5 Supplements to Help You Achieve Athlete Fitness Levels

Athletes often appear superhuman. They run, jump, dive, and perform at impressive levels.

Are you an avid fitness enthusiast looking to up your game? Do you dream of going pro, or at least performing like one?

Consistent workouts and a well-balanced diet are a great start, but you may need extra nutrients to achieve athlete fitness levels. The fuel you put in your body is just as important as the hours you put in at the gym.

Consuming the right mix of fats, proteins, and carbohydrates increases your metabolism, boosts your energy levels, and helps build more lean muscle mass. When diet isn’t enough, supplements help deliver all of these essential nutrients and more!

Keep reading to uncover five of the best supplements to help you take your fitness, physique, and performance to the next level.

Benefits of Supplements for Athletes

Before we get into the best supplements for achieving athlete fitness levels, you may be wondering, “Are supplements really necessary?”

While there’s no cut-and-dry answer to this question, research shows that using pre-workout and post-workout supplements can enhance both your performance and your results.

Without adequate fuel, your body can’t perform like an athlete. Pro athletes have impressive endurance, strength, recovery time, and muscle gains.

This doesn’t happen by chance.

A targeted exercise regime plus the right nutrition plan are two components of athletic training. You can spend hours in the gym, but if you’re not incorporating the right vitamins and nutrients into your diet, you won’t see the desired results.

You also need ample energy and stamina to perform like an athlete. Supplements help provide the essential nutrients you need to perform at peak levels and realize your fitness dreams.

Best Supplements for Athletes and Athletic Performance

Do you lack energy in the gym? Are you struggling to push yourself past your physical limits? Or perhaps you’re not seeing the muscle gains you want.

Supplements can help with all of these shortcomings so that you can go hard and start performing like an athlete. 

Different supplements do different things inside your body. Be sure to do plenty of research before taking supplements. 

Some speed up your metabolism and help with muscle recovery while others are designed to help you bulk up.

Everyone’s fitness goals are different and the supplements that fill your cabinet will be too.

1. Creatine

Used by 19-time World Champion powerlifter Robert Herbst, creatine is a go-to supplement for many bodybuilders and professional weightlifters.

One of the most popular natural supplements, creatine supports your body’s natural production of this beneficial nutrient. 

Creatine is naturally stored in your muscles in the form of phosphocreatine. Its main function is to support your muscles during heavy lifting or other intense exercises. 

Although your body naturally produces creation from amino acids, taking a supplement increases your stores of phosphocreatine. Now, your muscles have the energy, power, and stamina they need to support an athlete-level fitness regime.

Creatine can also speed up muscle recovery times, getting you back in the gym quickly and safely. 

2. Omega-3 Fatty Acids

This heart-healthy fat is commonly found in fish, nuts, and oils. Not only do omega-3 fatty acids boost your immunity, but they also help ease pain and inflammation.

Omega-3 fatty acids are also touted for speeding up the recovery and healing process and reducing the risk of injury.

With nearly 3.5 million sports-related injuries occurring each year, this is an essential nutrient for keeping athletes safe.

Fish oil gels are a popular and convenient way to consume these beneficial fatty acids. In addition to reduced pain and inflammation, you may also enjoy healthier, younger-looking skin and increased focus. 

Incorporating omega-3 fatty acids into your daily regime means staying safe and healthy while crushing your fitness goals.

3. Multivitamin

Multivitamins have been a staple in most people’s lives for decades. From the time you were young, you’ve probably taken a daily vitamin.

That’s because many of us fail to get all the vitamins and nutrients we need through diet alone.

If your goal is to achieve athlete fitness levels, you can’t afford to skimp on your nutrition. A multivitamin is a perfect supplement to guarantee you get at least your daily recommended dose of essential vitamins and minerals.

Some of the most important vitamins include:

• Vitamins B, C, D, and E
• Zinc
• Magnesium
• Selenium
• Beta-carotene
• Antioxidants

These vitamin supplements help round out a balanced diet and fill in any gaps or nutritional “holes” in your diet. 

Vitamin B is one of the most important vitamins for athletes and is responsible for supplying energy to your cells and muscles. Vitamin C promotes muscle recovery while vitamin D reduces inflammation.

Multivitamin supplements work well regardless of your fitness level or goals to boost metabolism, improve muscle function, and increase your oxygen intake.

4. Collagen

Most people associate collagen with cosmetic injections and wrinkle fillers. While collagen is used to reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles, it also plays an important role in achieving peak physical performance.

You already know that protein is an essential part of any intense workout program and is responsible for building muscle. When it comes to protein, nothing tops collagen.

Collagen is the most abundant protein found in the human body. Your muscles, ligaments, bones, tendons, and skin all contain collagen. 

A few things affect collagen production, with age being the biggest factor. Low collagen levels mean slower healing and recovery times, joint pain, inflammation, and fatigue. 

A collagen supplement makes up for these shortcomings, helping your body bounce back faster after an intense workout and achieve quicker results. 

Similar to omega-3 fatty acids, collagen also protects against exercise-related injuries and damage, keeping you safe and strong. 

Are you looking to turn fat into muscle or bulk up? Collagen can help but increasing muscle, lean body mass, and reducing fat mass.

Taking supplements that contain collagen also promotes heart health, lowers arterial stiffness, and increases blood flow. When your cells get adequate oxygen, blood, and nutrients, you can push harder and go longer during your next sweat sesh.

5. Protein Powder

Possibly the most popular supplement for achieving athlete fitness levels is protein powder. Whether you’re just starting on your fitness journey or you’re an avid weight lifter, protein powder offers a long list of benefits to help support your fitness goals.

Whey protein powder is probably the most popular powder on the market for stimulating muscle synthesis and promoting muscle repair post-workout. 

This type of protein powder also helps enhance muscle growth, increase lean body mass, and reduce body fat. When taken before bed, some users report sleeping better and waking with more energy and improved athletic performance. 

Whey protein is also a complete, plant-based protein making it ideal for vegan athletes. 

Not only is whey protein powder beneficial as a post-workout supplement, but it’s versatile and delicious. You can add protein powder to your favorite recipes including shakes, pancakes, muffins, granola bars, and more!

This is the perfect alternative for anyone who struggles taking pills. 

Pre-Workout Supplements vs. Post-Workout Suppelments

Another important distinction when choosing the best supplements for athletes is whether to use them before or after your workout. For optimum results, you should use a combination of the two.

Pre-Workout Supplements 

Pre-workout supplements are designed to boost energy, endurance, and stamina, resulting in a more intense and efficient workout.

Taking supplements before your gym session can help combat fatigue, increase blood and oxygen flow, and help you elevate your workouts.

Similar to other supplements, some pre-workout products are better for building muscle and bulking up while others are designed to burn fat and boost your metabolism.

Choose a product that supports your fitness goals.

Post-Workout Supplements

Giving your muscles ample rest and recovery after an intense workout is just as important as the workout itself. Remember, it’s during these rest periods that your muscles grow and repair themselves.

Post-workout supplements support and speed up the recovery process helping you achieve greater muscle gains. Faster recovery also means you can get back to the gym sooner and more safely.

Achieve Athlete Fitness Levels with These Beneficial Supplements

Do you want to perform like an althete? Achieving athlete fitness levels doesn’t happen overnight. It takes hard work, dedication, and consistency.

It also requires the right supplements for athletic performance. 

Taking supplements guarantees that your body and muscles are getting adequate protein, nutrients, and vitamins. It also protects you against injury, pain, and inflammation.

Interested in learning more about your body and how it works? Check our blog regularly for the latest news, trends, and information circulating the fitness world and get ready to crush your goals!