Bodybuilders spend a lot of time exercising, the purpose of which is to tear down muscle tissue so that it will grow bigger when it recovers and heals.  The diet of a bodybuilder is very high in protein, the tissue building material in their diet.  While they rest and recover, the protein they ingest goes to work rebuilding the damaged muscle tissue.  With enough strenuous exercise and enough protein, the muscles grow.  It all sounds very simple . . . and it is, but the process may take many years of iron-pumping and proper nutrition, before the results are impressive.  Old timey bodybuilders often didn’t reach their peak of development until they were in their late thirties.

Enter the nutritionists.  Studies of how the body metabolizes proteins and carbohydrates resulted in a greater understanding of what an athlete should eat in order to maximize their performance.  Bodybuilders (definitely an extreme athletic endeavor) wanted to maximize their development as well as their performance.  Dietary supplement makers used their research labs to identify those natural substances that would provide athletes what they wanted.  Amino acids, the building blocks of protein, were isolated and synthesized and incorporated into supplements formulated to increase both performance and muscle size.  Protein sources were identified and categorized by how they were used by the human metabolism.  Protein supplementation is designed to facilitate growth, recovery and bodily functions.

• Whey Protein – milk-based whey is a source of essential amino acids.  Whey helps produce greater muscle mass and is absorbed rapidly by the system.  Taken immediately after a workout.
• Soy Protein – Soy is the only vegetable source of a complete protein.  It is more slowly absorbed.
• Casein – aids in muscle recovery and basic body functions.  Very slow absorption, so it is best taken at bedtime.

Other supplements were developed that also aided bodybuilders in achieving their goals.

• Creatine Monohydrate – a performance enhancer that stimulates the production of testosterone.  Should be cycled.
• Nitric Oxide (NO) – stimulates muscle recovery, aids circulation.
• Human Growth Hormone (HGH) – after being vilified initially, HGH is now recognized as an important part of many fitness and health programs.  Studies have shown that as the body ages it produces less HGH.  Supplemental HGH usage not only will slow the aging process, but it will even reverse it.  HGH will stimulate muscle growth.

It all comes back to protein, how the body uses it, how we get it and how it may be supplemented in the diet.  Any active bodybuilder or other athlete should be getting between one and two grams of protein per pound per day.  A 180 pound athlete should be consuming between 180 and 360 grams of protein throughout the day.  This requires supplementation in most properly balanced diets.