Bodybuilders can increase their gains by taking a supplementation stack. The supplements listed below will give an added boost to your body and help it to grow. This article is intended for experienced bodybuilders only and should not be used by people who are new to lifting weights.

When taken properly supplements can greatly help your body. When taken incorrectly they can cause harm to your body. It is important to know what you are doing when taking supplements and this guide aims to help you to understand them better.
Before starting any serious supplement regime I would recommend you consult your doctor.

I don’t want to scare you away from supplements but I also don’t want you to jump in head first. Just remember that nothing can supplement proper wholesome and natural food.

Here’s the stack:


Multi-Vitamins
The average diet doesn’t supply you with all the vitamins your body needs. Even properly planned out diets will have trouble giving you all the vitamins your body needs. That is why it is important to take multivitamin supplements. It won’t make you gain 20lbs of mass but it will help your body to function more effectively.
A common mistake made by bodybuilders is that they think vitamins contain energy and that by taking them it will enhance their energy. Vitamins are actually used to help release the energy from carbohydrates, fats and proteins but do not contain any energy themselves.


Amino Acids
As you probably know amino acids are the basic building blocks of protein. There are 22 different amino acids, 9 of which our bodies cannot create and must be supplied by our diet.
Taking amino acid supplementation is particularly important during a diet or cutting phase as it is hard to supply your body with everything it needs by eating natural foods such as fish, meat, dairy products, etc.


Whey Protein
The next important ingredient for muscle growth is whey protein. Without the important amino acids that whey protein has (isoleucine, valine and leucine) your muscles won’t grow to their fullest potential. Whey protein is also said to help boost your immune system due to the high levels of glutathione it contains.
The importance of taking whey protein is largely because of its quick absorption which is perfect straight after a workout.
Whey protein has a very high biological value and therefore your body absorbs it very quickly. Make sure you also eat some carbs along with whey protein at the end of a workout so that your body has the energy to process the protein.


Flax Seed Oil
Flax seed oil is made up of 1/3 oil and the rest is a mix of fiber, protein and mucilage. It contains some essential fatty acids such as omega 3 and 6 in perfect proportions. Another very important ingredient that it contains is alpha linolenic acid and it's a great source of vitamins and minerals.
Most of its ingredients are highly lacked in modern western diets and it can help to prevent some serious health problems such as:
Coronary heart disease - the omega 3 reduces blood pressure and cholesterol amongst a few other things
Arthritis
Cancer - omega 3 can kill cancer cells without destroying healthy cells
Skin problems - acne and eczema are know to be related to low levels of omega 3 in a diet


Creatine
Creatine should be taken in cycles of 2 months on and 1 month off. It is yet another protein powder that uses the different amino acids to help increase your muscular growth. Creatine enhances endurance and also plays a large part in the restoration of ATP stores within the body and cellular energy production.
Muscle protein synthesis is increased by the fact that it retains water and ions.


Glutamine
Glutamine is very important for the function of our metabolism and muscle maintenance. It is a non-essential amino acid (meaning our bodies can produce it) but our bodies benefit from having larger amounts of it than normal.
It helps our bodies to process protein at a faster rate which is why it is so important to take. It is also a superb brain fuel.
As well as helping you to make gains in bodybuilding it will also help you to lower the cravings of sweets and has actually been used to treat alcohol cravings for alcoholics.


ZMA
ZMA is a combination of zinc, magnesium and vitamin B6 that was developed by Victor Conte. Most americans get enough zinc and vitamin B6 in their diet however over 50% are deficient in magnesium.
It is disputed as to whether ZMA has any positive effects due to the contradictory test results of scientists. Even though there is contradictory data it is still used widely by almost all professional bodybuilders. You should take some time to research it and decide whether you think it is right for you.


ALA
ALA stands for alpha lipoic acid. It initiates the process of certain enzymes that handle energy producing molecules and also helps the body to use amino acids better.
In simple terms it helps the body to collect the energy and nutrients from the foods we eat. When your body has excess amounts of it, which only happens when you take supplements, it works as an antioxidant to destroy a very large array of cell destroying radicals within the body.


BCAA
This group of amino acids is particularly important during high intensity exercise to help maintain muscle tissue. It is made up of leucine, isoleucine and valine. There are no known side effects and if your body has more BCAA’s in it than it can process they are simply stored within the body for later use.
Quite simply it’s just another way to help your muscles grow bigger and stronger.


Make sure you follow the directions supplied on each individual product. If you use too much of any product it may have minor to moderate side effects.

And that’s that. Supplements won’t make you gain 25lbs in a month but over time with proper nutrition (of natural foods along with supplements), rest and training you will see the results.