Supplements vs Food – 4 Ways To Better Results!

Supplements vs Food – 4 Ways To Better Results! Wait – I fully understand that real food must come first. After all, good nutrition is the backbone of your program. However, there are times when the targeted impact of a supplement makes sense and can give you better results. In this article, we will look at a few common supplements in the context of targeted results. These are the supplements critics love to compare to real food. You know the ones: protein powder, pre-workouts, EAAs and multi-vitamins. So without taking any more time, let’s get started!

Protein Powder

There will always be supplement critics who claim that to reach your protein goals, all you need is food. I disagree. When I worked, I often worked alone (in a retail environment). That meant that a regular lunch break didn’t happen. It also meant that eating real food didn’t happen. One of the ways I got by was using protein shakes (and often a nutrition bar of some sort). 

It was the only logical solution to getting some protein and calories in-between customers. And I’m not the only person who finds themselves in a time crunch where a solid, whole-food meal just is not going to happen. Don’t reach for junk food from the vending machine, or simply go hungry, make a shake (and a bar) instead. 

Not to mention, not everybody can sit down to all the meals you would have to eat to reach a daily protein target of one gram per pound of bodyweight. Unless you can really shovel it down, it’s not always as easy as you might think. The answer? A shake with a quick 20-30 grams of quality protein. Eat real food for the bulk of your calories but use the tool you’re given to help you 

get there.

I used to take a shaker cup, enough protein for 2-3 shakes, and a couple of bars with me every day, you can do the same. Or, just buy RTD’s. It doesn’t get any easier than that.

Pre-Workout

“Just drink coffee” – the line that pre-workout critics always say. I love coffee, for me it’s heaven in a cup, but it can’t come close to a good, balanced pre-workout. I can get more cognitive enhancement from a pre-workout. I can get instant energy, and extended energy if the product contains a slow release caffeine source. That means no crash or jitters.

I can’t get enhanced pumps from coffee, or extended endurance. It’s not going to provide electrolytes. Long story short, a great pre-workout turbocharges my in-the-gym performance in ways 100 cups of coffee could never do. Those who claim “just drink coffee” have obviously never used a quality pre-workout, and don’t understand what effective, clinically researched, and well-dosed ingredients can do. 

EAAs

An EAA powder is a potent tool that can stimulate protein synthesis, thanks to a high leucine content. Critics of EAA powders, often used as an intra-workout drink, tell you to just eat more protein. Sure, as long as you time your meal just right, and as long as you’re getting enough leucine from that meal. Otherwise, you will not get the protein synthesis stimulation EAAs can provide. 

I’ve never understood the problem with drinking a targeted amino acid beverage that gives me what I need when I need it. We’re talking about one drink a day, people. By the time you eat your chicken and that digests, you might be well past the ideal timeframe to maximally stimulate protein synthesis. 

Multi-Vitamins

This is one of my favorites. Critics of multis always say “just eat real food”. Ok, well, unless you track the amount of every vitamin and mineral in every morsel that goes into your mouth every day, you don’t know if you’re getting enough micronutrients. Not to mention, some vitamins are water soluble and must be replaced daily. Again, are you tracking all your nutrients? If you aren’t, what’s the problem with taking a daily multi-vitamin/mineral formula? 

A Look At Supplement Hype

The key to choosing effective supplements is to ignore the hype. Never mind the ads. What does the research say? What does the “Supplement Facts” panel say? You should always, always, always look for full disclosure labeling, clinical (at least) dosing, and ingredients that have solid research backing their effectiveness. 

In addition, it never hurts to see branded ingredients. As many of you know, I try to avoid products with “proprietary (prop) blends”. Why? Easy. You don’t know how much you are really getting of any of the ingredients in the blend. In most cases, prop blends are pitifully underdosed. If you choose your supplements wisely, your success with them is dramatically increased – something the critics don’t always mention.

Summary

So to be clear, real food must come first. That means clean, quality food. Your nutritional program should be centered around at least 3 solid real food meals a day. Use your shakes (1-2 a day) to help you meet your protein goals, and to help you out in those situations where a real food just isn’t going to happen. 

Enjoy your coffee in the morning, but use a complete, balanced pre-workout for serious in-the-gym performance. Target protein synthesis with EAAs, and fill in nutritional gaps with a multi-vitamin. These are just basic products solving basic real-world needs, there’s no wild claims here. These products are not riding the latest wave of hype. They are solid products that “supplement” your nutritional plan. That said, make sure you stop by illpumpyouup.com and stay stocked, then let’s go eat a serious meal!