The first 45 minutes after a workout is the most critical period for refueling your muscles with the nutrients they need to recover and grow. If you miss this window by not consuming what your muscles need, you’re compromising your ability to recover and make proper gains. Be sure to get in these four supplements ASAP after workouts by creating your own post-workout supplement stack or using a product that contains all of them in one scoop.
PROTEIN is one of the most critical nutrients to take immediately after workouts. Your muscles have been broken down and need amino acids to rebuild them bigger and stronger. You need a fast-digesting protein such as whey to get aminos to your muscles quickly to stimulate muscle protein synthesis and therefore recovery and growth. But you also need a slow and steady protein, such as casein to help prolong the muscle protein synthesis kick-started by whey. Combining fast-digesting and slow-digesting protein powders after workouts leads to greater muscle gains than either dose alone.
CARBS are also critical to consume right after workouts. After all, when you train you burn up muscle glycogen, which is the storage form of carbs in the body. Research shows that if you don’t get carbs to your muscles within 45 minutes after training, the amount of glycogen they can store for the next workout may be compromised.
CREATINE is smart to take after workouts because during that 45-minute window the muscles are better primed for nutrient uptake than at any other time of day. Research shows that loading muscles properly with creatine can increase lean-mass gains by more than 10 pounds and muscle strength by 10%.
BRANCHED-CHAIN AMINO ACIDS (BCAAS) are composed of the most critical amino acids for muscle growth—leucine, isoleucine, and valine. -Leucine directly turns on muscle protein synthesis. It also spikes insulin levels, helping to further drive more of those fast carbs, creatine, and amino acids into the muscle cells for enhanced recovery and muscle growth. The BCAAs also work together to blunt levels of the catabolic hormone cortisol, which spikes after workouts.
Get Your Recovery Boosters Now:
COR-Performance Beta-BCAA
Serving Size: 1 Scoop (11.5g)
Featured Flavor: Tropical Punch
Calories/Carbs (g): 0/0
Main Ingredients: BCAAs,
Citrulline, Beta Alanine, HICA
*Product info updated from M&F magazine Supplement Guide
COR-Performance Creatine
Serving Size: 1 Scoop (8.2g)
Featured Flavor: Unflavored
Calories/Carbs (g): 0/0
Main Ingredients: Creapure,
Betaine Anhydrous, Cinnulin PF
*Product info updated from M&F magazine Supplement Guide
Beast Sports Nutrition Aminolytes
Serving Size: 1 Scoop (11.7g)
Featured Flavor: Watermelon
Calories/Carbs (g): 5/1
Main Ingredients: BCAAs
Strength AminoMax
Serving Size: 1 Scoop (12g)
Featured Flavor: Fruit Punch
Calories/Carbs (g): 40/1.5
Main Ingredients: Leucine,
Isoleucine, Valine
AMP Amplified Creatine XXX
Serving Size: 2 Scoops (63g)
Featured Flavor: Fruit Punch
Calories/Carbs (g): 140/35
Main Ingredients: Creatine Blend, Resveratrol
AMP Amplified Muscle Meal
Serving Size: 3 Scoops
Featured Flavor: Chocolate
Calories/Carbs (g): 350/25
Main Ingredients: Whey/Casein Blend, Waxy Maize, HMB, CLA
AMP Amplified Recovery Fuel
Serving Size: 1 Bottle (14.5 fl. oz)
Featured Flavor: Chocolate
Calories/Carbs (g): 290/20
Main Ingredients: Fast-, Medium-, and Slow-Absorbing Proteins; BCAAs; Glutamine; CLA
AMP Amplified Recovery Protein
Serving Size: 2 Scoops (76g)
Featured Flavor: Chocolate
Calories/Carbs (g): 260/35
Main Ingredients: Whey Protein Concentrate, Micellar Casein, Calcium Caseinate, Whey Protein Isolate, Waxy Maize
Universal Nutrition Atomic 7
Serving Size: 1 Scoop (13g)
Featured Flavor: Groovy Grape
Calories/Carbs (g): 0/0
Main Ingredients: BCAAs, L-Glutamine, Citrulline Malate, L-Taurine
BCAA 5000
Serving Size: 1 Scoop (5g)
