7 Great Supplements for Under $10

by Jason Spurlock
Certified Personal Trainer

 

So much of what we get about supplementation is based on research of how they’ve performed for others. But in the final analysis, reading will only take you so far. You can check reports, surf the web, ask the biggest dude in the gym, but eventually you have to try them. You’ll probably get results similar to the ones you’ve read about, but “similar results” or “maybe expectations” may not be enough to coax you out of $40, $50 or even $60.

The tremendous diversity of supplements available is a blessing and a problem. Following, is a list of excellent supplements and they’re all under $10.

GUARANA: Guarana gives you energy with natural caffeine and cuts fat with its thermogenic properties. No one talks about cycling caffeine, because doing so can give you nasty headaches, but it should be done. Or, you can buy this bargain basement bulge-burner and avoid the issue. If you haven’t tried Guarana, get some. Your body will thank you.

LIVER TABS: If you’re looking for a muscle building blast, you can try a number of anabolic concoctions. Some are great, like Legal Gear’s Product X Transform (but not for $10). I write about what I know, and if I haven’t tried something, I won’t recommend it. I do know liver tabs – they’re an amino acid explosion for the serious bodybuilder. They’re inexpensive and have massive B vitamins.

CHROMIUM PICOLINATE: This is another supplement that has fallen out of hype with the exercise world, which means it doesn’t have bazillions of dollars being spent on it, which means the price has fallen drastically, and you can pick it up for cheap. Get it, it works to help stabilize blood sugar levels, and metabolize carbohydrates.

CREATINE: You mean you haven’t tried it? Don’t you know it can fuel muscles for longer, more intense workouts? It is possible to get a jug for under $10. Start with 20 grams for five days (4 tsp.), and take 5 grams each day after.

LIQUID FLAX OIL: Despite alleged claims by Barry Bonds, flax seed oil will not give you the ability to hit 700 home runs, or make 60 million dollars. But here’s what it will do. Flax seeds and oil work, and they are inexpensive. They act as a natural pain reliever, balance hormone levels, and are an amazing source of omega 3 and omega 9 fatty acids.

YOHIMBE: The energizer that the bunny wishes if he had discovered; maybe he could get those batteries out of his back. Many have talked about Yohimbe for its help as the (ahem) “natural Viagra”. Since this is a family article, we won’t go into that aspect of it, but here’s the scoop on it: it increases blood flow to all parts of the body as a vasodilator, which means better pump during workouts. It’s also a great thermogenic (I’ve heard claims that it’s the ONLY thermo that will help remove fat from women’s hips and thighs), and it’s a great energizer. If you stack this with Guarana you had better watch out. This is my favorite homemade combo since the ban on Ephedra. Watch the dosage late in the day, as it will keep you awake. It may give you shivers if you take too much at once (some supplement companies have capitalized on this very aspect), so dose it low and slow.

HAWTHORNE BERRY: So many of the supplements we take can affect blood pressure, mostly by raising it. It’s great for controlling Blood Pressure (and as an added benefit, lowers cholesterol). It’s a big deal in Asia for cardiovascular health. The good news is, we can get it for a great price right here in the states. If you use a lot of herbal stimulants or some of the remaining pro-hormones, or any substance that says it can affect your blood pressure, pick up Hawthorne. From experience, it really works.