If you are looking for the best supplements for muscle growth to build up your fitness goals, we have exactly what you are looking for. When trying to build muscle, it can be overwhelming if you’re not sure where to begin or what supplements to take or if you even need them at all. Any questions you might have about possible supplements for muscle growth will be answered here.
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What are muscle building supplements?
Muscle-building supplements are designed to help you improve your physical performance when you are training and want to stimulate muscle growth. You can use different ones, but the most popular are protein and creatine, which will give you the best muscle. Some people look to protein because they aren’t getting enough in their diet. At the same time, others look at creatine because it works faster than protein does in terms of results.
What to look for in good muscle-building supplements?
The one thing to look for in muscle-building supplements is ample protein that will help boost muscle gain and repair. Protein is key when it comes to having good muscle building. If you aren’t getting it regularly in your food, then you can try the supplements we list below.
How can I get the best results with workout supplements?
In order to get the best results with workout supplements, you need to make sure you are taking the supplement as directed on the package. It all depends on what you are looking for regarding muscle growth. Some supplements help you see the results fast while others see results over time. The key is to follow the program that each supplement brand and type suggests.
What are the three main factors needed for muscle growth?
The three main factors you need to look at when it comes to muscle growth mechanisms are muscle tension, metabolic stress, and muscle damage. These factors depend on how much weight you lift each time you work out. It also depends on what you put in your body when you eat, which can have a significant impact on your muscle growth results.
How long does it take for muscle growth to happen?
You can start to see growth within eight weeks if you are a beginner to these supplements. More experienced people who are lifters will see changes in three to four weeks. You can expect to see a difference if you stick to healthy eating habits as well. It works best if you are consistent with your workout schedule. This will most heavily impact the results you see within an eight-week time frame.
Can muscle gain supplements help boost testosterone?
Muscle gain supplements can help boost testosterone while you are doing endurance training and resistance training. If you are looking to boost your testosterone, lifting weights has a more significant effect on your testosterone and you can see improvements quickly.
How can I get the best results with workout supplements?
It can take up to 30-60 minutes for workout supplements to work before you work out. We suggest you allow time for the supplements to reach your bloodstream as this will give you the best results during your workout. Another way to get the best results is to drink plenty of water throughout your workout and keep your body moving. This will keep your body hydrated as the supplement works into your bloodstream.
What supplements should I take for muscle growth?
- Creatine – An amino acid that comes from seafoods and red meat. It helps provide energy for your muscles and other tissues. It will allow your muscle cells to do more work when you are exercising, which will help with muscle gain.
- Protein Supplements – Protein is a chain of amino acids that we have in each cell of our bodies. These supplements are the most popular to help build and repair muscles and come in forms like whey, casein, and soy protein.
- Weight Gainers – These are used for people who have difficulty gaining muscle. It is only recommended that you use these supplements if you are struggling with eating enough food and need something to fill in for what you aren’t eating.
- Beta-alanine – This is also an amino acid, but it is non-essential. It is known to help build muscle mass and improve performance after a lot of activity. This is because it can decrease the lactic acid your muscles feel when they are tired and sore.
How much do supplements for muscle growth cost?
Supplements for muscle growth can cost anywhere from eleven to seventy dollars. This depends on your personal budget and fitness goals. It doesn’t matter if you get the cheapest supplement available because it has not been proven that they do not work as well as the most expensive ones. If you are looking for muscle growth, we suggest starting with the affordable ones until you have experience and are ready to move to the more professional supplements.
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Best Protein Powder for Muscle Growth
If you are looking for muscle growth and think starting with protein powder would work best for you, then we have the two best options for you to try.
1. Tri-Protein, $70
What does it do: Tri-Protein is a chocolate-flavored shake that actually tastes good, which for protein drinks, is not always the case. They have six different protein types released in three separate phases. Releasing the nutrients in phases will fuel your muscles for longer and help them repair and grow faster.
Who is it ideally for: This is ideal for people looking for muscle growth and needing more protein in their regular diet.
What is in it: There are six different types of protein in Tri-Protein, which make up the 21 grams per serving:
- Whey Protein Isolate
- Whey Protein Concentrate
- Micellar Casein
- Milk Protein Concentrate
- Calcium Caseinate
- Whey Protein Hydrolysate
These proteins help increase muscle mass at a better rate.
Why it is the best: You will see muscle growth in about a month when you use it as directed and work out a couple of days a week.
2. Gold Standard Whey, $14.99 to $120
What does it do: Gold Standard Whey is a form of whey protein that speeds up recovery after you work out. It gets your protein to your muscles faster.
Who is it ideally for: It is ideal for athletes and bodybuilders because it is a high-quality protein supplement.
What is in it: It has glutamine, glutamic acid, and amino acids. It offers 24 grams of protein per scoop (about 32 grams).
