No part of life is free of a massively divisive debate, it seems, and the bodybuilding world is no different. While the core goal of every bodybuilder is to pack on muscle and chisel their body into the best shape it can be, how that’s done is the center of practically every debate.
This mostly boils down to the difference between natural and synthetic supplements.
We’re going to give our perspective on that while giving you the information you need to make your own decisions regarding your health, bodybuilding journey, and the results you’re looking to achieve.
Let’s get started.
Natural vs. Synthetic Supplements: The Expected Results
This is the part most people care about the most. What type of results can you expect from either option? Well, that’s a difficult question to answer.
Your genetics, willingness to push yourself, and the way you’re approaching bodybuilding all have a huge impact on the effectiveness of any supplement. They’re not replacements for any of the core principles of bodybuilding.
However, if you put a natural bodybuilder against one using synthetic supplements and everything else is equal, you can expect a few things to happen.
Natural supplements do work. They’re typically focused on stimulating your body’s natural ability to enhance muscle growth while other herbs and naturally occurring chemicals reduce inflammation.
This is slower than what you’ll get pumping your body full of lab-produced compounds specifically designed to maximize your muscle growth.
So, you can expect it to take longer to reach your goals, and you might have to train harder to get the same results as someone using synthetic supplements.
In comparison, synthetic compounds tend to focus on 3 different areas:
- They target your body’s ability to build muscle and stimulate it.
- Then, the focus goes to giving you the necessary energy to complete workouts.
- After that, testosterone helps with your general health and physical prowess.
Synthetic supplements tend to provide results faster, but that’s not all they do. So, don’t make your decision too quickly.
Synthetic vs. Natural Supplements: The Impact on Your Health
While results are important, you can’t put your health second. After all, bodybuilding is primarily a way to maximize the potential of the human body and increase one’s overall health.
In this category, natural supplements are a great option. Your body isn’t pushed to gain more muscle faster. Its natural abilities are simply aided to make things more efficient.
This means that you get the results you want, but you don’t have any of the negative impacts that can come from poorly used synthetic stimulants.
Part of this is because of the longer time it takes to build muscle the natural way. You’re not packing on tens of pounds of muscle in a short period. You’re gradually building it, and the other parts of your body get stronger proportionately.
This includes your heart, joints, ligaments, and everything else that your muscles depend on because they’re being pushed at the same rate.
In comparison, the ultra-fast muscle gain from synthetic supplements can be too fast. You might get the massive muscles you want, but your joints, cardiovascular system, and other parts of your body might not develop as quickly.
There’s also a concern about overdoing it with synthetic supplements. If you buy them from a reputable manufacturer and use them properly, most of them are perfectly safe.
However, there’s a risk with shady companies using improper substances, and even if you have an FDA-approved product, there are concerns about long-term internal damage if you abuse the product.
Because natural supplements don’t come with those risks, they’re typically the healthier option, and they align more with a health-focused lifestyle than synthetic supplements do.
SUPPLEMENTS LIKE CREATINE AND L LUCINE THAT ARE PERFECTLY LEGAL WILL GRANT YOU MASSIVE RESULTS IF DONE CORRECTLY.
CONTINUE BELOW FOR SOME TIPS ON HOW TO GAIN MASSIVE RESULTS WITH THESE TWO SUPPLEMENTS.
CREATINE: Creatine Monohydrate is best used 5grams per day everyday. It is NOT necessary to “cycle off” however some will do this for various reasons but it is absolutely not necessary.
CREATINE TIP: If you are having issues with bloat or pains in your kidneys, reduce the amount you are taking or discontinue completely. Often times just reducing your intake will solve this issue. 2.5 grams my be optimal for you so move forward with that reduced dose.
L-LUCINE: This BCAA is a powerhouse by itself and can yeild massive returns. Intake 5 grams of powder every 3 hours and get ready for massive reults. This can be done EVERYDAY 7 days a week. There is no need to “cycle off”.
Natural vs. Synthetic Supplements: Additional Benefits
Both natural and synthetic supplements have some benefits beyond building muscle mass.
First, natural supplements tend to focus a lot on reducing inflammation. This helps mitigate the pain you feel during and after workouts, and you don’t deal with as many issues having to push yourself to the gym every day.
You also experience fewer injuries due to the gradual muscle growth we talked about earlier. With stronger joints and cardiovascular health, you’re less likely to end up on the couch for weeks at a time due to injuries.
Synthetic supplements stand out mostly because of how consistent they are.
Synthetic supplements also provide more immediate and effective energy boosts. While pain might still be an issue, getting the energy to get up and head to the gym is no problem.
Which One is Best for You?
Here’s where all the debating between natural vs. synthetic supplements tends to fall apart. Neither option is objectively better than the other in every aspect.
There are pros and cons to both synthetic and natural supplements, and they both tend to cater to different audiences. Both supplement types are viable, and as long as you’re not using controlled substances such as PEDs, “synthetic” doesn’t have to be “cheating”.
Your decision should mostly come down to your lifestyle.
Are you simply looking to sculpt your body into its most beautiful and impressive form through hard work? Natural supplements are a great option for that. You gain muscle, but you also promote a healthy lifestyle in general. The slower results don’t matter as much.
However, if you’re trying to pack on as much muscle as possible and not waste time doing so, synthetic supplements can be the best solution. Just make sure you’re properly using the supplements and try not to bulk up so quickly that your joints and heart can’t keep up.
Get Your Gains with Bodybuilding Inner Circle
Whether you’re a beginner or a professional bodybuilder, knowing the difference between natural and synthetic supplements will help you gain better results in the gym.
Besides picking the right supplements, you should also read about different training routines and powerlifting exercises to boost your muscle growth. There is no better place for that than the Bodybuilding Inner Circle blog.
Whether you’re taking the natural route or packing synthetic supplements into your diet, Bodybuilding Inner Circle aims to provide you with no-fluff information that can keep you on the right track toward achieving your goals.
Check out our bodybuilding blog if you want to learn more about fitness and health!
