What Are The Best Herbal Supplements for Bodybuilding?
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When it comes to muscle growth, stamina and body building supplements, the first thing that often comes to mind are protein supplements, glutamine, creatine, whey protein, amino acids or N.O. But did you know more and more body builders and fitness enthusiasts are turning away from the prescription medications and trying out the amazing benefits of natural herbs?
Herbs is among the oldest supplement in history. For ages, mankind used them for either health or medicinal purposes and ancient athletes relied on herbal medicine to fuel their body and boost their energy. Ancient healing systems such as Traditional Chinese Medicine and Ayurveda have used herbs for their wondrous healing effects and lots of these herbs became the foundation of commercial drug industry.
Nowadays, the health and fitness industry is heavily promoting herbs, either as fat burners, energy boosters, as weight loss agents or for immune support. Looking for the best herbal supplements for bodybuilding? The good news is, there are a number of herbs that promote muscle growth and many bodybuilders are using these herbs as part of their muscle building diet.
3 Best Herbal Supplements for BodyBuilding
Below are the top 3 best herbal supplements for bodybuilding. It’s better if you can include them in your muscle-building diet.
Flax seed
Flax seed is one of the best sources of ALA (alpha linolenic acid), a very important fatty acid for bodybuilders. Taking flax seed offers many astounding benefits, most especially for body builders
Alpha linolenic acid is good for bodybuilders because:
- Helps regulate hormones
- Enhances insulin sensitivity
- Construct healthy cell walls
- Regulate nerve transmission
- Regulate smooth muscle
- Stimulate steroid production
Yet another good thing about flax seed is its rich protein content. Every 100 grams of flax seed contain 25 to 30 grams of protein. This is the reason why it is an ideal supplement for your bodybuilding diet. It also contains iron, calcium, Vitamin E, magnesium, potassium and zinc. It promotes muscle growth by supporting protein synthesis.
Fenugreek
Fenugreek can help bodybuilders improve their athletic abilities and performance. Fenugreek offers plenty of benefits for improving muscles.
- It has high protein content. Fenugreek is exceptionally rich in protein – every 11 grams contain about 3 grams of protein. And not only that, the quality of protein present in fenugreek is extremely high, compared to the synthetic ones.
- It can help boosts energy level. A study on fenugreek extract found out that it can increase the endurance level, making bodybuilders do more and train more in less time.
- Fenugreek is rich in iron. Iron is essential for building strong muscles as it increases the blood’s abilities to carry more oxygen to the muscle cells.
When bodybuilders are deficient in iron, their muscles won’t increase in size and won’t stretch. This means that no matter how they try and work out, they’re going to notice any positive results. - It is rich in zinc. Zinc is very important in bodybuilding. This nutrient is responsible for maintaining energy at healthy levels. Without zinc, bodybuilders will feel fatigue and exhausted too quickly.
Ashwaganda
Ashwaganda or Indian ginseng belongs to the nightshade family and is related to egg plants, tomatoes and potatoes. Used for centuries in Ayurveda, Ashwagandha has been reported to improve physical performance, improve fertility and provide stress relief.
Ashwagandha is a popular ergogenic herb, ideal for athletes and bodybuilders due to its promising benefits in boosting strength and performance. While this herb isn’t rich in protein and doesn’t target protein synthesis, it contains plenty of antioxidants and is an adaptogenic herbs. Because it can enhance the body’s resistance to stress, improve endurance and reduce muscle recovery times, it helps bodybuilders increase muscle mass and train longer.
Below are some of the best herbal supplements for bodybuilding, based on ratings and user reviews.
Puritan’s Pride Organic Flaxseed Oil and Bodybuilding
Product Description:
Only a handful of natural sources contain the important Omega-3, -6 and -9 fatty acids your body needs for heart, metabolic and cellular health.
This Flaxseed Oil is derived from the seeds of the Flax plant and is a terrific plant source of these important polyunsaturated fatty acids. To ensure the highest possible quality, flaxseeds are processed in a climate- and light-controlled atmosphere. They are pressed at very cold temperatures without solvents. Enjoy the healthy benefits of flaxseed in a convenient-to-use liquid form and reap the rewards of one of the best vegetarian sources of Omega-3 fatty acids found in nature. Adults can take one teaspoonful twice a day.
Key Benefits:
- Contains Omega -3, -6 and -9 fatty acids
- Comes in liquid form
- Certified Organic
User Reviews:
This product got 4.7 out of 5 stars. Users reported that the liquid form is more convenient, particularly for those who cannot swallow a pill. It also has a pleasant mild flavour which comes perfect for salad, smoothies and other dishes. Users claimed that this product improved their health.
Puritan’s Pride Fenugreek and Bodybuilding
Product Description:
Fenugreek seeds are a rich source of saponins, which account for many important benefits. Fenugreek can be used as part of your healthy lifestyle.
Puritan’s Pride’s preservative-free gelatin capsules contain pure milled herb powder. Puritan’s Pride’s Natural Whole Herb products utilize ground plant parts to provide the natural components found in nature.
Key Benefit:
- Helps Support Overall Wellness
User Reviews:
This product got 4.7 out of 5 stars. One user reported a noticeable increase in his energy level after taking it for two months. Other users reported that it helped manage their blood sugar level and reduced their blood cholesterol level.
Puritan’s Pride Ashwagandha Standardized Extract
Product Description:
Famous for its goodness as a refresher. Known as the “Indian Ginseng”. Standardized to contain 1.5% Withanolides. Rapid Release Capsules. Ashwagandha is a traditional herb that supports well being. Known as Indian Ginseng”, Indian shamans used this traditional herb for its adaptogenic qualities.
Key Benefits:
- Traditionally used to alleviate stress
- Promotes overall wellbeing
- Rapid release capsule
User Reviews:
This product got 4.2 out of 5 stars. Users reported that this product boosted his energy levels. Also, it is easy on the stomach and did not caused any stomach discomfort.
Conclusion:
Many bodybuilding supplement brands in the market claim they can improve muscle growth, relieve stress, promote weight loss, boost energy and extend life. . These herbal supplements are not meant to replace diet and exercise for strengthening muscles but it can be a great supplement to be included in your muscle-building diet.