Why it is the best: It stands apart from others because of the quality and consistency it brings. People like that it comes with different flavors like chocolate peanut butter, vanilla, mocha and more. This way, you can try out a bunch of flavors and enjoy it in shakes, smoothies, yogurt, etc.
Best Creatine for Muscle Growth
If you want to try creatine for muscle growth, we have the three best options:
1. Klean Athlete Klean Creatine, $29
What does it do: Klean Athlete Creatine (available at Walmart) helps with more strenuous exercise and signals glycogen storage to support muscle growth in your body.
Who is it ideally for: It is ideal for athletes who need speed or increased muscle mass for the sport they are playing.
What is in it: It only contains creatine monohydrate (5 grams), which includes three forms of amino acids L-arginine, glycine, and L-methionine.
Why it is the best: It gives you an intense burst to help you push through the workout. It gets your blood to stream fast and you’ll be able to tell the difference after a short time.
2. Thorne Creatine, $40
What does it do: Your body stores creatine naturally, so Thorne Creatine (also available at Walmart) will help boost the creatine in your body and get it to your muscles faster.
Who is it ideally for: It is ideally for anyone who has problems with gluten, dairy, soy, and other major allergens that can be in protein drinks and powders. Some athletes and bodybuilders prefer it because they know it will help improve physical performance.
What is in it: It only contains 5 grams of creatine monohydrate, which is the most researched and effective form of creatine on the market. One serving is one scoop and the container comes with about 90 servings.
Why it is the best: It is clean and only uses the best type of creatine available.
3. Creatine HMB, $50
What does it do: The Creatine HMB (also available on Amazon) helps for better muscle function and is a highly effective formula that gives you the muscle growth you are looking for.
Who is it ideally for: It is ideally for natural athletes that are looking to minimize their muscle mass during cuts.
What is in it: The key ingredients are of course, creatine monohydrate and Vitamin D, HMB, and BioPerine. Vitamin D helps you absorb calcium in the body and reduce fatigue. HMB can decrease fat mass when combined with resistance training and BioPerine helps your body absorb nutrients.
Why it is the best: It is one of the best options because it uses more than one ingredient to create a strong and energized state of body. The ingredients will work better when they are taken together whereas we’ve seen only creatine previously.
Best Post-Workout Supplements for Muscle Growth
If you are looking for the best post-workout supplements for muscle growth, we have the best option for you.
Jacked Factory Growth Surge, $40
What does it do: Jacked Factory Growth Surge helps support lean muscle growth and fat loss. It’s meant to be taken post-workout, so it works throughout the day to recover your muscles.
Who is it ideally for: It is ideal for athletes, especially when training. It will help the body recover faster and reduces soreness.
What is in it: It contains creatine monohydrate, betaine anhydrous, L-Carnitine, and BioPerine. L-Carnitine contains green tea, which helps with fat loss and energy production. As we have seen BioPerine helps your body absorb other nutrients, which makes it perfect for post-workout.
Why it is the best: It is the best post-workout supplement for muscle growth because it provides the proper nutrients and helps you get back into the gym the following day as it reduces soreness.
Best Beta-Alanine for Muscle Growth
We have the two best options if you want to take beta-alanine for muscle growth.
1. Huge Supplements Wrecked, $50
What does it do: Huge Supplements Wrecked boosts energy and has proven to take your workout to the next level.
Who is it ideally for: It is for anyone looking for an intense energy boost before you work out.
What is in it: L-Citrulline, Beta Alanine, Betaine Anhydrous, Malic Acid, Agmatine Sulfate, L-Tyrosine, Alpha GPC, Lion’s Mane Mushroom Powder, Caffeine Anhydrous, N-Phenethyl Dimethylamine, Theobromine, Di-Caffeine Malate, Himalayan Pink Salt, Black Pepper Fruit Extract. The purpose of these 17 ingredients are different, but the key players here are L-Citrulline, Beta Alanine, L-Tyrosine, and caffeine. L-Citrulline is for blood flow, Beta Alanine is to reduce muscle fatigue, L-Tyrosine produces dopamine and helps you focus. Lastly, caffeine is in almost all “pre-workouts” and its purpose is to provide energy.
Why it is the best: It is known to be the best because of the drive, focus, and energy it gives you once you have taken it.
2. Swolverine Carnosyn Beta-Alanine, $55
What does it do: Swolverine Carnosyn Beta-Alanine (available at GNC) is known to increase the carnosine concentration in people’s muscles to help them grow. It also helps you do more reps as it reduces muscle fatigue.
Who is it ideally for: It is mainly for athletes who want to improve their performance and want a high dose of beta-alanine per serving.
What is in it: It contains five grams of beta-alanine through Carnosyn and that’s it.
Why it is the best: It gives you the boost you need as a pre-workout dose and doesn’t contain anything else.
