Most people are under the misconception that to gain lean muscle mass, bodybuilding supplements are essential. Please remember that supplements are only additions to an already well-planned nutrition diet and training program. Bodybuilding Nutrition and training are the two indispensable components of any bodybuilding program. Once your diet plan and training schedule are in place, then you can think of bodybuilding supplements to further your aim. Supplements only work when your diet and your training program are optimal.

Nutritional supplements are necessary to compensate for any nutritional deficiencies. The increased physical activity because of your new exercise program will make your body demand more vitamins and minerals. Even a marginal nutrient deficiency can sabotage muscle growth. We obviously cannot rely solely on food alone to provide us with all the vitamins and minerals that our body needs. This is more so, because the processing of foods before they get to the supermarket, cooking, air, and even light would have already robbed the food of most of the vitamins. If you are deficient in one or more nutrients your body may not be able to build muscle and burn fat properly.

Vitamin supplements and minerals are essential to ensure that your body operates at optimum efficiency. Without vitamins and minerals it is impossible to covert the food that you eat into hormones, tissues and energy. Vitamins are organic compounds whose function is to enhance the actions of bodybuilding proteins that cause chemical reactions such as muscle building, fat burners and energy production. There are two types of vitamins: Fat soluble vitamins - they get stored as fat and therefore if taken in excessively will become toxic. Water soluble vitamins like B-Complex and Vitamin C are not stored in the body. Vitamin C is a water-soluble vitamin that improves your immune system and helps you recover faster from your workouts by suppressing the amount of cortizol that is released by your body during a workout. Vitamin C is the only Vitamin that is recommended to be taken in mega doses quantities. Remember that since it is a water-soluble vitamin, it will not get stored by the body.

Minerals, on the other hand, are inorganic compounds. Their main function is to assure that your brain receives the correct signals from the body, balance of fluids, muscular contractions and energy production as well as for the building of muscle and bones. There are two types of minerals. Bulk minerals such as Calcium, magnesium, potassium, sodium and phosphorus are what the body needs in great quantities. Trace minerals such as chromium, copper, cobalt, silicon, selenium, iron and zinc are needed by the body in minute amounts, usually in the order of micrograms.

Because of hectic schedules, it is always not possible to eat the perfectly balanced meals that are required to build muscles. Protein quality is measured by Biological Value (BV). BV is a value that measures how well the body can absorb and utilize protein. The higher the Biological Value of the protein you use, the more nitrogen your body can absorb, use, and retain. As a result, bodybuilding proteins with the highest BV promote the most lean muscle gains. Essential fatty acids, Alpha Linoleic Acid (Omega-3s) and Linoleic Acid (Omega-6s), are fats that need to be consumed through one's diet as the body cannot manufacture them. They are highly important as they are involved in several key body functions such as energy production, fat burning, brain and nerve tissue development, mood regulation, insulin metabolism, hemoglobin production, etc.