Calcium is a mineral that plays an important role in the development of the human body. It is common knowledge that calcium is important in preventing osteoporosis. However, calcium also provides structural support in the development of muscles. Deficiency in calcium could cause obesity because it triggers the release of parathyroid hormone that stimulates the production of fats in the body and inhibits its breakdown. It also reduces the blood pressure. Calcium also has the ability to fight colon cancer by binding itself with cancer cells to inhibit its growth and progression. It is also beneficial to women suffering from PMS or premenstrual syndrome such as depression, mood swings, anxiety, water retention, breast tenderness, and headaches.

Calcium HMB (ß-Hydroxy ß-methylbutyric acid) is a metabolite of the essential amino acid leucine. It is naturally produced in human body and small quantities can also be found in grapefruit, alfalfa, and catfish. Calcium HMB is used as a supplement because research has shown it to Increase sarcolemmal integrity via conversion to HMG-CoA and to enhance protein synthesis. It also helps in depression of protein degradation through inhibition of the ubiquitin pathway. Calcium HMB is proved to help muscle formulation so it is given to patients with HIV or AIDS and trauma victims with severe injuries. It is also used in treatment of cancer.

Creatine Monohydrate- Creatine derives the name from the Greek origin, kreas, which stands in for flesh. It is occurring in vertebrates naturally and is a nitrogenous organic acid. The most common source of creatine is fresh meat, which makes the use of supplements for vegetarians and vegans a must. Humans are able to biosynthesize creatine from other amino acids, like methionine, glycine and arginine, which comprises about the half of the daily needed amounts. Creatine is being stored in skeletal muscles. While creatine is not providing to the athletic endurance, it increases power when doing short but high in intensity work outs. Naturally, creatine supplements thereby provide an ideal aid for muscle building athletes, particularly because they are not considered doping. With creatine, body mass gains of up to 1kg per week are normal.

Folic Acid, also known as Vitamin B9 or Folacin is a water-soluble vitamin. It is very essential to several bodily functions including nucleotide synthesis to the remethylation of homocysteine. Vitamin B9 is also very important during the periods of rapid cell division and growth and thus it is essential that pregnant women have an adequate intake of folic acid. This is also because Vitamin B9 helps protect against a number of congenital malformations like spina bifida etc. Vitamin B9 should be a part of the diet of both adults and children as it is required to produce healthy red blood cells as well as prevent anemia. It is also necessary for fertility in both men and women. It isn’t difficult ingesting vitamin B9 since it is present in green leafy vegetables like spinach, lettuce, beans, peas, sunflower seeds, liver, baker’s yeast etc.

L-Glutamine- Glutamine is an amino acid which is responsible for a multitude of biochemical functions in humans. L-Glutamine is generally found in dietary sources such as chicken, beef, eggs, milk and dairy products, fish, spinach, wheat, parsley, cabbages, beans and beets. Glutamine is apparently the most common amino acid occurring naturally, furthermore this non essential amino acid is one of just a few, which are able to directly cross the blood brain barrier. In the human body, L-Glutamine is found in the skeletal muscles, but also in the blood. Besides the vital biological functions, such as fuel for brain, blocking cortisol induced protein catabolism, immune function assistance, protein synthesis and in DNA synthesis, L-Glutamine is used as a supplement for ailing and injured, improving recovery, but also as muscle growth agent in body building and athletic circles.

Niacin, also called Vitamin B3, is a water-soluble vitamin needed for the conversion of food into energy so that it may be used by the body. Niacin also helps metabolize protein, sugar and fat.

Pantothenic Acid, commonly called Vitamin B5, it is a water-soluble member of the vitamin B complex. Pantothenic acid is involved in adrenal gland function and is required to fight stress.

Riboflavin, also called Vitamin B2, is naturally manufactured by the body. Riboflavin is needed for the proper use of oxygen and amino acids, carbohydrates and fatty acids. Riboflavin is also utilized by Vitamin B6 in the body and is used to manufacture niacin. Riboflavin is especially needed when eating large amounts of protein.

Taurine ,an essential amino acid, contains cysteine and methoinine. It is normally added to energy drinks to improve the level of endurance during workouts. It acts like a diuretic and retains magnesium and potassium within the cells and gets rid of sodium. It helps eliminate swelling and accumulation of fluids and enhances the functioning of the kidney. Taurine also helps maintain a proper balance of calcium, lowers the blood pressure, prevent the development of gallstones and strengthens the muscles of the heart. Additionally, it even supports diabetes patients, as it inhibits resistance to insulin and hyperglycemia. Taurine deficiency can impair vision, develop epilepsy and could lead to problems like fat metabolism. It naturally detoxifies our body and is required in small doses of 1 and 4 grams everyday.

Thiamine is a water-soluble vitamin with no known toxic effects if taken with other members of the vitamin B complex. Thiamine is essential to a strong appetite and to enable the body to use sugars and other carbohydrates.

Vitamin B12 is a water soluble vitamin that is also referred to as cobalamin. It plays an important role in the function of the brain, the nervous system, and in the formation of the blood. It helps prevent pernicious anemia that results in chronic fatigue, breathlessness, listlessness, pallor and susceptibility to infection. It also alleviates premenstrual syndrome (PMS) and prevents other such menstrual disorders. Vitamin B12 also improves memory retention, focus, and concentration. It helps prevent the degeneration of nerves and irreversible neurological damages that may lead to serious illnesses such as Alzheimer’s disease. It is important for the maintenance of healthy nervous system.

Vitamin B6contains pyridoxal phosphate, or PLP for short, as the active ingredient and is a vitamin belonging to the B complex grouping. It is functioning mainly as a co-enzyme with others in the human body, aiding in the proper function of several metabolic processes. Neurotransmitter synthesis, as well as hemoglobin and histamine synthesis are just some of the functions of PLP, hemoglobin function, gene expression and aiding in the facilitation of decarboxylation, elimination and other reactions, mainly taking place in the liver. Vitamin B6 was found to diminish by 50% the risk of Parkinson’s disease. Alternative medicine suggests the use of Vitamin B6 to combat autism, in combination with magnesium. This combination has shown effects with children suffering from attention deficit disorders. PLP also seems to show therapeutic effects for diabetic nephropathy.

Vitamin C is an obvious essential nutrient and a deficiency of this will cause scurvy. It is also an antioxidant and acts as an electron donor for eight different enzymes.

Vitamin E consists of eight related vitamins that are all fat soluble and have antioxidant properties. The alpha-, beta-, gamma- and delta-tocopherols with the corresponding tocotrienols all belong to the Vitamin E group, whereby the alpha-tocopherol has been found to be the most bioavailable form. Vitamin E is commonly found in food sources like eggs, milk, nuts, seeds, vegetable oil like olive oil, wholegrain foods, wheat germ, red palm oil, but also in asparagus and avocado fruits. While Vitamin E is a powerful antioxidant, several other properties have been noted as well, such as prevention of damage to neurons, cholesterol reduction and cancer prevention. Vitamin E has been also identified as a vital signaling molecule, whereby the primary necessity of Vitamin E to human survival is still not clear.