While the most vital part of getting fit—no matter what your fitness level or what you want to attain—revolves around your diet and exercise plan, supplements can help take you to the next level in terms of recovery. faster, build muscle faster, or even incorporate nutrients you may not be getting from your diet.
Unfortunately, not all supplements are cheap. And with a very saturated market, it can be difficult to know which products are worth investing in. To make things even easier, here are five must-have supplements for people on a budget.
whey proteins
If you can only afford one supplement, many people claim it’s whey protein.
This is a popular supplement for people who are used to resistance training. Although there are a limiteless number of claims and benefits that surround whey proteinone of its most common uses is to help increase muscle protein synthesis and promote the growth of lean tissue mass.
Overall, whey protein can help deliver essential amino acids to the body and help you build muscle and strength.
Multivitamins
This is another common and somewhat inexpensive supplement that can be had on a budget. While multivitamins can be different ingredients which varies from one brand to the next, they generally help provide the body with vitamins, minerals, and other nutritional elements that are missing, if any, from food. Multivitamins are also important no matter what you want to attain in your fitness program.
Creatine
Creatine is important for people looking to take their gains to the next level by building muscle and mass. On top of those benefits (and lots of others), creatine can improve performance in the gym.
While creatine sometimes gets a bad rap, it’s probably the most tested supplements in the world and has an impressive safety profile.
Fish oil
Not only is fish oil FDA approved, but it has been many health benefits. Some people use fish oil to lower blood pressure, triglyceride, and cholesterol levels. The supplement has also been used to potentially stop heart disease and even stroke.
Not everybody can or wants to eat enough fish to receive the benefits charted above from taking omega-3 fatty acids, but fish oil pills can help close that gap in an easy, cost-effective way.
Probiotics
While taking probiotics may sound like a counterintuitive thing, it is important to remember that the body is teeming with bacteria, good and bad.
There are many types of probiotic supplements you can take, and they can typically help promote a healthy immune system, support a healthy weight management program, and stop diarrhea and constipation.
Bonus: BCAAs
BCAAs (branched chain amino acids) have many benefitfrom increasing “muscle protein recovery after your workout” to boosting “your skeletal muscles during your workout.”
Needless to say, BCAAs can help improve your fitness and supply your body with essential amino acids.
Whether you decide to take one of the supplements shown above or one not listed, it is important to check with you supplement manufacturer to see what health benefits you can receive from your supplements, in addition to decide what can help you stay within your budget. Additionally, it’s all the time important to speak with a specialist to find out if a particular supplement is right for you.
