Entering the World of Fitness: A Beginner’s Guide to Picking the Best Exercise Supplement

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The world of workout supplements is a vast one. Everything from protein powder to recovery mixes, to wonder drugs that claim to fix a multitude of exercise issues are marketed to gymgoers every day. However, an issue that many people hitting the gym suffer from is a lack of energy. Whether you’re looking to lengthen your workout or increase your intensity, using the proper protein blend pre-workout supplements will help you achieve your goals faster and with better results.

If you’re a beginner to pre-workout supplements, you may feel a bit intimidated by the amount of options out there. This is why it’s important to know exactly what you’re putting into your body when you’re buying pre-workout supplements.

Here are some of the best (and proven) pre-workout supplements you can take to amp up your workout.

Caffeine

Your morning cup of coffee isn’t just good for keeping your eyes open on the commute in. It can also be an invaluable pre-workout supplement. In the right amounts, caffeine helps you increase your power output. You’ll need about 4 mg of caffeine per 9 lbs of body weight, which might be a bit intense to get through coffee. Instead, you can take a caffeine jacked pre-workout supplement to get your heart rate up.

BHB

BHB, or Beta-Hydroxybutyrate, is a ketone body that is produced from fat by the liver when glucose isn’t available. If you’re on a keto diet, you will be having a harder time producing glucose. Supplementing with BHB will allow you to have longer lasting energy and increase physical performance.

Creatine

Creatine is a molecule found naturally in your cells and it’s also a very popular dietary supplement. Creatine will help you increase strength and power when completing your workouts by helping to increase your muscle mass, fight fatigue, and shorten the amount of time you need for recovery.

Beta-Alanine

Beta-Alanine is an amino acid that can help you fight the effects of muscle fatigue during and after your workout. Beta-Alanine can help increase concentration and endurance in workouts that require short, intense bursts of energy,

Sodium Bicarbonate

Both newbies and seasoned gymgoers are often surprised to hear that this common household product is also a workout supplement. Sodium Bicarbonate, also known as baking soda, doesn’t just scour your sinks and help your baking, it also serves as a buffering agent. What this means is that it helps fight acid buildup in the body. During your workout, this means that it can help reduce fatigue and “the burn” in your muscles. This burning sensation is acid that is increasing due to exertion, which makes sodium bicarbonate good for intense workouts that create lots of “muscle burn”.

For some people, consuming baking soda can cause an upset stomach. To prevent that, you can take it in smaller doses or split it up over the course of your day.

Bottom Line

When shopping for workout supplements, it’s important to read all the ingredients included on the package and make sure you don’t get bought in by the hype. Marketing for these products is at an all-time high, which means that workout supplements may seem like a godsend. However, any supplement you use is limited in its effectiveness, so don’t expect miracles. Your fitness will still take hard work, dedication, and adequate recovery time–even with proper supplementation.

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