Teen boys under 16 years old trying to build muscle should stick to protein supplements made of amino acids that are the basic building blocks of muscle development.
Teenage boys can have many good reasons for trying to gain muscle or lose fat these days. Whether they want to increase strength for sports, or just look better for the opposite sex, the pressure to perform and exceed can be powerful. One very common way many teen boys try to accomplish these goals is to take up bodybuilding. Along with body building comes the topic of using dietary supplements to help accomplish these goals a bit faster, however most teenage boys can get good results just by working out hard and eating the right foods.
Supplements can sometimes help teenage boys to get faster results, although choosing the right supplements is also very important because all teenagers need to be careful not to take any supplements that might interfere with their hormones or natural growth patterns. Most boys don’t need to try to increase their levels of testosterone or growth hormones since their levels are usually already high enough during puberty and the teenage years. Because you can damage your body taking certain supplement products, it is recommended that teen boys under 16 years old should not use supplements at all, or they should at least stick to products that are proven to help them build muscle faster safely. The safest supplements for teens are protein products made of amino acids that are the basic building blocks of muscle development. Protein is generally safe and it is hard to build muscle without it. The general recommendation is that teens take in about 1 or 2 grams of protein per pound of bodyweight each day. Protein powders, shakes and snack bars are a convenient way to consume high quality protein in several different forms of protein including whey, soy, egg, and casein. The type that may be best for you depends on how and when you want to use them.
Safe Supplements for Teens Under age 16 –
Whey - Whey protein is a good choice for after workout supplementation because that's the time when your body may be protein depleted, and whey is digested by the body very quickly in about 30 minutes.
Casein – Because casein-based protein supplements are digested very slowly over a period of 2 to 7 hours, they are a good choice for use at the end of the day as the longest period the body goes without protein intake is always at night while sleeping.
Egg - Egg protein or albumen protein is digested at a medium rate from 2 to 3 hours, and that makes it a good “anytime” of day protein supplement.
Soy – Although soy protein is not as quick or effective in terms of absorption as whey or egg albumen are, soy is a good overall protein source and it is one of the only complete protein sources that is derived entirely from plants.
Protein Blends – Protein supplements blends are usually a combination of whey, soy, egg, or casein proteins and blended supplements can provide a wider range of digestion and absorption rates to get fast, medium, and prolonged absorption of protein all in one product.
Low Carb – Aimed at a different goal than the weight gaining types of supplements, low carbohydrate protein supplements are a good choice for teens who are dieting in an attempt to lose or maintain their weight.
Weight Gain - Weight gaining protein supplements are usually high calorie products that are a good choice for teens who may be having trouble gaining weight or simply trying to bulk up a bit.
