Minerals and vitamins have a large variety of functions. They are essential for the synthesis, control and release of important substances like proteins, hormones and even energy. What you will realize is that they work hand in hand with one another in ensuring the optimality of body functions and processes.

I will give a list of some of the most important vitamins and minerals specifically for the body builders.

Some of the most important minerals are:

1. Magnesium

Magnesium is responsible for two very important and core functions for every bodybuilder. It deals directly with energy and protein. It is responsible for the synthesis of proteins and also for the production of energy in the body.

2. Calcium

Just the abundance of the mineral in the body should be an indication of just how important it is for your body. It is present in the body’s structural support tissues and also in the bones and teeth. It is important in especially weight training and also in the contraction of the muscles. Milk is rich in calcium and incase you avoid it because of its high fat content; try some low fat milk and yoghurt.

3. Sodium

It is an electrolyte that is helpful in the maintaining of the body’s water levels. It works hand in hand with potassium which is also an electrolyte in nature. It controls the acidity of the body as sodium is basic in nature. It plays a very important role in the exercise technique which many refer to as resistance training.

4. Iron

This is also a very abundant mineral in the body that forms part of hemoglobin. This is responsible for the transportation of oxygen to every single cell in the body inclusive of muscle tissues. The more the oxygen in the tissues, the faster the recovery and also the higher the levels of energy present in those tissues. Female athletes should take iron supplement especially during their menses as their bodies loose a lot of iron and blood.

Some of the vitamins that a bodybuilder simply can’t afford to do without are:

1. Vitamin C

It is also commonly known as ascorbic acid and ranks as one of the top most important vitamins especially for the bodybuilder. It is an antioxidant, meaning that it protects the cell’s membrane as the recuperation and growth of cells can only take place if the cell membrane is intact and strong. It helps in the absorption of iron and this function is a good example of how vitamins and minerals work hand in hand. It also aids the body both in the formation and release of hormones, specifically the anabolic hormone called testosterone.

2. Vitamin B6

It is important in some important body processes especially to the bodybuilder such as protein metabolism, carbohydrate utilization and also growth. Zinc therefore works closely with this vitamin to enhance the growth of the body.

3. Vitamin B1

It is essential for bodybuilders as it helps in packing of muscles. It is a necessity for the metabolism of protein, growth and also in the formation of hemoglobin.

If you like this article, click here to share: