People want to know what is the best way to build muscle and what are the best supplements for muscle building. Depending on your goals and experience level there are some basic supplements that everyone needs to be using and then there are more advanced supplements that are optional but can make a big difference in your training and muscle growth. Understand that no supplements will do the work for you, you must have a good diet and exercise program to achieve results.
Muscle is gained by increasing protein synthesis or making new muscle cells. All of the supplements mentioned here either do one or the other. Both have their place in the program of someone experienced or inexperienced. For example even steroid users should be on a creatine supplement along with BCAA’s. Those basics are staples no matter what level of competition you are at.
THE BASIC SUPPLEMENTS FOR MUSCLE
There are a few basic supplements that every person who is interested in muscle building should be taking. These are well tested and understood to be really good at building mass and are very safe.
- Creatine Monohydrate – everyone who lifts weights should be taking a creatine monohydrate product. It is the worlds best studied muscle builder and brings water into the cells, increases strength and builds new muscle cells.
- Protein – a basic protein powder is good to help you get the 1g of protein per pound of body weight that you need to achieve muscle growth. Whey protein is the best for this and comes in a variety of flavors.
- BCAA – branched chain amino acids are the key building blocks of muscle that are in most proteins. Leucine, the main muscle builder in all BCAA supplements is very important and should be used prior to each meal and also while working out.
MID-LEVEL SUPPLEMENTS FOR MUSCLE
After you have the basics down, you can move on to more advanced supplements to help you get to the level of muscle mass that you want to build. These more advanced supplements are going to give you an even better edge in the gym. They should be taken in addition to the basics!
- Testosterone Booster – these can either be herbal blends (not tribulus) or a mix of amino acids and other items like our own Rise and Swell. This will help you get to the highest possible levels
- Ecdysterone – ecdysterone is a bug steroid that has been shown to increase protein synthesis. It’s perfect for younger guys who want to build muscle without using anything “hormonal”.
- Forskolin – this co-factor speeds up metabolism in all areas and is good for fat loss and increasing muscle mass. You need to take at least 250mg per day to see any effect, which can get expensive.
- Caffeine Preworkout – this is a preworkout that contains caffeine along with amino acids and other cofactors to boost focus and intensity in the gym.
HIGH END SUPPLEMENTS FOR MUSCLE
At the top of the heap are supplements designed to give you maximum chance at building muscle mass without turning to illegal anabolic steroids. These are prohormones which means a product that will convert into an active hormone in the body.
Prohormones:
- 1-Andro – this is the strongest prohormone on the market and converts into 1-Testosterone in the body. It is 2-7 times as anabolic as testosterone and very potent.
- 4-Andro – this is a prohormone to testosterone which will help you boost your T levels. Better than 1-Andro for sex drive but less anabolic.
- Epi-Andro – this prohormone to Stanolone is good for strength and cutting. It will give you more focus and aggression in the gym and increase your PR’s.
Extreme Stimulant Preworkout:
- DMAA (1,3-DiMethyl) – this is a stimulant found in geraniums that is great for focus and energy. It does raise heart rate and blood pressure.
- Yohimbine – this stimulant is a beta-2 agonist that is good for energy, fat loss and erections. It can cause anxiety in some people.
- Methyl-Synephrine – this stimulant is a more potent version of synephrine and is great for adding instant energy.
WRAPPING IT UP
These are some basic supplements that will be good for the beginner through the advanced for muscle building. Depending on the person and their goals and tolerance for risk, there is something here for everyone. Make sure you always take the basics no matter what you decide to use and build from there. Remember though…a good body is made in the gym and the kitchen. No supplement is a replacement for diet and hard work. Happy lifting…
Source: http://mindandmuscle.net/articles/supplements-for-muscle-building/