Should Bodybuilders Take Vitamins?
Sunday, 07.01.2007, 11:37am (GMT)
Absolutely! Bodybuilders need supplements more than the average person
because we put such a heavy burden on our bodies daily. Also, we may
tend to drift into anabolics (both legal and illegal) that carry some
pretty heavy side effects. So, what is a good vitamin regimen for the
average bodybuilder? I am about to give you what I think is the best
supplements that a bodybuilder can take in order of importance. First,
you want to take a GOOD multi and just because it comes in a PACK
doesn't mean it is good. Find one from a reliable health food store and
have them suggest a good one. Make SURE IT DOESN'T CONTAIN IRON IF YOU
ARE A MAN! It has a high dose of Vitamin C along with chelated minerals
and solid doses of everything you need. Second, you need to take a good
Vitamin E product, not something in the value isle at your grocery
store. Vitamin E has advanced past what you get in a supermarket, there
is a new version of vitamin E called High Gamma E. I am not going to
explain how it works, just understand that it is a much better form of
vitamin E. The next thing that I feel is most important for good health
is a solid Fish Oil supplement. Fish Oil is amazing and protects your
heart, liver and brain from damage and decay. You can't take just one
though and expect to see any benefit. Fish Oil is cheap and you need to
take at least 6 gel caps per day. Steroid users should be taking 12
capsules per day to ward off the liver and heart issues. Now that we
have the basics covered, we can move on to more exotic supplements for
anti-aging and joint repair. CoQ10 is a enzyme co-factor that is great
for keeping your heart and brain healthy and is overall a very good
supplement for anyone interested in anti-aging (30-100mg per day). ALA
or Alpha Lipoic Acid is even better because this anti-oxidant is also
used by body builders to make insulin more active! It actually acts
like some prescription insulin potentiators which is a fancy way of
saying it makes insulin more effective at carrying nutrients into your
body (200-500mg per day with meals).
Unfortunately I am sitting here with wrist wraps on while I type this
because my wrists are killing me. I guess I shouldn't under estimate
the value of healthy joints, which is why I suggest that ALL
bodybuilders take a good Glucosamine and Chondroiton supplement. Watch
out for the ones that use Glucosamine HCL instead of Glucosamine
Sulfate. You want Glucosamine Sulfate, since that Sulpher molecule is
necessary and is the form all of the positive studies used. I am
starting 1500mg of Glucosamine Sulfate and Chondroitan Sulfate per day
so I can get back to lifting without pain. There is nothing more sad
than seeing an older bodybuilder that hasn't kept his joints in good
health. Finally, if you do take steroids or even just for the health
benefits, drink plenty of Pomegranate juice (also available as a
supplement, just DO NOT get the one with ellagic acid).
Don't just pick any of them off the shelf, many are "cut" with grape
juice which is empty carbs. What will this do for you? Well, it shrinks
the prostate, cleans clogged arteries and reduces oxidation in the
body. It's truly the drink of champions and NECESSARY for bodybuilders
that take anabolic steroids. Well, that wraps it up and I hope that
this helps you choose supplements that will keep your health in check.
There is no amount of money that can replace a healthy body, so make
sure you budget for some good supplements in your quest to get huge!
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