If you are a fitness buff or an athlete, you are probably searching for ways to improve your sports performance. A lot of people wonder if taking sports supplements could provide fast and effective results without much hard work. But are sports supplements safe? And do they really work?
How do Sports Supplements Work?
Supplement refers to something that is added in order to enhance or complete it. Thus the purpose of supplements is to complement, complete, and enhance your diet. They benefit physique, well-being, and performance. However, there are many misconceptions surrounding supplements.
Sports supplements, when combined with a fitness plan and balanced eating, can help you put on lean muscles, lose weight, and satisfy your daily nutritional requirements. But which supplement is best suited to your needs? Following are some of the most common sports supplements which can help you maintain your fitness and health:
Creatine
Creatine is the most popular sports supplement available. It is believed to help athletes achieve bursts of strength and enhance muscle mass. It is a substance which is found naturally in muscle cells. It helps the muscles to produce energy during high-intensity exercise or heavy lifting.
This supplement is greatly preferred by bodybuilders and athletes as it enhances strength, improves exercise performance, and gain muscle. About 95% of the body’s creatine is stored in the muscles as phosphocreatine.
When you take in creatine supplements, you increase the amount of phosphocreatine stored in your body. This stored energy helps to produce ATP, which helps your body to perform better while exercising. Creatine can also alter several cellular processes which can result in increased strength, recovery, and muscle mass.
Fish Oils
Fish oil can be obtained by taking supplements or eating fish. Tuna, cod liver, salmon, herring, and mackerel are some of the fish particularly rich in beneficial oils known as Omega-3 fatty acids. Fish oil is often used in supplements for conditions relating to the heart and blood system. It is also beneficial for kidney-related problems and is used to lower triglycerides levels. Moreover, it helps with various conditions linked with brain and nerve function.
Fish oil supplements are highly beneficial for healthy people as well as to those suffering from heart disease. They contain Omega-3 fatty acids, which are essential nutrients that help in preventing and managing heart disease.
Omega-3 fatty acids help in reducing pain and swelling, which makes them highly effective for dry eyes and psoriasis. They also prevent the blood from clotting easily, which makes them helpful in some heart conditions.
Magnesium
Magnesium is a mineral which is vital for the proper functioning of the body. It is essential for various metabolic processes and important bodily functions such as producing energy and building proteins like DNA. It is not produced by the body which why it should be obtained from your diet. This can be done by eating magnesium-rich food or by taking supplements.
It is important to get enough magnesium to keep your body functioning optimally. Tough, you can get sufficient amounts of magnesium from your diet; you can also take a supplement in case of a deficiency. This will help lower the risk of heart disease, improve mood, blood pressure, and control blood sugar.
Vitamin D
Vitamin D is considered a hormone, which is why it stands out from other vitamins. It is produced by the skin as a result of direct exposure to the sun. It plays an important role in cancer prevention, bone health, immune function, and more, which is why getting enough vitamin D is vital for your health.
However, vitamin D is available in very few food sources, and if you do not get enough sun exposure, it increases the risk of high deficiency. Therefore, supplementing is an effective and easy way to overcome the risk of deficiency and maintaining your health.