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Every gym enthusiast knows the rush of a hard workout session. But while these sessions give you a sense of accomplishment, their subsequent fatigue can leave you energy depleted for your next workout. When that happens, you fall behind in your gym sessions and your performance decreases over time. But there’s a simple solution to this problem: add some muscle recovery supplements to your routine. These supplements improve your overall energy levels and increase your endurance so you can succeed in all your workouts.
But finding the right product is easier said than done. When you search the market for these supplements, you might feel instantly taken aback by the sheer number of options. Not only that but finding the right active ingredients is a different story altogether.
We’ve compiled a detailed buying guide to help you understand what these supplements are and why they’re so important. To make your life easier, we’ve put together a list of the most recommended muscle recovery supplements of 2024, just for you! Let’s take a look!
Comparing the Top Muscle Recovery Supplement of 2024
Nutricost Muscle Recovery Supplement — Best Overall
The Nutricost Muscle Recovery Supplement is a great option for athletes. This product features D-Ribose as its active ingredient and comes with a gluten-free and non-GMO formula. D-Ribose is a natural recovery agent that increases energy stores and gives you strength for your next workout.
Each capsule contains 700 milligrams of the active component, and you can consume it twice daily. Because this is a vegetarian formula, it complies with dietary restrictions as well. Manufactured in a GMP-certified and FDA-registered facility, this muscle recovery supplement is tested and regulated for the highest quality. Because of its quality and role in muscle recovery and strength, we’ve chosen these capsules as our top pick for the most recommended muscle recovery supplement of 2022.
Pros
- Suitable for those with dietary restrictions
- Manufactured in a GMP-certified facility
- Improves overall strength and increases energy stores
Cons
- Capsules are hard to swallow
Xtend Muscle Recovery Supplement — Best Powder Supplement
Featuring branched chain amino acids (BCAAs) as its active ingredient, the Xtend Muscle Recovery Supplement comes in a powder form and is a great option for those who can’t take pills. This powder is available in many tasty flavors, including raspberry, grape, blood orange, fruit punch, lemon, mango, apple, and kiwi. It’s a caffeine-free formula and suitable for taking during the day or at night. Plus, because this supplement is carb-free, you can use it to recover from gym workouts without altering your diet.
The recommended dose for this supplement powder is 7 grams per serving, and you can use it pre and post-workout for maximum effect. The powder is a great hydration agent and helps maintain the electrolyte balance in the body. This product is manufactured and tested by National Sanitation Foundation (NSF) certified parties and follows a strict testing protocol.
Pros
- Easy to consume powder formula
- Carb-free and sugar-free
- Tested by NSF-certified facility
Cons
- More expensive than other options
Optimum Nutrition Muscle Recovery Supplement — L-Glutamine Option
With a dosage of 500 milligrams per capsule, the recommended serving of this supplement is two capsules per day. The Optimum Nutrition Muscle Recovery Supplement features L-glutamine, which is crucial for muscle growth. When consumed before or after a workout, this supplement boosts your protein intake and helps your muscles recover quickly, reducing soreness and fatigue.
This supplement option comes in two sizes: 120 and 240 capsules per bottle. Because your body already has abundant quantities of L-glutamine, this supplement increases its plasma levels and improves its functions. This amino acid helps you recover from post-workout fatigue while increasing protein synthesis in the body. Plus, it improves your gut health and enhances your immunity.
Pros
- Helps muscles recover from tiring workouts
- Boosts immunity and gut health
- Helps with muscle protein development
Cons
- Requires two capsules for one serving
MuscleTech Muscle Recovery Supplement — Best for Keto Diets
Available in two sizes, packs of 42 and 84 capsules, the MuscleTech Muscle Recovery Supplement is a keto-friendly option. These clear capsules are enriched with BCAAs and HMB-free acid to boost your muscle growth. This supplement increases muscle growth while retarding protein breakdown. Unlike other supplements that contain HMB acids, this one contains leucine for added health benefits.
The recommended dosage for the supplement is one capsule three times a day to maintain its plasma levels. On workout days, you should take the soft gel 30 minutes before and after training.
Pros
- Boosts muscle recovery while preventing breakdown
- Easy-to-swallow soft gel capsules
- Backed by 15 positive clinical trials
Cons
- Taste can be off-putting for some
Jacked Factory Muscle Recovery Supplement — Sleep Promoting Option
With a dosage of two capsules per day, the Jacked Factory Muscle Recovery Supplement is designed for nighttime use. This product helps your muscles recover by regulating your sleep cycle. It contains melatonin and ashwagandha to promote good sleep while magnesium helps with muscle growth.
The capsules are manufactured in a GMP-certified facility where all the components are tested before production. Thanks to its vegetarian formula, this supplement is compliant with multiple dietary restrictions.
