Every natural body building afficianado and their mother takes creatine, whey protein, arginine, glutamin and branch chain amino acids. Those nutritional supplements, along with a strict diet, are the cornerstone to gaining more muscle mass. However, there are some very simple nutritional supplements you should not exclude in your natural body building diet.
Vitamin D - Vitamin D is a group of fat-soluble prohormones, the two major forms of which are vitamin D2 (or ergocalciferol) and vitamin D3 (or cholecalciferol). The term vitamin D also refers to metabolites and other analogues of these substances. Vitamin D3 is produced in skin exposed to sunlight, specifically ultraviolet B radiation.
- Vitamin D regulates the calcium and phosphorus levels in the blood by promoting their absorption from food in the intestines, and by promoting re-absorption of calcium in the kidneys.
- It promotes bone formation and mineralization and is essential in the development of an intact and strong skeleton. Although, at very high levels it will promote the resorption of bone.
- It inhibits parathyroid hormone secretion from the parathyroid gland.
- Vitamin D affects the immune system by promoting immunosuppression, phagocytosis, and anti-tumor activity.
Folate - Folic acid and folate (the anion form) are forms of the water-soluble Vitamin B9. These occur naturally in food and can also be taken as supplements. Folate is necessary for the production and maintenance of new cells.
Pycnogenol - Pycnogenol is a natural product made from the bark of the European coastal pine, Pinus maritima. Pycnogenol is rich in proanthocyanidins, a special class of water-soluble antioxidant flavonoids, which are excellent free radical scavengers. Human research has shown pycnogenol can boost nitric oxide synthase. In short it will boost your NO levels helping you get that pump.
Vitex Agnus Castus - If you’re a female this supplement has beneficial effects in the management of PMS. For natural body building men this little supplement can be used as a secondary component because of its effects on testosterone levels
Melatonin - Yep, this nutritional supplement will make you verrrry sleepy if you take 50mg before bed. With that much you’ll go into a deep REM and have wicked vivid dreams. However, a recent study from Baylor University has shown that males taking a small dose of melatonin (5mg) before a workout increased their GH levels just before and after their workouts. Pretty cool!
Safed Musli - Safed Musli is an Ayurvedic herb used for centuries to improve physical strength and male fertility. We now know that this due to the high concentrations of spirosta-steroidal saponins found in this compound, which have been shown to significantly increase testosterone levels (1,2,3,6). Safed musli naturally occurs in forests of Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh and Maharastra States which are listed in the rare species of India.
Stininging Nettle Root - This natural herb will increase ‘free’ testosterone levels in human males. It is the free testosterone that is responsible for muscle gains, fat loss, and libido.
Avena Sativa - Avena Sativa, better known as wild oat, is an annual grass, which is cultivated for its edible grain. It has the effect of increasing free testosterone levels (the testosterone that can be used by the body). While the mechanism under which it exerts this benefit is not clear, it is suspected that it occurs through an increase in LH levels, just like Tribulus.
Royal Jelly - Royal Jelly is the creamy milk produced in the hypopharyn-geal glands on nursing bees. Sounds tasty right! Besides a slew of other health benefits royal jelly is a rich source of essential and non-essential amino acids. Studies have also show it to decrease lactic acid buildup, thereby increasing endurance.
Technorati Tags: avena sativa, folate, melatonin, natural body building, nutritional supplements, pycnogenol, royal jelly, safed musli, stinging nettle root, theanine, vitamin d, vitex agnus castus, creatine, whey protein, arginine, glutamin, branch chain amino acids
