Herbal: Muscle Supplements
June 23, 2008 Health & Fitness, Herbal No CommentsMuscle supplements are used by all types of people, from professional body builders to people just looking to drop some fat and add muscle. Because there are so many different types of people using the supplements, there are just as many different products out there. And theyve recently become even more popular since professional athletes started popularizing them.
The first step is deciding which type of muscle supplements to choose based on the goal of the training regiment. For example, people who want to bulk up should look at protein drinks or other supplements that are packed with calories. Those who are looking to lose fat while gaining muscle should look at supplements that combine fat burning and muscle building ingredients.
The Most Popular Muscle Supplements
Creatine and androstenedione are the two most popular muscle supplements. It is estimated that there are nearly 50 million people worldwide who use one of them. Creatine is an amino acid that is present in foods like red meat and fish, but is also manufactured by the body. It helps the muscles by increasing the energy and water available inside the muscles.
Androstenedione, or andro, is a precursor to testosterone, the primary muscle building hormone. In fact, the absence of only one molecule differentiates andro from testosterone. When andro enters the body, the liver converts it into testosterone. The increased testosterone levels help build and repair muscle faster and more efficiently after a hard workout. Andro really burst on the scene with Mark McGwire, who used it during his record-breaking 70 home run season.
