From a commercial point of view, this sports nutrition business is booming. Last year nearly $1 billion was spent on sports nutrition supplements. From professional athletes to weekend softball players, everyone seems to be jumping on the supplement bandwagon. But before you consider taking any nutrition supplement to improve athletic performance, or for any other reason, it is important to know the facts about these products.

In this article, we will cover the basic types sports nutrition supplements, and their practical uses in building strength, increasing endurance and improving metabolism, as well as other positive physical effects.

Nutritional supplements are divided into four distinct categories: metabolic fuels, cellular components, anabolic substances, and recovery enhancement substances.

Metabolic fuels would include carbohydrates, lactate and fat, and are most commonly used to build muscle mass. These types of supplements are popular with bodybuilders and other athletes seeking to “bulk up.” Metabolic fuels can be found at most health food and nutrition outlets.

Cellular components are supplements to improve the natural human metabolism. These components include creatine, carnitine, and vitamins. Cellular components are often used to slim down, or reduce overall body fat content.

Anabolic substances can be used to enhance athletic performance, and include proteins, amino acids, plant sterols, chromium, and herbal supplements. There’s currently a great deal of debate regarding the ethical use of anabolic substances within professional sports, but that hasn’t stopped pro-or amateur athletes from taking advantage of these supplements.

Recovery enhancement substances can include fluids, herbal supplements, or electrolytes. These are primarily used to rebuild damaged muscle, cartilage or other body tissue after an injury, and have been popular for many years in professional sports.

Nutritionists and healthcare professionals continue to debate the ethical use of all types of sports supplements, particularly the anabolic substances which have become very popular in both pro and amateur sports leagues. But despite the controversial nature of some of these supplements, most users seem convinced that when used safely, sports nutrition supplements offer significant performance benefits and a minimum of risk.

If you are considering using a sports nutrition supplement, it is critical that you abide by the recommended daily allowances, and refrain from taking higher than standard doses. Many people believe that because a nutrition supplement is natural, it does not have any adverse health effects, but this is clearly untrue. When taken in higher doses, many natural sports supplements do have side effects and other potential adverse health reactions.

It’s always better to err on the side of caution in considering a supplement. And it is advisable to pay extra careful attention to eating properly and staying adequately hydrated at all times when using sports supplements.

While the verdict may still be out on the safety of taking a sports nutrition supplement, there is little doubt that athletes will continue to use these natural performance boosters as long as they are unavailable.