Many teens don't fully understand what the supplement or supplements they are taking does and frequently take something based on what they heard and not on actual facts.
It is important to research and fully understand everything about the supplement you are considering taking in order to decide if it is right for you. I will be describing the most popular supplements to help inform you and aid you on your supplement decisions.
Creatine
Creatine is one of the most popular supplements that is used by professional athletes, amateur athletes, and anyone else trying to gain bulk and strength fast. Creatine is a natural component of skeletal muscle and is transported to the body's muscles in order to increase energy.
Creatine increases ATP and how often it can be recycled. In other words it increases how long the muscles can continue exerting maximum force then later increasing growth. However, some people do not respond to creatine use in the same way.
What Is ATP?
A nucleotide, C10H16N5O13P3, that contains high-energy phosphate bonds and is used to transport energy to cells for biochemical processes, including muscle contraction and enzymatic metabolism.
Some can be what is called a creatine none responder and not benefit from creatine.
Side Effects?
There are no known major side effects to creatine, although there are reports of the supplement causing bloating and gas. There has not been much long term study on creatine so some unknown factors may still existon.
Creatine also pulls water away from the body and brings it into the muscle so it is extremely important to drink plenty of water to avoid dehydration.
Many people claim the added muscle is just water weight and the strength increase and weight increase is temporary.
Yes it is true that creatine makes you retain water, but only 2 - 3 pounds is water weight and weight gains can range from 2-10 pounds.
The strength increase is for the most part permanent although you may notice a small loss of strength, but compared to the gain it Is not much. In my opinion it is a good way to gain strength and mass, but there is some unknown and risk involved with taking creatine.
What are BCAAs?
Branch Chain Amino Acids are the "Building Blocks" of the body. They make up 35% of your muscle mass and must be present for molecular growth and development to take place. Eight are essential (cannot be manufactured by the body) the rest are non-essential (can be manufactured by the body with proper nutrition). Besides building cells and repairing tissue, they form antibodies, they are part of the enzyme & hormonal system; they build RNA and DNA and they carry oxygen throughout the body.
Proteins are made up of amino acids. The difference between full spectrum amino acids and regular protein powders is that protein powders have fillers, sweeteners, dyes and extra carbohydrates. More than 20 amino acids are needed to build muscle, red blood cells, and hundreds of other molecules that sustain life. Your body can produce all but 8-10 amino acids which must be obtained through your diet or supplementation. A complete amino acid profile is needed by your body to reach your maximum fitness potential.
When and how much to take
With BCAA's 4-8 grams before a work out and 4-8 grams after is optimal. Lesser amounts are effective but if increased performance and recovery are needed a higher dosage is more effective. Taking BCAA's immediately before or during a strenuous workout or cardio session will increase performance.
Taking them after with a post work out meal or recovery drink will help speed the replacement of BCAA's in the muscles, speeding muscle recovery and preventing overtraining.
Testosterone Supplements -NO!!
Testosterone supplements are growing in popularity among teens and many are not aware of the effects they can have. Testosterone falls in the androgen family and is by definition the male sex hormone. Testosterone has some of the same effects of steroids both positive and negative.
There is no doubt that testosterone can increase your strength and size but you must decide if the risks are really worth it. Too much of a testosterone supplement can be very harmful; they can damage your liver, enlarge your prostate, make you develop breast tissue, increase aggressiveness, and lower sperm count. When taking in to much testosterone it can even convert to estrogen.
Too Early For Most Teens
Teens are at a time in their lives when testosterone levels are already very high. So if you are considering taking testosterone supplements it is best to wait until you are past 30 when your testosterone levels start to lower.
My opinion is that testosterone supplements can be very effective in gaining strength and mass but it is best to wait until you are ready for them and are able to make an educated decision.
Whey Protein
Whey protein is one of the best supplements a teen can use and anyone else that is trying to live a healthy life. Taking in whey protein right after a workout can give your muscle the nutrition they need and promote tissue growth. Whey protein is a high quality protein rich in essential amino acids which contains little fat.
Whey protein does not just benefit weightlifters looking to get big. Anyone of any age can benefit from it. Whey protein also contains protein synthesizers that are used to help you digest more of the protein so you benefit from the nutrition better.
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The best part of whey protein is that it is completely safe and completely effective. Any weightlifter will also tell you to use a good whey to get over a plateau. One way of increasing your protein intake with whey is by making whey protein shakes. My opinion is that whey protein is safe, effective, and gets the job done.
Nitric Oxide
Nitric oxide products have been going through advances and gaining popularity. Nitric oxide is a free form of gas in the body that is used to communicate to cells and is a combination of the amino acids L-Arginine and L-Citrulline.
Nitric oxide increases blood flow to vital organs and muscles. While working out more blood flows to the muscle you are working and floods it with nutrition.
Nitric oxide increases pumps, vascularity, definition, good cholesterol, size, and helps keep arteries unclogged. However, nitric oxide products do take time to kick in with an approximate time being about 4 weeks to notice minimal effects, and at least 6 weeks to notice maximum effects.
Side Effects?
No scientific studies have shown nitric oxide supplements to have side effects so it is a lot safer then other alternatives.
In my opinion nitric oxide supplements can be effective but they are not for anyone looking for quick results because it takes time to see the effects.
If you are patient enough however, and stick with it, the benefits will come.
Sources:
TeenBodybuilding.com
Wikipedia.com
I hope this can help out a lot of teens and others understand more about what everything is and if you should take it or not! | 
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