There are tons of supplements geared towards lean muscle growth and recovery after a vigorous workout. However, remember that not all supplements will work for you the way that they work for others. Each of us has our own genetic makeup and response to specific things. Despite those different, there are specific types of muscle building supplements that show the greatest benefit with most people. You should focus on 5 specific key ingredients if you want the best supplement for muscle growth.

Whey Protein: Perhaps the most popular natural muscle building supplement is whey protein. Whey protein is a combination of proteins isolated from whey. Whey is the liquid part of milk that separates during cheese production. Whey protein is the most crucial for stimulating protein synthesis. This leads to muscle strength and enhanced lean body mass. Whey is the fastest-digesting protein that acts almost immediately to help deliver amino acids to the muscles, which are the key building blocks the body needs to build muscle. This makes it ideal to have immediately when waking up in the morning and right after your workout. If you truly want the best supplement for muscle growth naturally, look no further than whey protein.

Branched-Chain Amino Acid (BCAA): There are a total of 20 amino acids the body needs. Only three are BCAAs: leucine, isoleucine, and valine. BCAAs, unlike most other amino acids, are metabolized within muscle tissue, allowing them to be used as energy by muscle cells to produce cellular energy in the form of ATP, which is the main form of energy that fuels muscle contraction. BCAAs are a quick source of energy when the body needs it most. As a result, you will have improved performance and train longer without fatigue, leading to more muscle gain. Furthermore, BCAAs can elevate anabolic hormones to maximize muscle growth while minimizing the release of cortisol. That’s why many of the world’s best bodybuilding supplements are packed with BCAAs.

Beta-Alanine: A non-essential amino acid, Beta-Alanine is a performance enhancer since it increases intra-muscular levels of carnosine. Carnosine helps maintain a normal balance of acidity in muscles. It’s common to get lactic acid build-up in your muscles and blood during high-intensity exercise. Muscles are not able to perform as effectively when acid levels get too high. Therefore, increasing carnosine may delay fatigue and increase performance.

Creatine: Creatine is made from three amino acids: arginine, glycine and methionine. Creatine puts more water in your muscle cells, placing a stretch on the cells, leading to more long-term muscle growth. You’ll look bigger as a result. You’ll also get stronger in the process. Creatine increases the amount of fast energy so you can have more power with your lift. It also contributes to muscle growth because it boosts levels of insulin like growth factor-1 (IGF-1) in muscles. Creatine is definitely a great muscle building supplement. Remember to drink enough water whenever you take creatine.

Glutamine: Glutamine is the most abundant amino acid in the body even though it’s not essential. Most glutamine is stored in muscles followed by the lungs, where much of the glutamine is produced. Glutamine has strong roles in protein synthesis for muscle growth, prevents muscle tissue from breaking down, and increases the rate of growth hormones in the body.

Whey protein, BCAAs, Beta-Alanine, Creatine and Glutamine are some of the best bodybuilding supplements you can find. Make sure you are following the correct dosage information and speak with your doctor before beginning any supplement regimen. These key muscle building supplements will put you in the right direction.