Tag Archives for " muscle building supplements "
December 6, 2016
- in Men , Products I Use & Trust , Supplements by Brian Patterson
Best Muscle Building Supplements – Avoid the Scams
These are the three best muscle building supplements for men over 40. Muscle building supplements are a huge business that is largely unregulated by the government. Most supplements are snake oil scams and not worth your money. Some are downright dangerous. Trust these:
There are only 3 types that actually work with a degree of certainty:
- Creatine
- Whey Protein
- BCAA (Branched Chain Amino Acids)
Pretty much everything else is just hype. Here’s how the scams work. A supplement firm will come up with a new product. They start the marketing it in bodybuilding magazines and websites. The spokesperson might be a hardcore bodybuilder who will infer his muscle size is enhanced by the product (while in reality, he is using a boatload of illegal steroids).
He says: “If you’re not taking Super X Factor 19 like me, you’re missing out on massive gains!”
Because the business is largely unregulated, and that includes not verifying ingredients or their quality, they can say whatever they want with no scientific studies to refute it. It’s pure marketing hype at its most wild and extreme.
Word travels. Young athletes jump on the band wagon. Conversations happen in gyms. And for a while, Super X Factor 19Â will sell like hotcakes, then ultimately it fades into the background as questions arise and science catches up.
I came across an article online in which someone did a detailed comparison of chocolate milk vs. a well-known supplement drink. Chocolate milk won hands-down in almost every ingredient category.
So, it’s definitely Buyer Beware when it comes to muscle building supplements.
Let’s look at the good news…
Creatine
Creatine has been around for many years now, and it has proven to be largely safe to use and effective at building muscle. It is a substance found naturally in the body and in meat protein that we ingest.
Wikipedia: “Extensive research has shown that oral creatine supplementation at a rate of five to 20Â grams per day appears to be very safe and largely devoid of adverse side-effects,[23] while at the same time effectively improving the physiological response to resistance exercise, increasing the maximal force production of muscles in both men and women.[24][25]”
WebMD Notes that some studies have show creatine to be relatively safe and effective at building lean muscle mass over the short term. And the Mayo Clinic notes that it is “likely safe when used long term.” Caution is advised for people with kidney disease and other health issues.
In the U.S., a majority of sports nutrition supplements, which total $2.7 billion in annual sales, contain creatine. Creatine is allowed by the International Olympic Committee, National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA), and professional sports.
The suggested dose per day is typically no more than 5 grams. There are about 2 grams of creatine in one pound of beef. So it would be difficult to ingest 5 grams using diet alone.
I use a product by GNC. One reason I choose GNC is that I believe it is a solid, reputable company. It is publicly traded and was founded more than 70 years ago. I don’t think they will risk their brand’s reputation by resorting to shoddy practices.
I use the tablet version of GNC’s AMP Creatine 189.
It also comes in flavored powder form if you prefer a drink.
GNC says this version is a cutting edge solution that tops traditional creatine monohydrate in muscle absorption and significantly reduces how much you need to take. With AMP, just 2 capsules give you the recommended 5 grams of creatine.
GNC says: “PEG-Creatine System” – This proprietary formula includes a patent-pending technology which allows you to get the same benefits as regular creatine monohydrate at a much lower dose. That’s right, you no longer have to take mounds of powder or handfuls of creatine pills to get the performance enhancing benefits of creatine.”
Whey Protein
Whey protein comes from milk. It is a liquid that separates from milk during the making of cheese.
It is a complete, high-quality protein, containing all of the essential amino acids. It is very digestible, absorbed from the gut quickly compared to other types of protein. It is one of the best dietary sources of protein available.
Whey is rich in a branched-chain amino acid called leucine. Among all the amino acids, leucine is the most growth promoting.
Combined with resistance training, whey can also help older adults reverse the effects of aging on muscle loss. Combined with training, it helps promote a stronger, better-looking body.
You can check a nicely organized list of benefits compiled by the Mayo Clinic here. Whey may have a number of additional benefits in addition to muscle growth, according to studies:
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- Help control Type 2 diabetes by moderating blood sugar levels
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- Reduce inflammation in the body. (Soreness comes with training)
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- May help promote weight loss
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- Raise the body’s antioxidant defenses
- And it’s filling, low calorie, nutrition
Gold Standard Whey
The Best Whey
I recommend Optimum Nutrition’s Gold Standard Whey. It is a good tasting, quality powder drink. It is one of the featured brands at GNC, has thousands of strongly positive reviews on GNC’s website and on Amazon. And is often called out as the premier brand.
Whey protein isolates are the purest form of whey and the main ingredient in Gold Standard 100% Whey. Each serving provides 24 grams of rapidly digesting whey protein with low levels of fat, cholesterol, lactose and other stuff you can do without.
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- 5.5 Grams of Naturally Occurring BCAAs
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- 4 Grams of Naturally Occurring Glutamine and Glutamic Acid
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- Instantized to Mix Easily Using Just a Glass & Spoon
- Over 20 Different Flavors to Choose From
New: Gluten Free Whey for the Lactose Intolerant
If you have severe gluten/lactose intolerance, you could consider this alternative by Nature’s Best.
About the Product
Pack in powerfully pure protein, without packing on the carbs.
100% whey protein isolate powders amp you up, without any unwanted weight. Just pick your level: Zero Carb or Low-Carb (which also has Zero sugar), both with a whopping 50 grams of protein.
It’s 100% whey protein isolate loaded with vitamins, minerals and nutrients to keep you going strong and always without gluten, lactose, or any impurities. Made with Nature’s Best complete microfiltration process to be the only completely clear milk protein when dissolved in water.
Available in a range of flavors.
- 50 grams of 100% ion exchange whey protein isolate per serving
- Zero Sugar, Zero or Low Carbs
- Lactose & Gluten Free
- Glutamine enriched loaded with BCAAs
- Aspartame Free
BCAA – Branched Chain Amino Acids
I use and recommend Optimum Nutrition’s BCAA capsules. There is also a powder to mix as a drink. It’s personal preference. The supplement claims that it helps muscles recover from workouts, and
I do believe I can feel the difference. Since we’re getting older, we can use all the help we can get with recovery. Recovery is, afterall, just as important as the workout itself and good nutrition. Recovery is when our muscles grow.
- Recommended : First thing in the morning and/or during the 30 minutes just before or immediately after training. Simply take 2 capsules with your favorite beverage
Here is a study from the National Institutes of Health on BCAA and recovery. As with any and all supplements, check with your doctor over any concerns, especially if you have conditions like high blood pressure or kidney-related issues.
The links above will take you to Amazon. If you decide to make a purchase, they will give me credit. But it does not in any way affect the price you would pay. You can also find these items at your local GNC or health food store.
Supplement Caution
Do NOT take more than the recommended dosage. You can harm your health by over-doing these or any other supplement.