mass. It is also a natural substance that occurs in the body, so we are not introducing anything new to the body here.

Vegetarians tend to be low on creatine so this is definitely something to consider if you are a vegetarian bodybuilder. Of course you would want to find a vegetarian form of this body building supplement. But it is not only for vegetarians! Anyone wanting to increase muscle mass may benefit from this if not contraindicated for medical reasons (see below).

How Does It Work?

Creatine increases the availability of ATP or adenosine triphosphate. This is the main energy source that muscles use for their power. So if you have more ATP available, you can perform more reps and lift more weight than you otherwise would. This means that you can grow your muscle faster.

In other words, creatine does not directly bulk the muscles, but allows your training to be more effective.

How To Take It

Creatine is found in significant quantities in red meat. It would be possible to increase your creatine levels by eating a lot more steak, but of course that comes with a lot of fat and other substances that you might not want in your diet. For this reason, many people prefer to take it in isolated form as a body building supplement. In many cases it comes with aminos, dextrose and other good substances for increasing muscle mass.

There are several different types of creatine body building supplement. Creatine monohydrate was the first type to be developed and is still very popular and effective. Creatine phosphate and citrate are newer variations that are usually more expensive if you compare creatine content gram for gram. That does not necessarily mean they are more effective.

Whatever type you get, it is usually best in powdered form. It is flexible when you want to experiment with your dosage (difficult to do with tablets or capsules) and easily absorbed. You will see liquid creatine on the market but be aware this can be very unpredictable in terms of the amount of creatine that it contains.

The best way to take creatine is to cycle it. Four weeks on and two weeks off is a recommendation that you might want to try.

Who Should Not Take It?

Creatine is not recommended for people with kidney or liver disease. It may affect insulin action so it is best not taken by those with diabetes or other blood sugar related disorders. Like many supplements, it is not recommended for pregnant women or nursing mothers because it cannot be proved safe for them.

Early fears that creatine was dangerous for the general population have been shown to be unfounded by a large volume of research now. It has been shown to be safe for normal healthy individuals. However, anybody considering taking a body building supplement should check it out with their medical advisor.