Nutritional supplements are something to help your body when it is lacking in nutrients that are important for growth or regrowth. They come in pill, capsule, and gel form as well as powder, liquid and extract. Sometimes they have vitamins and/or minerals in their makeup, other times not. Before taking supplements, it’s a good idea to discuss it with your physician. Some supplements can cause a bad reaction when mixed with certain medications, or a supplement could interfere negatively with a medical condition you have.
Protein
Making sure your muscles get enough protein cannot only aid in recovery but also prevent musculoskeletal conditions from overworking yourself. You can take powdered supplements to aid in general bone health as well as to help gain muscle and speed healing of muscle tears and bone fractures. Common powdered forms of protein are made from whey, eggs, soy and casein, which is the protein in milk. The recommended daily amount of protein is about 50 grams per day for an average person, but the exact amount you need will vary depending on personal metrics such as weight and activity level.
Creatine
Creatine is made in your body, and it is also in protein-containing foods. It is especially good for building and keeping strong muscles. Red meat and milk can help raise your creatine level. If you have too much creatine in your body you may suffer from abdominal discomfort with bouts of diarrhea. Too little creatine can be a symptom of muscular dystrophy or liver disease. Creatine helps build muscle mass and is good for your brain by helping you to think and understand more clearly. Creatine can be therapeutic in people with traumatic brain injuries. If you’ve just started doing workouts, you can also look for this supplement online, but it will be good to know that the best creatine for beginners is one that’s 100% pure creatine monohydrate. This will lessen the guesswork on how the ingredient affects your muscle gain and recovery.
Making Your Own Supplements
It is possible to make your own supplements. If you find yourself stopping at the health food store way too often as many people do, you can make your own supplements with fresh vegetables and other sources of protein, vitamins and minerals that your body is lacking. Discuss it with your doctor and he or she may order lab work to point out which supplements would be beneficial to you.
When at all possible, it is best to eat the right amount of healthy foods so that you can get your nutrients the natural way. That is not always possible with a busy lifestyle. Coming back from an illness can put a strain on your body that takes a long time to recover from. Athletes and people who exercise frequently can lose vitamins and minerals in their perspiration that supplements can help to replenish. Supplements can help you get back to normal and can be the difference between living a healthy life and merely living.