If we were to determine how many people adopted healthy lifestyle based on the number of supplement purchases, the results would be far from true. Unfortunately, there is no supplement that will magically help you lose weight or build muscles unless you take certain steps to change your lifestyle on your own. Supplements only work their magic when used simultaneously with proper diet and regular exercise. Therefore, your first step to finding the right supplement should be coming to terms with realization that nothing will change unless you change your bad habits and start doing something about it.
No specific diet
In case you don’t follow any specific diet regimen such as vegan, vegetarian or gluten-free diet, you have it a bit easier considering the choice of perfect supplements. Still, you have to pay attention to what you want these supplements to help you with, when to take them, etc. Protein powders are the most common supplements that people take nowadays but it’s essential to mention that these powders should only be used when you spend time exercising. Moreover, there are powders that are mass gainers. These will help you gain muscle mass, so if you’re looking to lose weight stay away from those. Concentrate protein powders are great to add to your meals or consume them in between them, while isolate protein is a great way to recover your muscles and fight fatigue if taken after workout. If you want a constant flow of amino acids, consider taking casein powder before going to bed. Also, vitamins are going to boost your immune system, so if you don’t get enough of these nutrients, consider taking a vitamin complex.
Vegetarian diet
If you’re a vegetarian, there are of course things that you should pay attention to when looking for proper supplements. Common thing for both vegans and vegetarians is the misconception that as long as you don’t eat meat or animal-based products, you eat healthily. But, we all know that that doesn’t have to be necessarily true, especially if you stuff yourself with a lot of carbs. Therefore, balanced diet and regular exercise are still essential even though you’re a vegetarian. Luckily, today’s supplement market caters to different diets as well. For people who follow a vegetarian diet, supplements such as creatine monohydrate, beta-alanine and BCAAS are great to take pre-workout. Post-workout vegetarian supplements should consist of plant-based protein and glutamine.
Vegan diet
Vegans follow an even stricter diet regimen compared to vegetarians. Therefore, the lack of nutrients can cause serious health problems, especially if you do a lot of challenging exercises. In that respect, multivitamins are your best bet to stay healthy and for your bones and joints to stay strong. Vitamins such as B12, D, as well as Iodine and Zinc are essential for proper bodily functions that will allow you to shape your body the way you want without additional health problems. Moreover, in order to keep your strength, your body shouldn’t lack omega 3 fatty acids. Luckily, there are plant-based omega 3 supplements that you can use worry-free. If you find the need to use protein powder, you can also consider special organic vegan protein powder but pay attention to the purpose and the way you use these powders. Even though you’re vegan, vegan protein powders also belong to various categories like the ones mentioned in the first paragraph.
Basically, it’s essential to change your lifestyle. If you’re not concerned about any specific diets, you should still try to ditch junk food and introduce balanced meals. Vegans and vegetarians should also try their best to minimize the consumption of carbs because these are the biggest contributors to weight gain. Most importantly, regular physical activity is a must no matter what diet you follow. Working out is not only necessary for weight loss and muscle toning/building but for general health as well. Only when you lead a lifestyle that you can call healthy, will the supplements assist you in your goals.
