ZMA
ZMA is a popular fitness supplement often used by body builders. It’s a combination of zinc monomethionine/asparate and magnesium aspartate plus a bit of vitamin B6 (to stop you getting tired). It’s strongly supported by clinical research to be an effective supplement for enhancing muscle recovery, boosting muscle size and strength, and even aiding fat loss. Despite this, its may not be a necessary supplement if you have a healthy and balanced diet with lots of meats and veg.
Methoxyisoflavone
This is an interesting one, as you might not even know you’ve been taking this one. Methoxyisoflavone (5-Methoxy-7-Methoxy-Isoflavone), is a supplement (and popular ingredient) that is marketed as a product to support testosterone levels. Interestingly enough though, there is absolutely no solid evidence to support these claims.
L-Carnitine
L-Carnitine is an important amino acid that can be produced naturally in the body. It plays a role in the synthesis of fatty acids and transporting fatty acids to the mitochondria; this is where a cells energy is produced and the chemical reactions happen. Which basically means you can use your fat as energy. L-Carnitine also stops the build up of lactic acid in your muscles which is what gives you that stiff, burning feeling when you’re exercising. In spite of all this, studies done on L-Carnitine show that excessive consumption may be bad for your heart.
Creatine
Creatine is a supplement used by almost 14% of all athletes, and is used to increase maximum power and performance in high-intensity anaerobic repetitive work (periods of work and rest) by 5 to 15%. Research on creatine also suggests that it helps speed up muscle growth and some studies suggest it helps with Parkinsons disease. Some negative effects are:
- Muscle cramping
- Nausea
- Diarrhea
- Dizziness
- Gastrointestinal pain
- Dehydration
- Weight gain
- Water retention
- Heat intolerance
- Fever
In summary, I believe supplements do help in achieving goals and are worth taking (in moderation obviously). Because at the end of the day, drinking too much water can even kill you. Too much of a good thing is a bad thing!