Featured Flavor: Unflavored
Calories/Carbs (g): 20/0
Main Ingredients: Vitamin B6, L-Leucine, L-Isoleucine, L-Valine
Ultimate Nutrition Bcaa 12,000
Serving Size: 1 Scoop (7.6g)
Featured Flavor: Pink Lemonade
Calories/Carbs (g): 5/1
Main Ingredients: L-Leucine, L-Valine , L-Isoleucine
Bpi Blox
Serving Size: 1 Scoop (5g)
Featured Flavor: Fruit Punch
Calories/Carbs (g): 0/0
Main Ingredients: Alanine, -Glycine, Serine, Valine, Threonine
Bpi Build-Hd
Serving Size: 1 Scoop (5.5g)
Featured Flavor: Fruit Punch
Calories/Carbs (g): 0/0
Main Ingredients: Creatine Monohydrate, L-Aspartic Acid, Acetyl-L-Carnitine, Coenzyme Q10 , Alpha-GPC, -Phosphatidylcholine
VPX Carbonx
Serving Size: 1 Scoop (49g)
Featured Flavor: Chocolate
Calories/Carbs (g): 160/41
Main Ingredients: Hydroxypropyl Di-Starch Phosphate, Highly Branched Cyclic Dextrin
Carbo Power
Serving Size: 16 fl. oz
Featured Flavor: Orange
Calories/Carbs (g): 400/100
Main Ingredients: High Fructose Corn Syrup, Fructose, Orange Juice Concentrate, Citric Acid, Natural Flavor, Sodium Chloride, Calcium Citrate, Potassium Gluconate, Whey Protein Isolate
Bsn Cellmass
Serving Size: 1 Scoop (16g)
Featured Flavor:
Arctic Berry Blast
Calories/Carbs (g): 30/7
Main Ingredients: Creatine,
Beta-Alanine, Glutamine
Cell-Tech
Serving Size: 1 Scoop
Featured Flavor: Fruit Punch
Calories/Carbs (g): 180/38
Main Ingredients: Creatine Monohydrate, Creatine HCL, BCAAs, Taurine, L-Alanine, ALA, Multi-Stage Carb Blend
Con-Cret Concentrated Creatine
Serving Size: 1 Scoop (1,050mg)
Featured Flavor: Lemon Lime
Calories/Carbs (g): 0/0
Main Ingredients: Creatine HCL
Aminocore
Serving Size: 1 Scoop (9g)
Featured Flavor: Blue Raspberry
Calories/Carbs (g): 10/0
Main Ingredients: BCAAs
Amino Last
Serving Size: 1 Scoop (14g)
Featured Flavor: Watermelon
Calories/Carbs (g): 10/0
Main Ingredients: L-Leucine, Leucine Peptides, L-Isoleucine, L-Valine, L-Ornithine L-Aspartate
Beast Sports Nutrition Creature
Serving Size: 1 Scoop (5g)
Featured Flavor: Unflavored
Calories/Carbs (g): 10/2
Main Ingredients:
Creatine Matrix (2,504mg)
Creatine X3
Serving Size: 1 Scoop (57g)
Featured Flavor: Fruit Punch
Calories/Carbs (g): 200/43
Main Ingredients: Creatine,
Arginine, Leucine, Dextrose
Mhp Dark Matter
Serving Size: 2 Scoops (60.8g)
Featured Flavor: Fruit Punch
Calories/Carbs (g): 240/48
Main Ingredients: Waxy Maize, Creatine Matrix, Amino Acid Matrix
Nutrex Defy Black
Serving Size: 1 Scoop (13.6g)
Featured Flavor: Gashin’ Grape
Calories/Carbs (g): 0/0
Main Ingredients: L-Leucine,
L-Isoleucine, L-Valine, L-Glutamine, Creatine Monohydrate, Taurine, Electrolyte Hydrating Matrix
Ultimate Nutrition Platinum Series Gluta Pure
Serving Size: 1 Scoop (5g)
Featured Flavor: Unflavored
Main Ingredients: L-Glutamine
Gluta-Tren Recovery
Serving Size: 1 Scoop (16g)
Featured Flavor: Orange Crème
Calories/Carbs (g): 0/0
Main Ingredients: L-Glutamine,
L-Taurine, Beta-Alanine,
L–Tyrosine, Creatinol-
O-Phosphate
Isopure Mass
Serving Size: 20 fl. oz
Featured Flavor: Grape Frost
Calories/Carbs (g): 350/53
Main Ingredients: Filtered Water, Maltodextrin, Ion Exchange Whey Protein Isolate
Isopure Mass Powder
Serving Size: 6 Scoops (160g)
Featured Flavor: Dutch Chocolate
Calories/Carbs (g): 600/86
Main Ingredients: Ion Exchange
& Microflitered Whey Protein
Isolate, Taurine, L-Glutamine, Vitamin C, Vitamin E
Isopure Original Packets
Serving Size: 1 Packet (89g)
Featured Flavor: Chocolate
Peanut Butter
Calories/Carbs (g): 300/25
Main Ingredients: Microfiltered & Ion Exchange Whey Protein Isolate, Taurine, L-Glutamine
Isopure Smoothie
Serving Size: 16 fl. oz
Featured Flavor: Berry
Pomegranate
Calories/Carbs (g): 210/14
Main Ingredients: Filtered Water, Whey Protein Isolate, Strawberry Puree, Pomegranate Juice Concentrate
Isopure With Carbs
Serving Size: 20 fl. oz
Featured Flavor: Alpine Punch
Calories/Carbs (g): 260/25
