A supplement stack is a strategic combination of two or more supplements that complement each other to maximize its effects. Supplement stacking is done as a way to enhance your diet and improve your level of nutrition so you can achieve your fitness goals faster. People who want to lose weight or gain more muscle mass often stack supplements to get better results. If you’re new to this concept, this article will serve as your guide on how to go about it. But first, you need to understand that supplement stacking is a way to enhance the quality of your nutrition and should not replace a balanced diet, regular exercise, and an overall healthy lifestyle.
What are the Benefits of Supplement Stacking?
If you’re already following a healthy diet and a sensible workout routine then you’re probably wondering how supplement stacking can benefit you further. Here’s how:
Enhanced Metabolism
Your body is capable of absorbing and processing the nutrients you feed it. However, there are several factors that may slow down the process, such as stress and aging. If you want to shed excess pounds or torch fat efficiently, supplement stacking can help your body tackle several pathways in your body to make this possible. The best supplements for enhanced metabolism are:
- Green Tea Extract
- Caffeine
- Evodiamine
- Acetyl L-Carnitine
Better Muscle Mass Development
If you want to bulk up or gain more muscle mass, you’ll need to have a caloric surplus in your diet. But it needs to be paired with a training program that’s designed specifically for muscle gain. A number of athletes go for additional supplementation to enhance their muscle gain in a shorter period of time. To gain more muscle mass faster, you can complement your diet and exercise routine with these supplements:
- Creatine
- Branched Chain Amino Acids (BCAAs)
- Arginine Alpha Ketoglutarate (AAKG)
- Citrulline Malate
Improved Strength
Another area of concern for most bodybuilders is strength. Apart from looking impressive, your level of strength pretty much dictates how much weight you can lift in the gym. The stronger you are the, more you can allow mass-building overload on your muscles.
- D-Aspartic Acid
- Caffeine
- Huperzine A
- Beta Alanine
Enhanced Mood
When you’re shifting to a new diet, it will take some time for you to adjust to it. Your body will go through changes, especially if you are adapting to a low-calorie diet intended for weight loss. Your mood is one of the first things to change. As you consume less carbs and calories, your mood tends to drop for a bit. This is due to having temporarily low levels of serotonin. During this period, you may find yourself more irritable. For that reason, some people turn to brain/mood supplement stacking. The best supplements you can use alongside a fat-burning group of supplements are:
- Rhodiola Rosea
- 5-HTP
- Beta-Phenylethylamine
The Basics of Supplement Stacking
Now that you have a fair idea of what supplement stacking is for, here’s a guide on how to get started with it.
Choosing the Right Supplements
The market is filled with various types of supplements. It’s important that you buy from a trusted brand such as Purisure. Each product is packed and processed carefully and ethically to ensure uncompromised quality.
Determine Your Fitness Goal
You have to align your supplement stacking program with your fitness goal. Different types of supplements target different pathways and deliver varying results. You have to determine which supplements help you achieve your own personal fitness goals, whether it’s to lose weight, gain muscle mass, improve stamina, or others. But before that, you have to assess your current physical health and condition. If you are diagnosed with any type of chronic illness, it’s best to consult your doctor whether it’s safe for you to take a certain supplement and at what dose. Your efforts can do more harm than good if it’s not done properly.
Find Out How Much Supplement You Need
How much you’ll need may depend on your weight, the type of supplement you’re taking, and the fitness goal you want to achieve. Your diet also plays a role since some nutrients can be found in the food you’re eating. Your diet and supplementation program should go hand in hand.
Set A Schedule for When You Should be Taking Supplements
Your body goes through different states throughout the day. Some supplements can be absorbed faster or better when taken at a particular time. There are supplements that are also best taken on an empty stomach or before working out to attain their full effects. Some may need to be taken after a meal or after working out. And finally, some supplements shouldn’t be taken together, while some work best when paired with a complementary supplement.
Observe How Your Body Reacts
If you’re a beginner, don’t dive right into taking several supplements per day. Stick to one or a combination of two first and ease your way into taking more. The reason for this is to help your body adjust well to your supplementation program. It can also help you weed out which ones don’t work for you and which ones actually do.
The Takeaway
In general, supplement stacking is an effective way to boost your overall health and physical fitness. It speeds up results and helps your body sustain periods of intense training and huge changes to your diet. However, it has to be done right and consistently for you to see actual results.
References:
https://www.bodybuilding.com/content/what-are-the-best-supplement-stacks.html
https://www.wikihow.com/Stack-Supplements
https://www.muscleandfitness.com/supplements/build-muscle/best-supplement-stacks-every-goal