Protein is used by our bodies for repair and growth following any type of activity that causes muscle tissue to break down. In this case we are particularly looking at how the body uses protein for bodybuilding. Bodybuilding is a form of progressive overload resistance where we challenge our body to exceed any prior demand made on it. When done correctly this will always result in the existing muscle tissue in the body being broken down and needing repair.

Protein is available from a wide variety of foods that most of us will eat every day. These include things like Chicken, Eggs, Milk, Beef, Fish and a lot more. You will also find protein in other foods in smaller quantities but these are not as beneficial for bodybuilding as their bio-availability is much lower. Your body is able to use the lower quality protein but you would have to consume large quantities often leading to high calorie intake and unwanted weight gain.

As a bodybuilder you will want to eat between 1.5g and 2g of protein per lb of bodyweight. A 200lb bodybuilder would need between 300g and 400g of protein daily spready between 5 and 6 servings during your waking hours. Trust me, this is quite a lot of food to eat and that is where a good protein powder offers an alternate way of consuming enough protein.

As far as your body is concerned protein is no different once broken down into amino acids whether it came from solid food or protein powder. Drinking shakes reduces the quantity of food you have to stomach and is very convienient and fast to prepare and drink. The powder is also easily digested which is ideal following a weight training session where your body is trying to repair as quickly as possible. Read the rest of this entry »

When it comes to choosing the best bodybuilding supplements, there are major considerations to take into account. With the many available brands out there, it is critical to determine which one works best for your particular needs.

Choosing an inappropriate product from the many bodybuilding supplements available in the market can have possible adverse effects hence this choice can become critical.

Here are some of the factors you should take into consideration before buying bodybuilding supplements:

QUALITY AND EFFECTIVENESS

You buy bodybuilding supplements for a reason. Most often it will be because you want to gain muscle mass and reduce fat. There are countless bodybuilding supplements out there but many do not actually deliver what they promise. The quality and effectiveness of a particular bodybuilding supplements can often be judged by going online and looking up product reviews posted by past or current users, either on the actual product page or in relevant forums and blogs.

SAFETY AND RELIABILITY

Since bodybuilding supplements are ingested into your body, it is critical that their safety level is established. Even when safety is established, it is important to note that not everybody responds to a particular bodybuilding product in the same way. There are many factors involved in bodybuilding supplement reliability levels so it helps to first get to know your own body tolerances before choosing which bodybuilding supplements to buy. Read the rest of this entry »