Can bodybuilders
benefit by supplementing with extra vitamins and minerals? Let's review
some basic biology as well as the function of each specific vitamin in
order to find the answer...
In the grand
scheme of things, your body is basically one giant mass of chemical
reactions. Each of these individual reactions is fueled by small
proteins called enzymes, which work by lowering the amount of energy
that is needed for a specific reaction to occur. Enzymes require the
use of a "co-enzyme" which alters its shape and allows it to perform
its job properly. Co-enzymes are also referred to as vitamins.
So
when it all comes down it, vitamins are needed to fuel the thousands of
chemical reactions going on within your body at all times. Not only
does this play an important role in overall metabolism and body health,
but it also plays a vital part in the muscle-building process.
Here is a list of the major vitamins and the ways in which they will aid you both in and out of the gym...
Vitamin A
- Is crucial to the process of protein synthesis where individual amino
acids are combined to form new muscle tissue. It also helps the body to
produce glycogen, the stored form of carbohydrates within the body.
Vitamin B1
- Also known as "thiamine" and is heavily involved in protein
metabolism as well as the production of hemoglobin which helps to carry
oxygen around the body.
Vitamin B2 -
Also known as "riboflavin" and aids in the fat burning process as well
as helping the body to produce energy from carbohydrates.
Vitamin B3 - Also known as "niacin" and increases vasodilation within the muscle tissue, helping you to appear fuller and more vascular.
Vitamin B6
- Also known as "pyridoxine" and is very important because of its
effect on protein digestion. Muscle-building diets require larger than
normal amounts of protein, and this means that your body needs a higher
amount of vitamin B6 than the average Joe.
Vitamin B12
- Also known as "cobalamin", vitamin b12 ensures that the brain and
muscle tissue are communicating efficiently and this has a direct
effect on muscle growth and coordination.
Biotin - Helps the body metabolize amino acids and produce energy during workouts.
Vitamin C
- Heavily involved in amino acid metabolism and the formation of
collagen. Collagen is found in your connective tissue and keeps your
joints strong and healthy. Vitamin C also plays a role in the
production of steroid hormones in the body and also enhances the
absorption of iron. On top of all of this, vitamin C is a powerful
antioxidant which flushes out free radicals and prevents damage to your
body cells.
Vitamin D - Helps
the body to absorb calcium and phosphorus more efficiently. Calcium is
very important during muscle contractions and also helps to maintain
strong bones and joints. Phosphorus is involved in the synthesis of
ATP, the usable form of energy within the body.
Vitamin E
- A very powerful antioxidant which helps to hunt out and neutralize
free radicals. This will help to flush out many of the natural
metabolic waste products your body produces and maintain the health of
your cell membranes.
As you can clearly see
above, vitamins play a very important role when it comes to building
muscle and gaining strength. Hard training bodybuilders certainly
require higher amounts of these vitamins than the average sedentary
Joe, as these vitamins are depleted during intense sessions in the gym.
In
addition, a calorie-dense diet requires a higher intake of vitamins to
aid in the digestion process. In fact, being deficient in just one
vitamin can literally affect thousands of small process within the body.
So, are multivitamins necessary for bodybuilders?
Absolutely!
From
protein synthesis to energy metabolism to digestion to vasodilation,
multivitamins should be an important part of any effective
supplementation plan.
For an honest,
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supplements on the market today, visit my website by clicking the link
below. You'll learn which supplements are worth your money and which
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About The Author
Once
an awkward, pencil-necked "social reject", Sean Nalewanyj is now a
renowned bodybuilding expert, fitness author, and creator of the most
celebrated natural bodybuilding program online today: "Muscle Gain Truth No-Fail System".
If
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