Many individuals and experts in the fitness world are resorting to supplements to build muscle mass and burn fat. However, different people have different perceptions about supplements; while some swear by their effectiveness, others are skeptical about their safety. The question surrounding whether or not supplements can impact weight loss and increase muscle mass has been debated for years. If your aim is to lose weight and increase your muscle mass to achieve a toned body, you should learn about supplements before incorporating them into your fitness routine. Here is everything you need to know about supplements and their effects on weight loss, fat burning, and muscle mass.
Effect of Supplements on Body Fat
The supplements that work on burning fat are popularly known as fat burners and are actively used by individuals trying to lose weight. Fat burners increase your resting metabolic rate and induce an effect called thermogenesis, which produces energy to increase your body’s heat levels. With a higher temperature range and heat levels, your body’s metabolic rate increases too, which helps burn fat. As you know, the more fat you burn, the more weight you lose. This is why experts advise on enhancing your resting metabolic rate, which helps burn more calories even when you are resting.
Some fat burners also enhance the effect of lipolysis, which is the process of breaking lipids. They are a type of fat deposited in your adipose tissue that increases body weight and affects your metabolism. With this process, your body effectively burns fat. Lastly, certain fat burners work as appetite suppressants that reduce hunger pangs and cravings. Ideally, if you eat less, your body gets fewer calories, which ultimately forces it to resort to fat for energy. In turn, you burn more fat and lose weight. The hunger hormone, ghrelin, is suppressed with these supplements, which reduces the urge to eat.
Effect of Supplements on Muscle Mass
Protein supplements are effectively used to build muscle mass as they are packed with amino acids. As you may already know, amino acids are the building blocks of our body and organs that essentially build muscles and repair damaged tissues. As suggested by the Australia-based trainers at thesuppstop.com.au, you should consume amino and BCAA supplements if you wish to build muscle mass. These supplements reduce fatigue, enhance performance, and directly work on building lean muscle mass.
As your body builds muscle, it automatically burns fat, which answers our initial question. So, yes, supplements do help increase muscle mass and burn fat at the same time. Depending on the type of supplement you are consuming and its effectiveness, the amount of fat you burn varies from person to person. While some supplements enable the body to form new muscle fibers, others let the muscles produce and exert more force to rebuild and solve wear-and-tear. Since fat burners work differently than muscle-building supplements, you must take your final goal into account and pick a supplement accordingly.
Types of Supplements to Boost Weight Loss and Muscle Mass
For Weight Loss
While some weight loss supplements suppress appetite, others increase your metabolic rate to burn more calories. Supplement types like caffeine, concentrated green tea, Hydroxycut, Garcinia Cambogia extract, green coffee bean extracts, raspberry ketones, and Meratrim are some popular weight loss pills that are actively used by individuals who wish to shed pounds quickly. All of these are capable of breaking down body fat through several internal methods.
To Increase Muscle Mass
As mentioned, supplements with protein and amino acids can be used to increase muscle mass and repair damaged tissues. This is mainly found in whey and creatine supplements.
Other supplements with beta-hydroxy beta-methyl butyrate (HMB) and beta-alanine also help build muscles. Essentially, beta-alanine is known to develop muscles at a faster pace. When taken on a consistent basis, you can see results in less than 8 weeks.
Natural protein sources like eggs, fish, lean meat, and poultry are packed with protein. The constituents of these natural food sources, which are valine, leucine, and isoleucine, can be found as BCAAs or branched-chain amino acids. Individuals who consume vegetarian diets often lack BCAAs, which are vital for muscle growth. For them, BCAA supplements can be extremely helpful.
While supplements are undeniably effective, they should not be consumed without the supervision of a nutritionist or a medical practitioner. Even though most users do not face any serious issues, individuals with underlying health problems should stay away from supplements. For them, natural supplements such as nutrient-dense and high-protein organic foods are the ideal option. If you are still interested in consuming supplements for faster results, consult a certified expert.
