Friday, August 8, 2008

Yahoo! News

HealthDay - FRIDAY, Aug. 8 (HealthDay News) -- A protein produced by fatcells may play a pivotal role in increasing an older American's risk for aheart attack even if they are losing weight, a new report says.

If you are currently trying to build muscle, chances are you've given some thought to the muscle building supplements that are on the market.

It seems like every time you visit your supplement store there is something new on the market that claims to help you unleash pounds of new muscle in only a few weeks time.

Which of these bodybuilding supplements are worth their salt? And which ones will just be a drain on your wallet?

It takes some good research to help you decipher where your money is best spent - and which ones are safe for that matter.

Below are the top three supplements that you should consider if you are currently trying to add more muscle. Keep in mind that none of these will promise any magical effects, but in all reality, pure, true muscle does not come by means of some type of supplement (apart from steroids, which is neither safe nor practical), it comes from your dedication to the gym and good foods that you are putting into your body.

That said, here's what you should look into.

1. Creatine

At natural coenzyme q10 point, this supplement was really all the rage and every guy who even occasionally stepped foot into the gym felt like he needed it - and needed it NOW!While it's not going to turn you into the next Schwarzenegger, it will help you workout harder, for a longer period of time.

Creatine works because as you go about your lifting session, the natural creatine stores in the body are used up. Once they run dry, fatigue will set in, and you will be forced to stop. By supplementing with creatine however, you are essentially increasing your stores, therefore helping you stay in the gym longer and put in more effort.

Then afterwards, your stores will also be replenished quicker, meaning you need less downtime between sessions to grow and recover.

2. Glutamine

The next supplement that would be beneficial to take is glutamine. Glutamine is another recovery supplement that will also help to prevent minor aches and pains, particularly in the joints and ligaments in your body.

Since when you are placing large amounts on your muscles on a weekly basis - as you should when you are trying to gain muscle, you will correspondingly be placing equal amounts of stress on your bones and ligaments, helping to protect these essential structures is critical.

There is nothing that will halt your muscle building progress faster than an injury. Glutamine can help to prevent this.

3. Fish Oil caps

Finally, the last thing you should be taking is fish oil caps. These are not only good for your overall health, but they will also help to increase your insulin sensitivity. This means that then when you consume carbohydrate rich foods, your body will know exactly what to do with them and will help take them purchase creatine monohydrate into the growing muscle cells very quickly.

Since this is what it necessary for your muscles to grow and recover, making use of fish oil caps is a wise decision on your part.

So, next time you're trying to choose where to spend your limited supplement budget, make sure these three products are taken care of first. Then, if you still have money to spare you can look into the more fancy products out on the market - just don't expect any miracles unless you put in the work that is necessary.

To find out more about which type of program and supplements will deliver you the best results, have a look here.

Shannon Clark is a certified personal trainer, fitness writer, and co-author. She specializes in helping skinny guys build muscle and helping females get the lean, sexy body they crave. View more information here!