Vegetarian Bodybuilding Supplements Backed by Science
Vegetarian bodybuilders may find themselves at a disadvantage to meat-eaters if they don't choose their protein sources carefully. High priority must be placed on finding the best protein sources, and Vegetarian Bodybuilding Supplements come in handy.
Proteins play a crucial role in muscle building, and vegetarian athletes know this all too well. Unfortunately, most vegetarian diets are devoid of beta-alanine and creatine that are essential in the body. However, they can get these and much more from supplements explicitly created for vegetarian bodybuilders.
This review looks at some of the most commonly used vegan supplements. Before you decide on which one to buy, it's essential to know what an excellent vegan supplement should provide. Meat is a source of complete proteins, meaning it contains all the amino acids, yet lacks in a vegan diet.
Finding a supplement that contains a good amount of amino acids will do you good. Let's delve into the components of supplements in the next section.
Components of Good Bodybuilding Supplements
When looking for supplements from online marketplaces or local stores, you need to check their contents. Supplements are only helpful if they are loaded with some essential minerals and elements.
Branched Cain Amino Acids
BCAAs are crucial in protecting the muscles from the catabolic effects of a low-calorie diet. They also help the muscles gain mass. BCAAs also reduce muscle soreness after intense workout sessions.
You should consume at least 15 grams of BCAAs daily.
Creatine
Creatine is probably the most consistent and efficient supplement for athletic performance and bodybuilding. Vegetarians should always ensure that their protein sources contain this element. The most significant source of creatine is meat, and that’s why your supplement should include it.
The body creates a small amount of creatine, but supplementing it can enhance your adaptations to resistance training. It’ll also facilitate changes in lean muscle mass and increase muscle fiber area, resistance to fatigue, and muscle strength.
Beta-Alanine
Beta-Alanine is a naturally occurring amino acid in the body. Once digested, it’s converted into carnosine, which acts as a buffer for acid. It helps protect the body from excess lactic acid produced during intense workouts.
Beta-Alanine is hence a crucial component in your supplements, positively affecting your endurance levels when lifting. You’ll be less fatigued after your workouts, and you'll also have significant muscle mass gains.
Vitamins
Your choice of supplements should contain some vitamins, if not all of them. Vitamin B12 is especially crucial as it’s essential for good health and energy. Unfortunately, there aren’t many food sources that can reliably supply you with the Vitamin.
This is why you must take the vitamin as a supplement every few days.
Vitamin D is yet another crucial one. It’s known for its bone-strengthening qualities. Unless you get it from sunshine, the vitamin is not available from plant sources. If you live in an area where your chances of sunbathing all-year-round are slim, you need to get the vitamin from supplements.
Vitamin D comes with many benefits, including reduced mortality.
These are a few among the essential components of your Vegetarian Bodybuilding Supplements. Now to the review of the top five best supplements you can consider buying. The review highlights their features and benefits.
Comparison Chart
Best Vegetarian Bodybuilding Supplement Reviews
1. Vivo Life Perform Raw Vegan Protein Powder
Vivo Life protein powder is a salted Maca caramel product that contains peas and hemp. One jar of the product comes with 26 servings.
Review
This 25-gram raw plat protein product contains sufficient amounts of BCAAs. It has a complete profile of amino acids and is flavored with real freeze-dried acai powder. It also contains freeze-dried blueberries to enhance the flavor.
Other contents of the product are digestive enzymes, superfoods, and turmeric. It’s free of gluten and soy. Its silky smooth texture and delicious taste make it a product you want to consume before or after your workouts.
It doesn't leave an awful aftertaste as most other vegan protein powders do. The prevailing taste is the taste of cocoa. The protein powder mixes fantastically with several beverages and doesn’t create a cloud.
It also won’t cause you to bloat or develop other digestive system problems.
The product has been certified for quality and safety. The ingredients are grown without herbicides or pesticides. Each of the components is tested for contaminants and heavy metals.
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2. Pure Hawaiian Spirulina
This supplement is a natural, premium product that meets all your vegan bodybuilding protein requirements. It’s non-GMO, non-irradiated, and better than most organic supplements on the market.
Review
Spirulina is a high-quality supplement grown in the USA under the safest conditions. The facility where the ingredients are grown is certified and under extensive quality control measures. Every batch of the product undergoes extensive testing to ensure safety and non-compromised quality.
The ingredients are also gluten-free, soy-free, vegan-friendly, and contain no fillers. It provides you with superior nutrition since it's full of antioxidants, vitamins, and minerals. If you're in need of a supplement with a high quantity of proteins derived from plants, this is your best bet.
