What Is the Best Protein Powder for You?

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  A look at the Top 4 Supplements for Health and Toning

  Sportsfuel, 24 February 2018

  As far as our general health and fitness is concerned, living a healthy and balanced lifestyle should be one of our main priorities. In order to live a healthy and balanced life, experts recommend following a healthy and balanced diet, alongside regular sessions of physical exercise.Once you have these two aspects of your life under control, the next logical step you can take is to consume various health supplements. There are a number of different health supplements currently available, with each one offering us a selection of unique benefits. If general health and toning of your body is one of your primary objectives, the following four supplements could prove especially beneficial for you.  Fish Oil Supplements When it comes to general health and well-being, fish oil supplements are up there as some of the most beneficial supplements you could ever wish to consume. Fish oil supplements are enriched with omega 3 essential fatty acids, that our bodies are unable to produce naturally. Because of this, we need to consume them in dietary and supplementary form instead. Fish oil supplements offer us a number of health benefits, including: Boosting brain health and function, improving cardiovascular health, improving the circulatory system, lubricating and strengthening the joints, and much more. If you’re looking to burn fat and tone up, fish oil supplements are especially beneficial as another of their benefits is their ability to increase our metabolisms, which in turn will lead to increase in fat burning and energy production. Vitamin D Vitamin D is a vitamin which plays a vital role in the overall health and function of our immune systems, yet many people have been diagnosed as being deficient in this very vitamin. Vitamin D not only plays a key role in the health and function of the immune system, it also plays a big part in overall muscle function as well. What’s more, is the fact that vitamin D is also vital for the utilisation and uptake of vital minerals such as phosphorus and calcium. Calcium for example, strengthens the bones and is found in dairy produce such as milk. However, without adequate vitamin D levels in our bodies, we could drink all of the milk we liked, but without the vitamin D, our bodies would be able to uptake and utilise the calcium, so we wouldn’t benefit from it. Whey Protein Whey protein is a supplement that is about so much more than aiding with the growth and recovery of muscle tissue. Protein is a vital macronutrient that as well as being essential for the muscles, is also vital for overall cellular health and function. Whey protein supplements are enriched with vitamins, minerals, and amino acids, that benefit the body in so many different ways, so that’s the general health side covered. If you’re looking to tone and firm up before bathing suit season perhaps, whey protein is also beneficial because it promotes lean muscle growth, repair, and recovery following exercise, and it increases the metabolism in the process, so we can burn more fat and enjoy more energy as a result. Vitamin C When it comes to the overall health of our immune system, which is the body’s natural defence against illness and disease, vitamin C is absolutely essential as this vitamin has been proven to increase both red and white blood cell counts. From an aesthetic standpoint, vitamin C is also very beneficial as it is vital for elastin and collagen synthesis, which can help make our skin look healthier and firmer. It also benefits the muscles during exercise as it helps dilate the blood vessels, allowing them to transport more oxygen and nutrient rich blood to the cells in our muscles. The more of these nutrients they’re able to absorb, the harder the muscles are able to work and recover.

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  5 Ways to Get More Out of Caffeine

  Sportsfuel, 11 August 2016

  Caffeine is something that the majority of adults consume on a daily basis whether it's in coffee, tea , preworkout, weight loss supplement or energy drink. As a stimulant, caffeine provides a noticeable energy boost that can fight fatigue and increase your energy levels during workouts.

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  8 Muscle Gaining Tips for Hard Gainers

  Sportsfuel, 24 May 2016

  While you'll hear most people today talking about how they want to lose weight, not everyone is working out with a goal of shedding pounds. If you're trying to add lean muscle mass to transform yourself from the skinny one in the room to someone muscular and well defined, the process can be difficult.

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  4 Key Sports Nutrition Supplements for Vegetarians

  Sportsfuel, 19 April 2016

  A vegetarian or vegan diet has been shown to have distinctive health benefits, and many people today choose to give up meat, dairy and eggs in order to be kinder to animals. While a vegetarian or vegan diet can be healthy and conducive to natural lifestyles, serious athletes and bodybuilders who restrict or eliminate animal-derived foods from their diets can end up deficient of certain nutrients. This can make it difficult to see results from workouts and interfere with athletic performance. The good news is that it's possible to bridge the diet gap with the right sports nutrition supplements.Here are four of the best supplements for vegetarian and vegan athletes and bodybuilders: 1. Vegetable Based Protein PowderProtein is absolutely essential for building new muscle cells and for repairing the strain put on the body during exercise. You can get protein from plants, but most plant proteins are incomplete, which means that they do not contain every single one of the amino acids that are used as building blocks for proteins. Vegetable based protein powders can supply a vegan-friendly form of protein to ensure that you're getting enough of the amino acids that your body requires. Soy protein powders tend to be preferred by many people as they contain a complete amino acid profile. You can also try vegetarian blends with ingredients like pea protein and hemp, or if you eat dairy, a whey protein powder is a vegetarian option with a complete amino acid profile. 2. Branched Chain Amino AcidsLeucine, isoleucine and valine are three key amino acids for muscle development. Called the branched chain amino acids or BCAAs, these amino acids decrease the risk of muscle breakdown when you're completing a grueling workout. The BCAAs have also been shown to stimulate muscle cell production after exercise and to reduce fatigue and increase endurance. Most vegetarian and vegan diets are lacking in these important amino acids, but you can add them to your diet easily in pill or powder form. 3. CreatineCreatine is an important fuel for producing energy in the muscles during exercise, and much of the nutrient stored in the muscle tissue comes from animal proteins in the average adult diet. Since you don't eat meat, there is a good chance you have lower amounts of creatine stored in your muscles than the norm. Taking just 5 grams of creatine per day can help you to promote muscle growth, reduce fatigue and increase your strength. 4. Beta-AlanineBeta-alanine is another amino acid that is found primarily in meats that plays an important role in energy production and that amplifies the benefits of creatine. Experts recommend that vegetarians take 3 to 6 grams of the amino acid per day divided into 2 to 4 even doses. Be prepared to experience a tingly feeling when you take your supplement; that's a normal side effect of beta-alanine and no cause for alarm.For help selecting supplements that are vegan or vegetarian-friendly, feel free to contact us. We'll be glad to help you put together the best sports nutrition programme to help you stick to your diet and get better results at the gym.

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