Bodybuilding nutritional supplements are “concentrated nutrition” created from higher-quality sources and are absorbed easily by the body. Nutritional supplements are a worthwhile addition to a daily diet because they provide the body with extras that it might not always obtain from food sources.

These include vitamins and minerals the body requires, an extra boost of energy, substances to help build stronger tissues and so on. Bodybuilders in particular can benefit from taking nutritional supplements as they help to burn fat while also building muscle.

When it comes to bodybuilding there are various types of nutritional supplements with the most common being protein, amino acids, creatine, fat burners, cartilage/joint products and testosterone boosters. Bodybuilding nutritional supplements can be broken down into three groups- muscle-building supplements, weight (or fat) loss supplements and joint/injury-preventing supplements.

The muscle building supplements include amino acids, creatine and testosterone boosters while the weight (fat) loss supplements include fat blockers, ephedrine-free fat burners and the all-in-one kits. Finally, the third group, the joint/injury-preventing supplements consist of chondroitine sulfate and glucosamine sulfate.

While building a tremendous physique is not only about taking nutritional supplements, they can go a long way in helping to improve the situation. Most bodybuilders are encouraged to include nutritional supplements into their daily diets, whether it is one kind or a variety of types. It all helps when it comes to the end result.

The top most widely toted bodybuilding nutritional supplements include meal replacement powders (MRPs), protein powders, weight gain formulas, maltodextrin, probiotics, nutrition bars, pre-workout drinks, fat-burners and thermogenics, creatine monohydrate and glutamine.

Meal replacement powders (MRPs) are made up of high protein content, essential fatty acids, moderate levels of carbohydrates as well as all of the vitamins and minerals that are deemed as essential. Protein powders today are made of superior quality ion-exchange whey powder that is digested and absorbed very easily by the body to be used efficiently by the muscles.

Weight gain formulas are most recommended for the novice bodybuilder who is thin to start out with. These formulas usually contain approximately 600 calories and 50 grams of protein per serving and have lots of carbohydrates in them. It can be mixed with skim milk or water to drink.

Maltodextrin is a synthetic polysaccharide (otherwise known as a complex carbohydrate) and is excellent for high-energy demands put on the body. Probiotics are "healthy" bacteria that live in the digestive system and promote the healthy functioning of it. The most common name for probiotics is Lactobacillus acidophilus and taking supplements, helps keep the digestive system on track. Probiotics can be found in special drinks, yogurts, powders and capsules.

Nutrition bars are a healthy way to snack but it is important to note that most nutrition bars do contain traces of trans-fat and also additives. Pre-workout drinks are energy drinks that come in a variety of delicious tasting flavors. Some just contain a sugar base while others are laced with stimulants such as caffeine, ephedra and guarana. Always avoid the ones that are extremely high in sugar and therefore calories.

Fat burners contain ingredients that effectively burn fat by way of thermogenesis. Look for one that comes from the herb ephedra. Creatine monohydrate helps to improve energy levels and therefore performance. It is the most highly researched of all bodybuilding nutritional supplements. Glutamine is highly debated because bodybuilders say it helps build muscle while researchers have yet to find a link between the substance and muscle mass.