The human body is often compared to a machine. Like an engine, muscles in the body provide power and force. There may be times where muscles wear out, but unlike most engines, the body has the ability to repair itself. When muscles are tired, bodybuilding supplements can give an extra boost of energy and nutrients to the body and allow it to repair and regenerate as quickly and as efficiently as possible.

Let us have a look at two of the most popular bodybuilding supplements on the market today and see how they can help us in our training and why it is that they are so popular.

Whey Protein

Whey protein is a high quality protein that is obtained from milk. Milk contains two different proteins (casein and whey), with whey protein being more soluble and having a much higher quality rating. Infact whey protein is the most nutritious protein available which is why it is sometimes referred to as the 'Gold Standard' of protein.

There are three main types of whey protein:

* concentrate (contain fat, cholesterol and some lactose and can be as low as 30% protein by weight or as high as 90%)

* isolate (is processed to remove the fat and lactose and is usually about 90% protein by weight)

* hydrolysate (partially hydrolyzed whey protein which means it is much more easily absorbed by the body)

When working out often, protein levels in the body become depleted. Whey protein is full of essential amino acid and will help the body recover quicker and allow muscles to grow faster by maintaining the levels of protein in the body. It can also help balance blood sugar levels which can help control over-eating which can allow for greater fat loss.

Nearly every bodybuilder knows the importance of protein supplementation. Serious bodybuilders should consume up to 150 grams of when protein per day, but only if you doing extreme workouts. A more standard dose would be between 35-50g per day.

Creatine

Creatine is an compound which is produced naturally by the body. It is found mainly in muscle tissue but also occurs in the brain as well as in the heart. Creatine is really a wonderful substance with a whole list of benefits especially for an active bodybuilder, it can do the following:

* provide more energy to muscles

* improve muscle volume

* buffer lactic acid build-up

* enhance protein absorption and synthesis

There is approximately 120 grams of creatine stored in the body at any one time, however when you work out, you use up a lot of these stores which need to be replenished. As creatine is depleted it can no longer provide the benefits that it does at which point you need to rest your muscles and wait for the creatine to be replenished.

By taking creatine supplements you can increase the amount of creatine stored by the body which allows you to work out for longer (and enjoy the benefits that creatine provides) before you need to rest.

Whey protein and creatine are just two of the many bodybuilding supplements available today. But these are probably the most popular ones and from what you have read above it is easy to see why.