Best BCAAs for Muscle Growth
If you are looking for the best BCAAs to boost your health, we have the two best options.
1. Transparent Labs BCAA Glutamine, $40
What does it do: Transparent Labs BCAA Glutamine enhances your strength and helps prevent lean muscle loss from happening. It will regulate your hormones to increase muscle mass and strength.
Who is it ideally for: It is mainly for bodybuilders and people looking to gain a significant amount of muscle mass.
What is in it: There are three main ingredients: BCAA 2:1:1, glutamine, and coconut water powder. The BCAAs prevents muscle damage, glutamine increases protein effects, and coconut water powder helps rehydrate and balance blood sugar levels.
Why it is the best: It is in our top two because it contains no artificial sweeteners, coloring, or preservations. You will also see results quickly.
2. Optimum Nutrition BCAA, $44
What does it do: Optimum Nutrition BCAA supports muscle recovery when you finish a workout, so it will help the muscles recover in your body.
Who is it ideally for: It is ideal for athletes or bodybuilders looking to recover from a workout.
What is in it: Leucine, isoleucine, and valine are the three essential amino acids that make up this product. These make up BCAAs and support muscles during endurance exercise.
Why it is the best: Your muscles and joints recover quickly after a workout and it doesn’t contain a bunch of “filler” ingredients.
Best Citrulline for Muscle Growth
If you are looking for the best citrulline supplements to delay muscle fatigue and support greater force, we provide the best option below.
Swolverine Citrulline Malate, $57
What does it do: Swolverine Citrulline Malate helps support greater endurance and muscle force. It will optimize muscle recovery and allow you to get back in the gym the following day.
Who is it ideally for: It is ideally for people who do weight training and are looking to have better muscle performance.
What is in it: It only has two ingredients: L-Citrulline and malic acid. L-Citrulline is a non-essential amino acid, so this ingredient list is pretty clean.
Why it is the best: It provides high-intensity exercise performance and doesn’t contain other active ingredients.
Best Carb Supplement for Muscle Growth
We have the best options if you are training or bodybuilding and looking for the best carb supplements for muscle growth.
1. Transparent Labs Carb, $45
What does it do: Transparent Labs Carb enhances your strength, decreases fat mass, and prevents any lean muscle loss from happening.
Who is it ideally for: It is ideal for anyone looking to support muscle growth and keep your energy levels high.
What is in it: It contains cluster dextrin, which helps reduce bloating and improve carbohydrate energy.
Why it is the best: It is a smooth supplement that doesn’t make you feel full and gives you just the right amount of energy and power you need during a workout.
2. Huge Supplements Formula XII, $65
What does it do: Huge Supplements Formula XII is a formula that acts fast and accelerates the energy and power you need for your workout.
Who is it ideally for: It is for people looking for a carb supplement with a good amount of cluster destrin because it improves the taste when you are drinking it. It’s also recommended as an introductory supplement for pre-workouts.
What is in it: Cluster Dextrin, Creatine Monohydrate, Organic ModCarb, Beta-Alanine, Betaine Anhydrous, L-Ornithine, D-Ribose, Potassium Citrate, Grape Seed Extract, Alpha Lipoic Acid, Magnesium Citrate, and Bioperine.
Why it is the best: It gives you the nutrients you need to act fast and the carbs will provide you with the energy you need for a workout.
Is it ok for vegans and vegetarians to use supplements?
There are supplements that vegans and vegetarians can use. Supplements like B6, B2, and folic acid are great for vegans. Since meat provides a lot of the vitamins and minerals we need when lifting weights and building muscle, these supplements can help provide certain nutrients a vegan or vegetarian needs in their diet. Plenty of vegan or vegetarian supplements exist and we have provided the best ones below.
Best Vegan Protein Powder for Muscle Growth
If you are vegan and looking for the best protein powder for muscle growth, we have the two best options.
1. Huel Protein Powder, $39
What does it do: Huel Protein Powder is designed to help maintain your digestive system health. It will help support muscle gain by providing plant protein to your body.
Who is it ideally for: It is ideal for vegans seeking to consume the right amount of protein they need and build muscle.
What is in it: It has pea, faba pea, and hemp seed as its primary protein sources. This is perfect for vegans because it doesn’t have any filler ingredients that bother the body.
Why it is the best: It contains essential vitamins and minerals you need. Not all vegan powders will have that in their product.
2. MyProtein Vegan Protein Blend, $12 to $90
What does it do: MyProtein Vegan Protein Blend helps regulate your appetite and weight, so you aren’t losing weight even though you’re not eating meat.
Who is it ideally for: It is ideal for people who are vegan and want to incorporate a safe protein supplement.
