What are supplements and what do they do for you?

[Titus]

I keep on hearing people mentioning supplements, I only have a rough Idea of what they are, since my mom takes vegetable supplements.
So can someone please descirbe them better, and what they do , and if its safe for me to take them

[Lil'Lifter]

What kind of supps are you refering to? Protein powder, ZMA, ProHormones, multi's. The term supplements covers a wide range of things. Here is a site where you can read about almost everykind of bodybuilding supp out there.
http://www.bodybuilding.com/fun/bbmainsupp.htm

[Lady C]

Originally Posted by Titus

I keep on hearing people mentioning supplements? Can someone please descirbe them better, and what they do , and if its safe for me to take them

If you have a well rounded diet then there is no need to take them. A multivitamin is like an insurance policy, making sure you are not lacking somewhere. Protein powders are a more conveinent way to ingest protein. Depending on you and your goals, the others may be a complete and total waste of money.

[Kitara]

Originally Posted by Titus

So can someone please descirbe them better...

In a nutshell, "supplements" are pills, powders, drinks, syrums, bars etc. of different ingredients used to "supplement" your diet and exercise plan.

Go into a GNC and look around and most (if not all) of the stuff on the shelf are classified as supplements. Some, like protein powder, are very basic and very popular. Others, such as the miracle weight loss pills you see on infomertials, are not so common and are usually a waste of money. IMO most supplements are for people that want to achieve their goals faster and better at any cost. And the supplement companies cater to those people with a whole range of get big/small fast products. A lot of them are expensive, there are many that are unsafe, and many MANY of them don't do what they advertise that they will do.

So, jump in, read up, and welcome to the world of supplements .

[Titus]

Some can be unsafe? Can you say some general things I should look out for when I"m buying supplements, what kind of checmicals to beware of etc.
I'm looking for Protein Supplements.

[Kitara]

I'm looking for Protein Supplements.

If you're only looking for protein to supplement your diet then just look for regular 'ol whey, soy, egg, casein (did I forget any) or a blend of a few. There aren't many (or any that I know of) regular protein powders that anyone would say are "dangerous". The majority of people use whey protein after workouts and, depending on the person, different protein blends for meal replacements.

When I said "unsafe" I mean things like prohormones, ephedra etc. etc. I don't mean to imply they are inherently unsafe (although I'm sure there are some out there that are), but that you should know what you're getting into. A lot of supplements out there half the people don't even know anything about because supplements come and go so quickly. You're best off staying with the old faithfulls or determine for yourself whether the risk is worth the goal.

[Titus]

Thanks, I'll look in too it. I don't think I'm taking in enough protein. So that's why I"m considering supplements.

[TheBigness]

if you eat enough you wont need supplements. i have found that i can get all the nutrients i need from food, but i get bloated and tend to gain more body fat when i get ALL my protien from meats and milks and eggs, because there are more calories in a steak than in a shake. so a protien supplement might be good for you as well. make sure you know how to eat properly before you take supplements.
I have a friend who takes a ton of supps and hardly eats(maybe 2500) calories a day. which really isnt a whole lot. he gains but only because he spends a fortune on junk he could get from eating a salad a big steak and a sweet potato.

[Kitara]

Originally Posted by TheBigness

hardly eats(maybe 2500)

LOL!!! I guess it's all relative . I get about 1500 - 1700 a day and I'm stuffed .

[wm009]

Used to rely heavely on Whey protein powder, but the last judge I got of it, doesn't mix too well, so it's not fun to drink. So I'm becoming very dependent on tuna. They can be very helpful on the run and stuff. But if you have no problem getting the food into you, then you don't really need it.

[DrWahoo]

I find that GNC's Whey Protien (chocolate) is really good. My two year old daughter prefers it o ovaltine. (Although I don't know if she should be drinking it). What I like best about protein powders is that it is so much cheaper than buying meat. I bought a 6lb 87servings at 20 gms of protien for about $26.00 at GNC. That's like maybe 40 chicken breast, right.

[Titus]

What does a protein ratio mean, I bought some protein powder and it says 1.9:1 proetin/carb ratio.

Is 43 grams of protein , 23 grams of carbs and 282 cals good for 75 gram serving ?