If you are just starting out on your fitness journey and are looking to build muscles, you’ve probably heard about muscle growth pills and wondered if they can help you build your muscle mass faster.
While these products are not a substitute for proper training and nutrition, they can be a useful addition to your regimen. Let’s explore the basics of muscle growth pills, alongside tips for choosing the best supplements.
What Are Muscle Growth Pills?
Muscle growth pills are dietary supplements that are designed to promote muscle growth and repair.
Some of these supplements are designed to boost your endurance, so you can do more exercises without getting tired. As such, they should be taken before workouts. Others are meant to shorten the time it takes your body to repair muscles after an exercise routine. These types of supplements are best taken after workouts.
How Effective Are Muscle Growth Pills?
Even though there are plenty of supplements on the market, according to the European Journal Of Nutrition, not all are effective at boosting muscle growth. As such, you should do some background checks before investing your hard-earned cash.
Ideally, you should go for products that are high in:
- Nitrates
- Caffeine
- Creatine
- Polyunsaturated fatty acids
- Amino acids
However, it is important to note that muscle growth pills are not a magic solution for building muscles. You still need to engage in regular exercise and follow a strict diet plan to get a favorable outcome.
By all means, avoid the temptation to take more than the prescribed number of pills per day, even if the progress seems to be slow. When it comes to muscle growth pills, more pills don’t mean more muscles.
Matter of fact, it could lead to health problems like:
- Liver and kidney damage
- Depression
- Hair loss
- Even heart attacks
Choosing the Right Growth Supplements
The process of choosing the best products for weightlifting is not as straightforward as most people think. If you are new to dietary supplements, you may want to first go for an MRI to check your muscle mass percentage. The type and amount of pills you need will invariably depend on your body fat percentage vis-a-vis muscle mass.
Moreover, if you are on medications, are allergic to certain products, or have an underlying medical condition, it is advisable to seek your doctor’s advice and recommendations before embarking on any program.
Below is a simple checklist of the things you need to look out for in a muscle growth pill solution:
Ingredients
The type of ingredients in muscle growth pills can have a significant impact on their effectiveness. As mentioned above, choose pill supplements that contain normal dietary nutrients, like:
- Amino acids
- Nitrates
- Caffeine
- Creatine
- Polyunsaturated fatty acids
Likewise, avoid pills that contain chemical compounds like:
- Androstenedione
- Methandienone
- Oxandrolone
These substances are often used to make anabolic steroids, which are known to cause extreme side effects, such as high blood pressure and organ failure.
Personal goals
Some products promote moderate muscle growth, while others are known for rapid muscle development and can boost performance during workouts. As such, you should first determine what you want to achieve and then choose a product that best meets your needs.
For instance, if you are looking to build mass, pick a product that contains ingredients like:
- Creatine
- Beta-alanine
- Branched-chain amino acids (BCAA)
If you are looking to enhance your strength and power and also gain some muscles, look for products that contain ingredients like:
- Nitric oxide boosters
- Caffeine
Brand and reputation
Choose muscle growth pills from reputable manufacturers that have a track record of producing quality supplements. Look for products with positive customer reviews and ratings, as well as those that have undergone independent testing for safety and efficacy and are approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) or other regulatory bodies.
Even then, always consult your fitness instructor or doctor before starting any supplement.
Are Muscle Growth Pills Worth it?
Muscle growth pills can be an invaluable addition to your fitness routine if you are looking to build muscles and strength. However, it is important to remember that these supplements are different from steroids, and will not produce desirable outcomes if they are not complemented with proper nutrition and resistance training.
Depending on your fitness plan, you may require more than one brand of pills to achieve your goals, since different pills have different effects.
