Supplement Industry Greed - Don't Be Fooled

There was once a time when plain creatine monohydrate, L-glutamine, and a decent whey protein mix was all that adorned the shelves of most bodybuilder's or fitness enthusiast's kitchen pantries. Well, things have changed, and they've changed big time. There are so many different supplements and supplement brands available, it's hard not to get confused and a little overwhelmed at what products do what and which ones actually work (or don't work).

The supplement industry is now a billion dollar revenue stream for supplement companies, and it's growing every year. The numerous types of supplements available on the market today are staggering with new company names springing up every month promoting products for fat loss, muscle gain, enhancing muscle pumps, suppressing the appetite, increasing energy, and just about anything else in between you can think of.

Amongst the latest supplements to hit the stands and online sites are NO2 (nitric oxide), CEE (creatine ethyl ester), and Gakic. So, which ones actually work? Which ones are pure advertising hype? If you open up any major bodybuilding, fitness or health magazine, you will undoubtedly see several-page ads flooded with new supplement products that claim to have transformed the average "joe" into a Greek god-like sculpture of a human being in record time. The claims usually seem too good to be true, and guess what? They are.

Stick To The Proven

As fun as it may be to go out and try something new from time to time, doing a little bit of research about the product before considering a purchase could just save you a ton of your hard-earned cash. The majority of new supplements available to the mass public are products that have had extremely little (if any in most cases) studies done to prove that the product does what the supplement company claims. Even worse, many products contain "fillers" that serve no effective purpose other than enabling supplement companies to place cheaper quality products on the shelves while draining your wallet more.

When it comes to obtaining that "edge" that most look for when adding supplements to their regular food diet, stick to products that have a track record and have been proven to deliver the results that are promised. Leave the rest back on the store shelves for a less-aware person to regretfully purchase.

The "Whey" It Is

Out of all of the many different types of supplements you'll find at your favorite health food store, supplement depot, online site, or gym juice bar, whey protein is perhaps the most important and worthy supplement to throw down your money on. Whether your goal is to build lean muscle, strip off some fat or just get more protein in your daily diet, whey protein powder does the job.

Protein is the building blocks of muscle, so obviously you need it (and enough of it per day and per meal) to grow more lean muscle. Not enough protein = no muscle gain, it's that simple. By supplementing your regular solid food diet with a whey protein powder shake, one can effectively and conveniently get their daily protein requirements to meet their activity levels and goals.

If your goal is to lose some of that unwanted body fat, then again, whey protein added to your diet can make things all that much easier when striving to decrease complex carbohydrates (and overall calories) while increasing protein intake. Consuming protein also has a natural thermogenic affect on the body, so it aids fat loss while helping to preserve lean muscle and build new muscle. Look for a whey protein powder that contains a high amino acid profile at a competitive price. Optimum Nutrition's 100% Whey Protein is one example of a protein supplement that is priced exceptionally well while providing a high quality product.

Have You Had Your Creatine Today?

Most people have either used or have at least heard about this supplement that has taken sports enthusiasts and anyone looking to up their performance by storm. One reason for this is because creatine works, and it works extremely well, at least for about ninety nine percent of the population. The one percent of the population that creatine monohydrate seems to have no effect on are called "non-responders". Monohydrate is known as the mainstream form of creatine, but there have been numerous other forms released onto the market in the past little while, especially within the last couple of years. CEE (creatine ethyl ester) is one of the latest creatine formulations to make a splash in the fitness/bodybuilding realm. Because of the way CEE is formulated, the absorbency of the creatine is greater than that of monohydrate. Some past "non-responders" have reported success with using CEE as compared to their failure to see results with regular monohydrate.

In short, creatine works by drawing more water into the muscle cells themselves, which further hydrates muscle cells enabling for greater energy production, replenishment and output, as well as increased protein synthesis and stronger muscle fibers. As a result, this equates to better performance, enhanced recovery and even the ability to increase lean muscle while reducing body fat. Not bad for consuming small additional amounts of a substance that is already naturally made within the body and contained in foods such as steak. In order to get true results with creatine, buy it in supplement form and get your daily dose!

Your best bet when looking for a substantial creatine product is to go with a 100% micronized creatine monohydrate powder. Micronized means that the creatine powder particles are more finely granulated compared to regular creatine monohydrate powder. This allows the creatine to dissolve better when mixed with your chosen carbohydrate drink or other beverage of choice, and therefore you'll obtain superior uptake of creatine into the muscle cells.

Go Home With Quality Supplements And More $$$ In Your Wallet

Out of all the thousands of supplements available on today's market, whey protein and creatine are proven to be the most effective and worthwhile for helping athletes and sports enthusiasts obtain maximum results from their training and fitness goals. So the next time you are venturing out to find the next "miracle pill" or "super powder", think back to the basics of what's been proven to work, what has a long standing reputation, and maybe just hold off a while before buying into the newest product on the market that has been hyped up beyond belief. The worse that can happen is that you gain some peace of mind when you find out sometime down the road that it's a reputable product that has been proven to deliver real results and you will have saved some money by purchasing the product after the initial hype has died down.

Blogged by Todd Fitchett

To contact Todd Fitchett, send an email to t.fitchett@motivation4life.com.

Your comments are always welcome.