What is in it: We are pulling these ingredients from the vanilla flavor blend: Pea protein isolate, brown rice protein, inulin, natural flavoring, enzyme blend, guar gum, ganthan gum, and soy. Pea protein and brown rice protein are both common vegan proteins. There are some filler ingredients to keep the consistency and flavor to your liking.
Why it is the best: It tastes delicious and can be added to foods as well as drinks.
Which supplement works best for bulking and bodybuilding?
- Mass Gainers – If you are trying to bulk up, you must consume more calories than you burn in a workout. Mass gainers help you add on extra calories and can be part of your meal throughout the day.
- Omega-3 and Omega-6 – This is something that the body can’t make. It’s a supplement you need to help make lean gains. You are putting on the weight, but it still enables you to stay fit and lean when trying to bulk up.
- Creatine – This is a supplement that is found naturally in the body. Taking extra creatine can increase the amount of stored muscle you have. It is a must-have supplement if you are trying to bulk.
- Whey Protein Powder – This protein comes in many flavors and has a great taste. A protein shake will help repair muscles after a workout and adds calories to your diet.
What is the best muscle-building supplement for seniors?
- Branched Chain Amino Acids – This is one of the best supplements for seniors to help tell the muscles to grow and prevent them from breaking down.
- HMB – This is best if you lost your muscle from stress hormones, which often happens with age, and you need to regain it back.
- Vitamin D – Muscle strength needs to have Vitamin D, so if you do not have enough of this in your system regularly, it is a good idea to incorporate it with supplements.
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Can you stack muscle growth supplements together?
You can stack muscle growth supplements together, but we caution to be very careful about this, especially at first. Stacking can help speed up the growth and recovery in your muscles, but only certain supplements go well together.
If you want to build muscle, this is a basic guide to stacking:
- Weight Gainer – Can take two to four scoops a day. It can be used as one of your daily meals like a snack.
- Pre-workout Booster – Can take two to three scoops a day. This is best as a pre-workout before you head to the gym.
- Arachidonic Acid – Can take up to four scoops a day. It is best to drink this before you do any weight training.
As mentioned, you should definitely read up on all of the ingredients in the brand you select for each supplement. This way, you can make sure you stick to the serving instructions and won’t overlap too much of one ingredient. Start slow and then incorporate one more item over time.
What are some muscle-building mistakes?
Believe it or not, there are mistakes you can make when you are trying to build muscle. You need to stay hydrated regardless of your workout plan. Supplements will help your body do its job more quickly, but only if you take good care of yourself by eating, stretching, and staying hydrated.
Don’t try too many things at once. We suggest making small changes and allowing your body time to adjust to them. As a result, you shouldn’t stack these supplements on top of each other at first. It’s also important to look at the ingredients and not overlap so that you are taking too much. That can have the opposite effect and hurt your body. Also, everyone’s body is different, so what works for your friends might not work for you. Keep that in mind as you transition into a new workout or supplement routine.
What about the side effects of muscle growth supplements?
We suggest that if you experience any of the following side effects, you should contact your doctor and stop taking them:
- Severe acne
- Hair loss
- Altered mood
- Depression
- Increased aggression
- Nausea
- Stomach pain
- Muscle cramps
Is the muscle growth from supplements temporary?
The muscle growth you get from supplements is temporary if you don’t regularly keep up with your workout routine. If you gain muscle and then stop your routine and eat unhealthy, you will see a decrease in muscle over time. If you want to keep the muscle growth you gained from the supplements, then you need to stick to a regular workout routine.
Is it legal to use muscle growth supplements?
Yes, it is 100% legal to use muscle growth supplements. All of the products we listed are easy to obtain whether online or at the local supermarket and they are all FDA approved. The only thing that isn’t legal is anabolic steroids for recreational use. These are not legal to take unless prescribed by a doctor for an injury.
Can you grow muscles without the help of any supplements?
Yes, we can all grow muscle without the help of any supplements. All you need to do to increase muscle is stick to a good, balanced nutrition plan and a well-thought-out exercise program that includes strength training. If you keep those two things up, you will get the desired muscle. It will take time, but you will see a difference within a few weeks to a few months.
Are muscle growth supplements worth it?
They can be worth it if you need more protein in your diet and aren’t getting enough of it from your foods. It also depends on your workout plan and how much exercise you do. Protein is most often needed by those doing weight training. In this case, it also depends on how much you are lifting. Muscle growth supplements can ensure you get what you need to help build the muscle you seek. Otherwise, if you mainly do cardio and toning workouts and eat well, you probably do not need to take these muscle growth supplements.
In conclusion, we have covered everything you need to know about the best supplements for muscle growth and what they do for your body. Now, you have to find out what works for you and your body. This can take some experimentation and trial and error to see how you feel and how your body reacts to the product. Please take your time to go over the information we provided. That way, you can look into the best options from each category including pre-workout, protein powder, and post-workout supplements.