If you’re interested in building muscle mass as quickly as possible, then a muscle building supplement is the answer. Unfortunately, there are so many on the market that it can often be difficult to decide which one is best for you. They all have different ingredients and benefits, but ultimately they will help you achieve faster gains than exercise alone. Let’s take look at the most popular types available:

Protein

Protein is composed of amino acids, which are the essential building blocks of muscle tissue. In order to build muscle and gain mass, you need protein and lots of it. Typically most bodybuilders will need approximately 1 to 2 grams of protein per pound of body weight. Supplements get their protein from a variety of sources including eggs, soy, whey and casein and are typically consumed in either powder or bar form, making them a quick and easy source for protein.

Each type of protein has its own benefits:

Whey is an ideal protein to consume after workouts because it only takes about 30 minutes to digest. This is great because the body needs fuel and protein to repair your muscles after training.

Casein on the other hand, digests at a much slower rate and usually takes anywhere from 2 to 7 hours to fully digest. This slow digestion makes casein ideal for use before bed, that way the body has a great source of protein throughout the night.

Eggs digest faster than casein but slower than whey, so they are a good choice just about any time you want to provide your body with a nice steady release of aminos.

Soy is a great choice for vegetarians since it is completely derived from plants. Although not quite as effective as whey or eggs in term of absorption rate, it is still a high quality protein choice, especially for women.

Blended proteins are exactly what they sound like -- a mixture of all the various types of proteins. The benefit of blended proteins is that you are getting short, medium and long term absorption of protein.

Low carb proteins are designed for those on a diet or who are trying to maintain weight.

Weight gainer proteins on the other hand are ideal for anyone trying to pack on some extra pounds.

Creatine

Creatine is an extremely effective supplement for gaining muscle mass. Since it occurs naturally in the body, creatine is safe to consume. Essentially creatine increases the production of ATP, which serves as the primary source of energy for muscles. The boost creatine gives allows you to power through intense workouts using more weight and higher reps and sets.

Glutamine

L-Glutamine is an amino acid that is found in all of your muscle tissue. The glutamine aids in muscle recovery and also helps to prevent muscle wastage. By utilizing glutamine supplements you will be able to hit the gym more often, thus increasing the speed of your muscle gains. Glutamine however should not be taken at the same time as creatine since they both compete for the same receptors. It should be taken pre-workout -- save the creatine for post-workout.

Natural Testosterone Boosters

Using natural testosterone boosters is a safe way to gain muscle mass, improve your mood and your sex drive. Unlike steroids, natural testosterone boosters are legal to use.

Anabolic Flavones

Anabolic flavones like Methoxy (Methoxyisoflavone) and Ecdy (Ecdysterone) are the perfect supplements if you are looking for anabolic gains. These non hormonal flavones work naturally to improve protein synthesis and muscle growth while also increasing nitrogen retention. They work even better when used in conjunction with a protein supplement since they improve protein absorption.

Amino Acids/BCAAs

As most bodybuilders are aware, amino acids are the building blocks of proteins and are essential in not only repairing muscle tissue but helping it grow as well. The branched chain amino acids valine, leucine and isoleucine are the key to better results in the gym.

Nitric Oxide

Nitric oxide serves as a neurotransmitter that allows the brain to increase blood flow all over the body. The increased blood flow delivers vital oxygen and nutrients to the muscles, helping bodybuilders to plow through even the most intense workouts and leaving them with muscles that look ripped and rock hard all day long.