March 19, 2024
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Supplements

What Supplements Do You Need for Workout Recovery?

The title of this article is a little misleading. When it comes to recovery after your workouts, you technically don’t need any supplement. Your body can handle recovery independently if you’re eating enough calories and have a high enough protein intake.

That said, some supplements can aid in the recovery process, help you recover faster, and help your body build muscle more efficiently. No supplement can replace a well-rounded diet, but it can fill in gaps, account for shortcomings, and enhance bodily processes.

When it comes to recovering after a workout, a few categories of supplements can be helpful. Let’s break down some of these categories, what they do, and who could benefit from taking them.

Protein Supplements

Protein is the cornerstone of any recovery routine. Protein powders are fairly cheap and easily accessible. As far as recovering after a workout, protein is the main ingredient your body needs to repair your muscles and facilitate growth and recovery.

Our bodies metabolize protein and break it down into amino acids, which are the building blocks of innumerable bodily functions. Consuming adequate protein levels daily helps your body fuel these processes and gives you the materials you need to cultivate muscle growth.

There are a variety of types of protein, and they serve different purposes, which you can read about here. Still, if workout recovery is one of your core goals, then you should try to ensure that your total daily protein intake is about 0.7 grams to 1 gram of protein per pound of bodyweight.

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With protein, you can’t go wrong with something like Optimum Nutrition’s Gold Standard Whey. It’s fairly affordable, contains a high protein by volume, and blends well so that you’re not dealing with a bunch of chunks in your protein shakes. Other brands I really like and advise checking out include Transparent Labs, Jacked Factory, and BSN.

Depending upon what flavors you like, how you consume your protein (i.e., mixed with water vs. blended into a shake), and what types of protein you prefer (whey, casein, hemp, egg, etc.), you may want to experiment around to figure out which protein brands you like best.

Amino Acids/ BCAAs

As mentioned in the section on protein, amino acids are the building blocks of dozens of bodily functions. When you consume protein, your body breaks that protein down into its constituent amino acids. By extension, it makes sense to take an amino acid supplement.

Though amino acids and protein have similar end goals, they both have their place in your diet. You can’t quite swap one out for the other. Instead, they should be thought of as working well together as allies to achieve the same result.

The most common amino acid supplements to take after your workouts are BCAAs– branched-chain amino acids. BCAAs fuel your skeletal muscles during training. Supplementing with BCAAs helps with glycogen storage, the primary fuel your muscles use for energy production. As a result, BCAAs help with recovery after a workout but can also help with sustaining energy during a workout. Plus, abundant glycogen stores keep your body from breaking down muscle protein for energy instead.

amino co heal

One specific amino acid product designed for recovery and backed up by significant clinical research is Amino Co’s Heal product. In my own experience, Amino Co Heal helped shorten my recovery time and reduce post-workout soreness significantly.

Glutamine/ Micronized GLUtamine

Also under the umbrella of amino acids and worthy of its own callout is glutamine. You can find glutamine and micronized glutamine supplements such as this one in most supplement shops.

Glutamine is the most abundant amino acid in your body. It’s also needed to make other amino acids and glucose. Research suggests that glutamine supplements might also help gut function, immune function, and other processes, especially in times of stress when the body uses more glutamine.

Creatine

Creatine is a naturally-occurring energy source that your body uses for muscle contractions. For people who consume meat, about half of the creatine in their body comes from their diet, and the other half is produced by their kidneys.

According to the Cleveland Clinic, “About 95% of creatine is stored in your body’s skeletal muscle and is used during physical activity. Creatine helps to maintain a continuous supply of energy to working muscles by keeping production up in working muscles. Small amounts are also found in your heart, brain, and other tissues.”

Research suggests that creatine supplements may:

  • Improve your exercise performance.
  • Help your recovery after intense exercise.
  • Prevent and/or reduce the severity of injury.
  • Help athletes tolerate heavy training loads.
  • Increase your fat-free muscle mass during training.

My advice with a creatine supplement, if you choose to take it, is to (a) not go too fancy and (b) only take the recommended amount. You can find decent creatine supplements that are fairly cheap and don’t have to go overboard with fancy flavors and blends to benefit still.

ZMA

Optimum Nutrition ZMA

Another type of supplement that’s rising in popularity for recovery is ZMA, a compound of primarily Zinc and Magnesium Aspartate, and usually some vitamin B6.

These supplements are thought to improve sleep quality (absolutely necessary for any workout recovery), and the zinc and magnesium contents are thought to also help with muscle recovery.

Speaking anecdotally, I’ve taken ZMA and felt like, at the very least, it did help me get more restful sleep. I clarify that this is anecdotal because when it comes to controlled studies and lab research, there’s not much data to back up the efficacy of taking ZMA as a part of your supplement routine.

Still, in my opinion, it’s worth giving it a try. Optimum Nutrition makes a ZMA supplement that’s affordable and highly reviewed by folks who have taken it. One important thing to note about ZMA is that zinc and magnesium can be hard to digest and could also interfere with medications like antibiotics, so if you take any prescription medication, please consult your doctor or pharmacist before adding ZMA to your workout recovery routine.

Post-Workout Blends

In addition to the individual supplements discussed above, post-workout supplements also purport to aid in the recovery and muscle growth process. A lot of them are quite good and flavored in a way that makes them enjoyable to drink– I’ve used Jacked Factory’s post-workout blend for a while now (still waiting for you all to make me an affiliate so I can link to it and earn money, Jacked Factory).

The thing to note about post-workout blends is that they’re usually just combinations of creatine, amino acids, and electrolytes. If you find one that uses a lot of proprietary blends, it can be hard to know how much you’re getting of each ingredient, so it may not always be wise to stack other recovery supplements on top of them.

An Important Note on Recovery

As mentioned at the top of this article, supplements cannot take the place of your body’s natural processes. When it comes to recovering after your workouts, ensure you’re getting plenty of water and sleep and that you have enough protein (not just from protein powder) in your diet.

If you’re not staying hydrated, resting adequately, and eating a well-rounded diet, no amount of guzzling supplements is going to help you reach your fitness goals.

Blake Reichenbach
He/ Him. Founder of Self-Improvement. Blake is a writer, gym addict, dog dad, researcher, and general life enthusiast. He's passionate about helping others reach their goals and live happier, more fulfilling lives. Both ISSA and ICF certified, Blake is a personal trainer and wellness coach who loves to challenge his clients to rise to their full potential.