Main Ingredients: Filtered Water, Whey Protein Isolate, Calcium Citrate, Potassium Gluconate
L-GLUTAMINE POWDER
Serving Size: 1 Scoop (6g)
Featured Flavor: Unflavored
Calories/Carbs (g): 20 / 0
Main Ingredients: L-Glutamine
Cytosport Monster Amino
Serving Size: 1 Scoop (12.5g)
Featured Flavor: Sour Apple
Calories/Carbs (g): 10/1
Main Ingredients: L-Leucine, PepForm‚ Leucine Peptides, L-Isoleucine, L-Valine
EAS Muscle Armor
Serving Size: 1 Scoop (30g)
Featured Flavor: Fruit Punch
Calories/Carbs (g): 110/11
Main Ingredients: Revigor HMB,
L-Glutamine, L-Arginine, Taurine
Muscle Recovery-Rx
Serving Size: 1 Scoop (17.5g)
Featured Flavor: Fruit Punch
Calories/Carbs (g): 12/3
Main Ingredients: Anabolic/Anticatabolic Matrix, Growth Hormone Releasing Complex, BCAAs
MyoBuild
Serving Size: 1 Scoop (8g)
Featured Flavor: Grape
Calories/Carbs (g): 30/0
Main Ingredients: L-Carnitine, Creatine HCL, Betaine Anhydrous, L-Glutamine, L-Leucine, L-Valine, L-Isoleucine, Withania Somnifera, Rhodiola Rosea
Eas Myoplex Original RTD
Serving Size: 17 fl. oz
Featured Flavor:
Chocolate Fudge
Calories/Carbs (g): 300/19
Main Ingredients: Milk Protein Concentrate, Pea Protein -Concentrate, Revigor HMB
Myozene
Serving Size: 3 Scoops (120g)
Featured Flavor: Orange
Calories/Carbs (g): 350/50
Main Ingredients: Vitamin C, Vitamin E, Thiamin, Riboflavin, Niacin, Vitamin B6, Vitamin B12, Biotin, Pantothenic Acid, Calcium, Phosphorus, Magnesium, Zinc, Chromium, Sodium, Potassium, Myozene Inslinotropic/Anabolic Proprietary Blend
Vpx No Synthesize
Serving Size: 1 Scoop (21g)
Featured Flavor: Exotic Fruit
Calories/Carbs (g): 82/0
Main Ingredients: BCAAs, Creatine, Beta-Alanine, COP, Citrulline Malate
Perfect L-Glutamine
Serving Size: 1 Tsp. (5g)
Featured Flavor: Plain
Calories/Carbs (g): 0/0
Main Ingredients: L-Glutamine, Lysophosphatidyl Choline Enriched Lecithin (Soy)
Optimum Nutrition Platinum Hydrobuilder
Serving Size: 1 Scoop (50g)
Featured Flavor:
Chocolate Shake
Calories/Carbs (g): 180/8
Main Ingredients:
Hydrolyzed Whey Protein Isolate, Micellar Casein, Hydrolyzed Egg Albumen, Micronized Amino Acids, Micronized Creapure Creatine, BetaPower Betaine
Vpx Power Shock
Serving Size: 1 Scoop (13g)
Featured Flavor:
Fruit Punch
Calories/Carbs (g): 8/2
Main Ingredients: BCAAs, EAAs, Nitrates
Controlled Labs Purple Wraath
Serving Size: 1 Scoop (12g)
Featured Flavor:
Purple Lemonade
Calories/Carbs (g): 0
Main Ingredients: Leucine, Citrulline Malate, Beta-Alanine
EAS Recovery Protein
Serving Size: 2 Scoops (70g)
Featured Flavor:
Chocolate
Calories/Carbs (g): 260/42
Main Ingredients: Whey Protein Concentrate, Isomaltulose, Revigor HMB
Resurrect-P.M.
Serving Size: 1 Scoop (8g)
Featured Flavor: Blue Razz Dream
Calories/Carbs (g): 4/1
Main Ingredients: GABA, L-Arginine, Mucuna -Pruriens, Magnesium Citrate, L-Ornithine, L-Phenylalanine, L-Theanine, Vitamin C, Zinc Sulfate, Creatine Gluconate
SAAs
Serving Size: 1 Scoop (5g)
Featured Flavor:
Fruit Punch
Calories/Carbs (g): 0
Main Ingredients:
Caffeine, Alanine, Glycine, Serine, Valine, Threonine
Stealth
Serving Size: 3 Scoops (150g)
Featured Flavor:
Chocolate Rush
Calories/Carbs (g): 575/82
Main Ingredients: Whey Protein Isolate, Milk Protein, Casein, Protein, Creatine, Beta-Alanine
Dymatize Nutrition Elite Super Amino
Serving Size: 3 Caplets
Featured Flavor: Unflavored
Calories/Carbs (g): 10/0
Main Ingredients: Milk Protein Isolate, Whey Protein Isolate, Whey Protein Concentrate, Micellar Casein, NutraCasein, BCAAs, Arginine, Glutamine
X-Fit Power
Serving Size: 2 Tablets, 3 x daily
Featured Flavor: N/A
Calories/Carbs (g): 0/0
Main Ingredients: DL-A-Hydroxyisocaproic Acid (HICA), D-Aspartic Acid (DAA)
Ultra Pure Glutamine Powder
Serving Size: 1 Scoop (4.5g)
Featured Flavor:
Unflavored
Calories/Carbs (g): 18/0
Main Ingredients: Pure L-Glutamine
BACK TO THE SUPPLEMENT GUIDE >>