ZMA is known primarily for two things in the supplement world. Firstly for helping people meet their Zinc and Magnesium requirements. Secondly for its ability to enhance recovery and also improve sleeping patterns which also helps with recovery.
However I thought I would bring to your attention three other benefits that you may be unaware of and could be beneficial for gym and none gym goers.
ZMA to Boost Immune system
That’s right, this supplement can actually help you boost your immune system. The immune system is a network of cells, tissues and organs that work together in harmony to protect the body from “foreign” invaders, which can cause illness. This is because ZMA contains a healthy dose of Zinc, which we are all deficient of in our regular day to day diets. When we become ill, we become easy depleted of Zinc because it is one of the main nutrients your body uses to help combat common illnesses such as colds and flu. This is why supplementing a ZMA supplement is of particular importance when you are unwell. However prevention is the best cure so do not wait until you are unwell!
Fight against catabolism
For those who are aiming to build muscle, this is something that is feared and must be avoided. When your body goes into a catabolic state, it simply means that you will be losing your hard earned muscle. This is because your body and its muscle are breaking down in order to release energy. One of the benefits of ZMA is that it improves the protein synthesis process. The better your body is at protein synthesis, the better your body will be at remaining in a anabolic state (Muscle building state).
Could enhance hormonal profiles
This is something that all muscle builders want. Increased testosterone levels. When we have more natural testosterone, we are able to manufacture, maintain and repair more muscle tissue. A study was carried out at the Western Washington University regarding the effects of ZMA supplements. The study was carried out on 12 division II American football players who supplemented ZMA nightly during a two-month period. The 12 athletes supplementing ZMA had an increase in muscle gains and strength by 2.5 times their previous personal bests. Sports such as American football, rugby, bodybuilding and athletics are now starting to ad ZMA as a regular part of their supplementation.
Conclusion
The most common user of ZMA are the regular gym users and with good reason. Enhanced testosterone levels, greater recovery and the anti catabolic formula makes it a very worthwhile supplement. If you are not a gym goer, then the fact that this ZMA supplement could help you in the event of illness is a good enough reason to take this affordable supplement alone. ZMA has been apart of my supplement stack for three years now and I have never looked back. Whey protein and creatine should always be apart of a muscle-building stack. However ZMA is a great way to reinforce your diet and the benefits are clear to be seen.