Bodybuilding and intense workouts put a big strain on the body. You are doing a good thing by building muscle and cardio strength but those muscles are vulnerable to injury if they are not supported by proper nutrition and well chosen supplements.

What are the Best Supplements for Muscle Recovery?

Pretty much everyone knows what carbs and protein are. Carbohydrates provide energy and protein like meat, nuts, and chicken is a muscle-builder. Creatine is another element the body needs in order to build and restore muscle; one which enables the body to use protein and carbohydrates.

BCAA stands for Branched Chain Amino Acids: the material from which your muscles are constructed. Glutamine, Vitamin E, Vitamin C, and Zinc support your immune system. Increase your intake of antioxidants which clear your body of free radicals and support immunity.

During a workout, the body sweats away a lot of minerals besides sodium: calcium, potassium, and magnesium. Without these, cramping will often start. Moreover, low sodium and potassium can also lead to low blood pressure, dizziness, and fainting. Finally, weight lifters like Beta Alanine for the way it increases endurance and promotes higher levels of Carnosine used in tissue recovery.

Where to Find the Best Muscle Recovery Supplements

How do you manage to get all of these nutrients out of a daily diet without popping tons of vitamin pills? You are probably going to add a few capsules to your daily regimen or a high-quality multi-vitamin.

Choose one that was designed for highly active individuals or even a bodybuilding multi-vitamin. It is also a good idea to eat a well-balanced diet rich in foods containing lean protein and unrefined carbohydrates: that is, not junk food or fatty stuff.

Your diet should contain healthy fats from lean meat, poultry, fish, nuts, avocado, and seeds but not grease from fast food. Add a fish-oil supplement to the regimen if your multi-vitamin lacks this nutrient: it’s good for heart and overall muscle health as well as neurological support. Drink green tea and eat berries to enhance your resilience to disease and destroy free radicals.

While you should never eat on a full stomach, make sure there is some blood sugar your body can convert to energy. Consider having some of the drinks below at your side when you pause between repetitions as a high-quality recovery supplement will help you regain energy and endurance to keep going.

Top Five Supplements for Muscle Recovery

The best recovery supplements specifically for people engaging in serious muscle building and intense athletics are designed to be absorbed easily. Some are capsules but most of them are powders one can easily mix into a drink. Since you’re going to need hydration during and immediately after a workout, this is an ideal combination: water plus nutrition. The sooner you can replenish muscles with active ingredients, the better your recovery will be. Don’t leave it too long or your muscles will not recover quickly and you could end up suffering from unnecessary tissue damage. Choose one of the following 5 supplements and look after your body.

1. Optimum Nutrition Amino Energy

Optimum Nutrition Amino Energy

Optimum Nutrition also makes other supplements for bodybuilders, but this one is designed to restore worn out muscles with a slow, sustained release of BCAAs. Nitric Oxide stimulates the conversion of BCAAs into muscle and gives you energy. Optimum Nutrition’s affordable drink mix also contains Beta Alanine and comes in several flavors. This is one of the most affordable products on the list.

2. Dagger by Infinite Labs

Dagger by Infinite Labs

You need testosterone support when you want to build muscle, but estrogen can get in the way. With Dagger, a Creatine/Magnesium blend deactivates estrogen so that proteins do not bind to testosterone and your muscles can grow. Dagger provides stamina to mind and body, reducing fatigue in both areas so you can stay focused.

3. BCAA 3:1:2 by Muscle Pharm

BCAA 3 1 2 by Muscle Pharm

Muscle Pharm is one of the most popular series of workout supplements on the market and there are lots of choices. This one is dedicated to supplying the three best forms of BCAAs in the ration 3:1:2 in order to stimulate growth, produce glucose your body burns for energy, and repair tissue.

4. Aftershock Recovery by Myogenix

Aftershock Recovery by Myogenix

Drink this tasty creation full of BCAAs and stimulate recovery. Aftershock contains significant amounts of creatine and glutamine plus carbohydrates designed to make a great post-workout drink. Keep drinking: that’s one of the most helpful things you can do for your muscles.

5. Scivation XTEND

Scivation XTEND

Bodybuilders often stop short of their intended number of sets and repetitions owing to severe cramps in their muscles or stomach. Scivation XTEND is easily absorbed, tastes great, and provides the minerals you need to workout without cramping. You won’t need to rest as much between sets with the best recovery supplements in your gym bag.