Adding lean muscle is the main focus for gym-goers and also allows athletes to perform at their best.
There is no shortage of products that claim to boost muscle gains, but truly elite physiques are built with a combination of hard training, serious nutrition and quality supplementation.
When your training and nutrition is on point, these six science-backed supplements can help you achieve a more muscular physique.
Benefits of using these supplements include:
- Increased lean muscle, particularly when used with strength training
- Improved muscular quality and endurance
- Decreased muscle soreness and lower levels of inflammation
- Improved blood flow during training
- Boosted overall performance
Creatine
Creatine has been popular since the 1990s and has been the subject of hundreds of studies since then, which all prove this compound can help to improve performance and endurance.
It comes in numerous forms, but none have been shown conclusively to be as effective as creatine monohydrate, like that found in NPL’s Creatine Fuel.
Beta-Alanine
Beta-Alanine is a naturally occurring, non-essential beta-amino acid. When combined with Histidine, Beta-Alanine increases Carnosine levels in the skeletal muscles.
Typically, Histidine levels are necessary for Carnosine production and it is Beta-Alanine that is rate-limiting. Research has shown that Beta-Alanine supplements can boost performance and support increases in lean muscle mass. Looks out for Beta-Alanine in many of NPL’s pre-workout and intra-workout supplements.
Whey Protein
Whey protein supplies the body with a high amount of pure protein and amino acids that help to jump-start the anabolic process to ensure you gain lean muscle fast. It truly remains the foundation of any serious athlete.
BCAAs
Leucine, isoleucine, and valine are the specific branched-chain amino acids (BCAA) shown to stimulate protein synthesis and help regulate protein metabolism.
Additional benefits derived from BCAA supplements include:
- Increased levels of muscle protein endurance
- Decreased levels of muscle damage during exercise
- Decreased muscle soreness post-workout
- Improved overall muscle quality.
You’ll find BCAAs in NPL Amino Armour and NPL BCAA 10:1:1.
CLA
Not all fats are created equal. Some of them are simply used for energy, while others have powerful weight control effects.
Conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) is a fatty acid found in meat and dairy that is believed to have various health benefits. It has been scientifically proven to be one of the best natural weight management supplements to help you achieve a leaner physique and an overall toned look. Try NPL ProLifestyle CLA Ultra 1000.
L-Carnitine
L-carnitine is a naturally occurring amino that plays a crucial role in the production of energy by transporting fatty acids into your cells’ mitochondria where it is burned for energy. Look out for NPL ProLifestyle L-Carnitine and Carni Lean liquids.