Spirulina is a supplement considered a superfood since it contains 70% digestible complete proteins. The level of iron present in the product is relatively high, as well as beta carotene. The vitamins present include B12 and K.
Chlorophyll and phycocyanin are also part of the equation. The product has 2,800% more carotene than you’ll get from carrots. Its antioxidant potency stands at 280% higher than blueberries.
From every 3g serving of the product, you’ll get more essential antioxidants, vitamins, minerals, and enzymes than five servings of fruits.
The unique farm-to-bottle process of manufacturing ensures the product reaches you in the highest quality.
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3. Micro Ingredients Pure Organic Spirulina Powder
This is a supplement that contains all the nutrients you need from a vegan nutritional product. It comes packed in a 454g jar.
Review
Micro Ingredients pure organic spirulina powder is loaded with fiber, enzymes, vitamins, flavonoids, antioxidants, and phytonutrients. The ingredients are naturally sourced and contain no additives, soy, gluten, preservatives, artificial colors, or fillers. They’re also non-GMO products.
The supplement can be consumed with meals or in-between by adding in smoothies or making a shake. For the right measurements, the supplement is packed with a scoop to guide you. Taking it naturally in its powder form gives you a higher concentration of the nutrients.
The absorption is also a lot faster, and the powder is easier on the stomach. The quality of the powder is outstanding and comes with a brilliant green color. Once consumed, it instantly provides energy and, over time, brings excellent health benefits to the body.
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4. MuscleTech Phase8 Whey Protein Powder Blend
The contents of MuscleTech Phase 8 protein powder have an eight-hour sustained-release absorption. This means that eight hours after consumption, the supplement will still be releasing amino acids into your bloodstream.
Review
MuscleTech is comprised of seven different high-quality protein sources. The protein ingredients are designed to be digested at varying rates. This means that your body remains in the perfect state for repair and recovery after your workout sessions.
The protein ingredients are derived from high-quality sources. Some of them are derived from milk but have a low-fat content. The flavoring of the supplement makes it taste better than most other proteins on the market.
You can consume the supplement any time depending on your preferences. Whether it’s before or after a workout, this quick release protein supplement will supply you with the nutrition you need. The slow-digesting proteins will ensure you’re well-nourished throughout the day.
The packaging of the supplement provides you with a large quantity of the powder. The smell resembles that of brownies, and the taste is equally great. The chocolate flavor isn't overbearing, and the milk taste makes it feel heavier on the taste buds.
For the best tasting product, mix the protein powder with a beverage or with water. Choose your flavors as not all of them are pleasant to the taste.
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5. DIM Supplement
DIM stands for Diindolylmethane, a product that works well in stimulating hormones responsible for muscle growth. Besides being a choice supplement for bodybuilding, it also boosts other processes in the body.
Review
The DIM supplement is referred to as an elite supplement for a good reason. It's the only supplement certified by the Vegan Organization so far. It is also Non-GMO Project verified and gluten-free certified. This makes it a choice product for female bodybuilders who also need a menopause supplement.
As a revolutionary supplement, it plays a significant role in creating hormonal balance. It works by supporting the body’s metabolism of excess estrogen. It prevents the weight loss that comes with excessive muscle wear during intense workouts.
For women, the supplement supports them during menopause by reducing the unpleasant effects of night sweats and hot flashes. It also helps keep hormonal acne under control.
For men, DIM supplement is a must-have too. It aids in reducing excess estrogen. It plays a significant role in enhancing physical fitness, prostrate health, boosting health, and controlling the weight loss process.
As an estrogen blocker, the supplement is a potent aromatase inhibitor.
The DIM supplement has been tested for gluten, soy, and dairy and has been passed as free of all these. It's also non-GMO and highly favorable for vegetarian bodybuilders. The ingredients of the supplement include organic brown rice that is known for its richness in many nutrients.
It contains no fillers like titanium oxide and magnesium stearate, and hence is safe for prolonged use.
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FINAL VERDICT
Finding reliable vegetarian bodybuilding supplements from the market can be an uphill task. As you try to get off meat and its products, you need a product that’ll fill the gap. It should contain the nutrients you give up when you wean meat from your diet.
These are mostly amino acids that are usually found in their entirety in meat. However, some recommendable supplements won't disappoint. In this review, choosing the best was a tussle, since all those reviewed are good in their own right.
Eventually, the DIM supplement won the day. It provides much more than just bodybuilding benefits. It's carefully formulated to meet the needs of both men and women in their specific hormonal issues. The supplement also plays a role in controlling the process of weight loss and the achievement of lean body mass.
On its downside, the supplement should be avoided by people with hormone sensitivity and migraines. Overall, it’s the kind of product that gives you everything in the same package.
