Introduction
The most common question I am asked is, “Are supplements necessary?” The short answer to that question is NO and YES. The most important thing to understand about nutritional supplements is that they are exactly that, “Supplements”. They are intended to augment or “Add to” a good Nutrition and Exercise program. They are not “Magic Pills or Formulas” or replacements for Diet and Exercise!
So with that being said, if you are following a solid nutrition program that meets all of your nutritional needs, then no, supplements would not be necessary to meet your minimum requirements.
However, in the 30 years that I have been in the fitness industry, I have yet to meet a single person who is getting everything they need from food alone.
Although nutritional supplements are not essential, they can be a very important component in helping you achieve your fitness goals. Again, they are designed to “supplement” (add to) your diet, not replace it. In other words, you could be taking the best weight loss supplement in the world, but if you aren’t following the proper diet and exercise program you won’t lose the desired weight.
Remember, there is no “magic pill”, “formula”, or “special program” that will make you look like a Super Model, Famous Movie Star or Professional Bodybuilder overnight. Although many marketers would claim they have the “Secret”, it does not exist!
However, Nutritional Supplements can be extremely beneficial and help you achieve dramatic results. It is very important to use them as “Supplements” to a well-balanced lifestyle. When you do this, there is no limit to what you can achieve!
Reasons for Supplementation
There are essentially three basic reasons that a person would use nutritional supplements, to Improve Overall Health, to Alter Body Composition, and/or to Improve Physical Performance. Many people also use supplements for convenience such as using a Meal Replacement or Protein Drink instead of a meal. Let’s take a look at each of these reasons.Reasons For Supplementation:
- Improve Overall Health
- Alter Body Composition (Lose Fat/Gain Muscle)
- Improve Physical Performance
When using supplements for overall health, the typical goal is to provide your body with nutrients essential for optimal health and immune function. For example, using a Multi-Vitamin/Mineral formula to help compensate for dietary shortcomings. Essential Fatty Acids (EFA’s), such as the Omega’s 3, 6 & 9’s found in PPN’s AlphaLEAN®, are often used to help improve cholesterol levels and heart health. Meal Replacement and Protein Powders are often used for convenience as well.
For a sample supplement program for the health minded person see the “Sample Supplement Program For Overall Health".
2. Alter Body Composition (Lose Fat/Gain Muscle):
When using supplements to alter body composition there are also several variables to consider depending on each individual’s specific goal. Those that wish to alter body composition may also want to increase performance as well, and vice versa.
For Vanity or to alter Body Composition, the goal is to provide your body with all of the nutrients you’re missing on a lower calorie diet and all excess nutrients you need to fuel your workouts without all of the extra calories from food. There are also many products that can aid in elevating your metabolism and recovery to help you get to your goal much faster and easier.
You can alter body composition (lose fat/gain muscle) through supplementation by increasing the size of the muscle, increasing metabolism to burn more body fat and suppressing your appetite.
For example, a thermogenic fat loss supplement (such as PPN’s Rapid Thermal®) can be used to help increase your metabolism, suppress your appetite, and help prevent your body from losing lean muscle while dieting.
Glutamine can also be used to help prevent your body from using lean muscle as energy while in a caloric deficit (either through diet or activity).
For a sample supplement program to alter body composition see the “Sample Supplement Program For Altering Body Composition”.
3. Improve Physical Performance:
When using supplements to increase performance there are several variables to consider depending on each individual’s specific goal. As previously mentioned, those that wish to increase performance may also want to alter body composition as well, and vice versa.
Performance has much of the same purposes as Body Composition with the Goal of Increasing performance and recovery in excess of what can be attained by food alone, regardless of calories.
You can increase physical performance by increasing muscular work capacity and/or by increasing the size of the muscle.
For example, Creatine can be used to help produce more fuel (ATP) for the muscle. Thus, increasing the muscle’s ability to perform. Branched Chain Amino Acids and Glutamine can also be used to help the muscle recover after intense bouts of training and stress as well.
When using supplements to increase performance there are several variables to consider depending on each individual’s specific goal. As previously mentioned, those that wish to increase performance may also want to alter body composition as well, and vice versa.
Performance has much of the same purposes as Body Composition with the Goal of Increasing performance and recovery in excess of what can be attained by food alone, regardless of calories.
You can increase physical performance by increasing muscular work capacity and/or by increasing the size of the muscle.
For example, Creatine can be used to help produce more fuel (ATP) for the muscle. Thus, increasing the muscle’s ability to perform. Branched Chain Amino Acids and Glutamine can also be used to help the muscle recover after intense bouts of training and stress as well. “Sample Supplement Program For Improving Physical Performance”
*See Also: Supplement Recommendations