You can find thousands of articles discussing muscle breakdown and how to slow down the process during an intense workout or how to recover quickly after a prolonged session. It all comes down to natural processes whereby muscles obtain the energy and protein needed to work efficiently and maintain mass. In the muscle the two are intricately entwined – energy and protein.

During a workout when you are stressing the muscles, cortisol is produced. The cortisol leads to muscle protein breaking down into amino acids which enter the bloodstream. The amino acids then synthesize glucose in the liver for energy. Naturally, if cortisol levels are too high there will be an excess of muscle breakdown.

A Matter of Preservation

The muscle breakdown process is complex, but it is clear that controlling the cortisol production is one of the best ways to prevent muscle breakdown. Fortunately, that is easy to do by taking specific supplements which directly combat the breakdown process. In fact, there are varieties of supplements which can limit cortisol production and provide a number of other health benefits.

One of the primary supplements known to prevent muscle breakdown is glutamine. Glutamine is an amino acid found in muscle tissue. It plays a critical role in the synthesis of protein and so can offset some of the effects of elevated cortisol levels experienced after intense workouts. The more glutamine available to the body, the better able it is to combat the muscle breakdown process.

Other important supplements which can prevent muscle breakdown include a host of vitamins and minerals. For example, vitamin C is a powerful antioxidant and fights free radical damage in the cells throughout the body. Healthier cells work more efficiently and are better able to do their job which in the case of muscles is to produce energy. But vitamin C can also reduce the time it takes for the muscle to rebuild connective tissue.

Other essential vitamins which can prevent muscle breakdown include vitamin A and the vitamin B-complex. Vitamin A assists with the building of muscle tissue. The vitamin B-complex promotes a healthy cardiovascular system, which supplies oxygen to the muscles and assists with the digestion of muscle-building protein obtained through diet.

Essential fatty acids also work to prevent muscle breakdown. The Omega-3 and Omega-6 fatty acids are used by the body to build strong cell membranes among other benefits. The stronger cells results in stronger body tissue and organs including the muscles.

Don’t Rely Just on Diets

Relying only on diet alone for nutrient balance is difficult when you exercise regularly. This is true for both the average but regular exercise, and the competitive athlete. It is more a matter of degree than anything else, because each person experiences various levels of stress in the muscles which results in the cortical production.

Unless you faithfully record your nutrition plan and the nutrients consumed, it’s hard to know you are giving your muscles the right supply of amino acids, vitamins, minerals and other elements needed to prevent muscle breakdown. And elements such as the Omega-3 and Omega-6 fatty acids are obtained through diet and supplements and are not synthesized by the body.

There is really only way to insure you are giving your body the nutrients it needs to manage your workout. That insurance is in the form of dietary supplements.