Supplements, Do we need them?

When I think of supplements, I think extra. That's what they really are, they are just extra nutrients our body needs. Using them has two major benefits:

1. Convenience – Sometimes it is easier to make a shake or eat a bar than prepare a full meal.

2. Insurance – they will more than likely not make you leaner, faster, or stronger, but certain supplements will fill in the gaps to make sure you do not miss anything you need to perform at your best. The more restricted our diet is, the more insurance we need with our vitamins and minerals.

Let’s talk about the two major supplements that any fitness enthusiast need not go without. The first is a reliable multi-vitamin and the second is balanced meal replacements.

According to recent governmental studies, as many as 60% of Americans are deficient in at least one vital nutrient. The reason we take a multivitamin is to ensure we do not have any nutritional deficiencies and to provide you with an optimal nutrient intake all the time. If you are deficient in any nutrient, it could decrease your energy, have a negative impact on your workouts, and cause early signs of aging. Because of soil depletion, preservatives, chemicals, food processing, cooking, freezing, stress, incomplete absorption, low calorie dieting, and other reasons, you can’t be 100% certain that you are getting all the nutrients you need from your food. A multivitamin will not burn fat, build muscle or increase performance. However, it will be an insurance policy against deficiencies by filling any gaps that are left in your diet.

Regardless of whether your goal is to lose fat or gain muscle (or both), you must always strive for 5-6 “mini-meals” per day. Admittedly, this practice of frequent eating is not easy and not always convenient, especially if your schedule is busy with work, school, family or other commitments. If frequent eating is a challenge for you, then meal replacement products may be the solution. Characteristics you want your meal replacement to possess are a good balance of macronutrients, a good source of quality protein, a low glycemic value, and make sure it contains soluble fiber. It also needs to have the proper amino acid profile in order to help preserve muscle mass.

If you feel comfortable going to the GNC and letting the cashier guide you on what your body needs, then feel free. However, beware they have very little, if any, training in nutrition. Also, you may notice the price for what appears to be the same products may vary greatly. That is because some of your cheaper meal replacements may have less than a fourth of the amino acids required to build lean tissue or may not contain what is on the label. Let’s just say you get what you pay for. There are no FDA regulations on the supplement industry to make sure they deliver what they claim. You must be careful.

With all the hoopla surrounding the supplement industry my goal is to keep it simple. I want to provide for my customers products that produce results and have pharmaceutical grade quality.

Cinch meal replacement is just that. It is a low glycemic, high fiber, lactose free, quality meal replacement; and it taste good. It comes in two ways: in a shake or in a bar. Basically, it is a balanced quality meal that should be used for your between meal snacks. It helps regulate blood sugar, which is imperative in order to lose fat. I urge you to take a look at this product. It will benefit anyone who is having a hard time getting in those 5 to 6 small frequent meals, and we have it exclusively at Personally Fit.