Pros
- Promotes deep sleep to alleviate fatigue
- Contains vita-cherry for added multivitamin benefits
- Produced and tested in GMP-certified facility
Cons
- Only available in 60 capsule bottles
Buying Guide: Muscle Recovery Supplement
Now that we’ve covered some of the leading options available on the market for muscle recovery supplements, it’s time to help you find your perfect one. In this section, we’ll discuss the common types of muscle recovery agents and their functions. We’ll also go over some factors you need to keep in mind when buying your ideal supplement. Read on to learn everything you need to know about recovering effectively post-workout.
What Are the Types of Muscle Recovery Supplements?
First, we’ll tell you about the different types of muscle recovery supplements to help you understand each component better.
BCAAs
Branched-chain amino acids, also known as BCAAs, are quite efficient recovery agents. These amino acids reduce fatigue, improve strength, and promote muscle growth. Because the small amino acids are building blocks for protein synthesis, they help with improving muscle mass and giving you desired mass gain.
L-glutamine
This amino acid has many benefits for the body. It’s a crucial element for a healthy immune system and promotes gut health by keeping the digestive tract lining intact. This supplement not only gives you better immunity but also improves the food and nutrient absorption in your body.
L-glutamine also has a role in increasing the body’s energy production. This nutrient provides you with strength for improved performance while simultaneously promoting muscle growth.
Creatine monohydrate
Creatine monohydrate is one of the most effective muscle recovery agents. When you exercise, you use energy in the form of ATP, which is then converted into ADP. But when you take creatine monohydrate, it boosts the ATP production in the body.
As a result, it prevents energy loss and improves your strength for the next workout. This recovery agent also maintains your muscle size.
Whey protein
You might be aware of the role protein plays in muscle building and its growth. But whey protein, in particular, is an essential building block that is rapidly absorbed in the body. It’s rich in BCAAs and other vital amino acids that help you significantly increase muscle mass. Because of its quick absorption, you have to consume it right before and after your workout to get the maximum results.
Casein
Found in high concentrations in milk, casein is another important amino acid. While whey protein helps with building muscle mass, casein maintains it with its slower absorption rate. You can also stack it with whey by adding your protein powder to milk to get improved results from both supplements.
Factors To Consider When Buying Muscle Recovery Supplements
The type of muscle recovery supplement is not the only thing you have to consider. Here are some other factors that you should consider before finalizing your purchase:
Purpose
You can’t use the same supplements for all workouts. Each workout plan is different and requires specific supplements to boost its results. When you’re choosing your recovery aid you should select one that aligns with your exercise and fitness goals.
If you’re following a muscle-building plan, you might be hitting the gym multiple times a day. In such cases, you’ll need both pre-workout and post-workout supplements. Similarly, adding caffeine to your pre-workout drink will help you stay active and prepare you to work out your best.
If you aren’t into body-building and prefer a light cardio routine instead, you won’t require such intensive muscle-building supplements. Instead, you should avoid excess sugars and stick with a regular pre-workout plan. This way, you’ll be able to maintain your muscle growth without overdoing it. We recommend purchasing recovery supplements according to your exercise requirements and goals.
Cost
Investing in top-quality workout supplements can be pretty expensive. Most of them carry a heavy price tag, and if you’re taking more than one, supplements can quickly become a huge monthly expense. When you’re looking for muscle recovery supplements, make sure to carefully check their cost. Search through your options and set a budget for your essential products. Try to find supplements that come with a formula with multiple active ingredients to cut your cost.
Whenever you’re buying a supplement, always make it a point to weigh the supplement’s pros and cons. If the pros list justifies the cost, you should go for it. If not, then you should keep looking for the right supplement.
Your lifestyle
Another important factor to think about when buying a muscle recovery supplement is how it's going to affect your lifestyle and routine. For instance, no one likes to have to take protein shakes for all their meals. You might also have trouble following a strict diet plan to maintain your muscle growth. This is easier said than done and will likely result in you feeling frustrated and even slipping up. While gym experts will tell you it's a crime, it’s actually just human nature.
Because of this, when you’re purchasing muscle recovery supplements, you should look for options that work with you and your lifestyle. If you don’t like shakes, you should consider tablets. If supplements aren’t working for you, try to customize your diet so you can incorporate all the essential elements for muscle recovery through food sources.
Stacking
Stacking supplements is a common practice among professional athletes. It means using a combination of products to customize workout results. While stacking is an attractive thought, you need compatible products for it to actually work.
You can only mix ingredients that work with one another without undermining each other’s effect. For example, you can stack creatinine monohydrate and whey protein. That way the monohydrate will give you energy for the workout and the protein will convert into muscle mass.
Similarly, you can combine BCAAs and multivitamins to speed up the recovery process following your workout. When you’re searching for muscle recovery supplements, try to choose ones that can be stacked together for improved results.
