Protein shakes, pre workout, and vitamins all things that are considered supplements.
The question to ask is, should I be taking supplements and why?
The quick answer is: it depends.
Sure, it’s not the answer you were looking for. This is why we are about to break it down and see what and if you should be taking supplements.
Disclaimer: I am not a dietitian or a nutritionist. It is against the law for me to provide meal plans. I am allowed to provide recommendations as long as they are within my scope of practice. I am not a food expert, I am an exercise expert.
When looking to see if we should be taking supplements there are a few things we may need to consider.
What are your goals?
If you are wanting to pack slabs of muscle then taking a protein supplement may be the route you want to go. This would be after you check how much protein you are regularly eating per day. There is a certain recommendation of how much to eat if you are trying to build muscle.
Where do you live?
This one seems a bit odd. However, depending on where you live you may want to consider taking vitamin D. If you live in a place where you have winter or cold months for a portion of the year. You may want to supplement vitamin D during the cold season.
Are you missing a nutrient in your diet?
I always suggest taking a multivitamin just to cover all your bases. If you feel you may need some other replacements in your diet you may need to talk to your doctor or a dietitian. They will be able to prescribe other supplements you may need to be taking.
Do you need energy for a workout?
Pre-workout is something that I never recommend to anyone. It is pretty much just sugar, caffeine, and blue stuff. Who knows what the blue stuff is made out of? A much better pre workout is coffee and Metallica.
Supplementation is something that has taken the fitness world by storm. A few short years ago it was just starting to emerge and now you see it everywhere. Some trainers even recommend that everyone supplements for everything. Sometimes it depends on what is going on in your life. The next time you feel you need to start supplementing, ask yourself these questions.
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