In the world of fitness and working out, one word that encompasses the fitness industry: supplements from protein powders, pre-workout, Creatine, and pump powder are easily the most known and commonly used supplements. Many fitness influencers from TikTok, Instagram, and elsewhere promote these supplements. The real question that many people ask, though, is whether or not these supplements are needed. 

The main concern regarding these supplements is what they do, what they are composed of, and most importantly, the hidden consequences these supplements may have. The worry stems as they are compared to steroids, which have been known to have many negative impacts on people’s bodies. However, these supplements are different, with a great deal of research going into each one to prove that it is safe for anyone to take. The big selling point of workout supplements is how easy they are to take and how easily they make acquiring a sufficient amount of protein or just getting energized for a workout. 

When asked how he feels about workout supplements, FMHS senior Will Pfaffenorf said, “I only take protein powders and pre-workout as they’re what works best for my body and have only brought positives to my workout lifestyle, and I’d recommend them to anyone. Although Will uses these supplements to help him power through his workouts six days a week, he also said that these supplements help him lift a heavier weight on his bench press or power through a few more reps on squats.

Easily the most popular and known supplements are protein powders. These make it super easy to meet your protein requirements to help your muscles grow after a workout. When you work out, it causes tiny tears in your muscles; while this may sound negative and deter you from working out, it is perfectly normal, and you won’t feel anything aside from the usual soreness from working out as stated by Lonnie of inshape.com. This is where the protein powder comes in handy, as it makes it very easy to get a sufficient amount of protein in order to help your muscles recover. 

Two more of the most popular supplements are called pre-workout and Creatine, which are related in a way. Pre-workout is a powder that contains Creatine and caffeine that you add to water which is said to increase your strength and energy.  These two together help increase your natural strength and stamina which enables you to lift a heavier weight or add a few more reps to a weight that used to be close to your maximum. 

Creatine, on the other hand, is a different kind of supplement. Again, it’s a powder that you add to water, and according to healthline.com, “creatine is a substance that is found naturally in muscle cells. It helps your muscles produce energy during heavy lifting or high-intensity exercise. Taking creatine as a supplement is very popular among athletes and bodybuilders to gain muscle, enhance strength and improve exercise performance.”

When asked how she feels about workout supplements, personal trainer Tracy Durden said, “They’re great! They make it super easy to get the right macros in, and they make it super easy. While I’m not as big on the pre-workout, I’m a huge fan of the protein powders, and I’d recommend it for anyone.”

While these supplements have all been proven to be safe and effective, they’re not necessary, as what they give you is all found in the actual food, such as protein, which you can get from foods such as chicken, eggs, oats, Greek yogurt, etc. All these foods contain enough protein to where they’ll meet your protein requirements just like the protein powders; making a nice little meal is all it takes. But that’s the exact reason this protein powder is popular. It turns a meal that would take around 20-30 minutes to prepare to maybe a minute to mix up a drink with your protein powder. So for those who don’t have much time to spare throughout the day, it makes sense that these protein powders are as popular as they are. Likewise, pre-workouts aren’t completely necessary either; if you feel fully energized before a workout, it may not be beneficial, or if you’re someone whose body doesn’t respond well to a lot of caffeine, such as if you get jittery or it makes it challenging to relax later in the day. But, again, similar to the protein powder, the main selling point is that it’s so easy. All it takes is 30 seconds to add a scoop to some water, and boom, it’s an instant energy increase for your workout. 

So, if you’ve been thinking about trying some of these top-rated workout supplements that you’ve probably seen advertised, know that there is nothing terrible about them; they’re perfectly safe to take and have a great deal of research backing them up. People’s only suggestions are constantly checking ingredients for things that you may be allergic to and studying the recommended amount to take per day of the supplements. While the suggested amount provides tons of benefits, too much can also lead to some complications.