Deciding which sports supplements, if any, you want to buy, can mean sifting through hundreds of ads, websites or products on the shelf. Different products are also created to help with different athletic goals, such as losing (or gaining) weight, building muscle mass or increasing endurance. So you have to carefully consider what your taking and what it's supposed to do for you. The following information about sports supplements will help you to narrow down your search to find the right products for your purposes.

You should always keep safety in mind when choosing sports supplements. Remember that products labeled as sports supplements aren't strictly regulated and can make all kinds of claims about the benefits. Many of the ingredients found in certain products are not well tested, or have been shown to have side effects. The best policy is to be cautious and research any ingredients you're not familiar with. If there are any issues about a particular product or ingredient, you should be able to find lots of information on it online. The bottom line is to verify everything for yourself, and also keep in mind any issues you might have in relation to various sports supplements, such as any allergies or health conditions. Today sports supplements can be purchased in many different stores, as well as online. If you shop online you usually have a greater selection to choose from, and you can also shop for bargains. When shopping online, it's best to look beyond advertising and also do research such as seeking out reviews written by customers. When you read reviews, you can get some objective information about which sports supplements have really helped people. If there's a store you trust in your area, they may be able to help you choose a supplement that's right for your needs.

Many sports supplements come in the form of energy or nutrition bars. Whereas once you'd only see energy bars in health food stores, today they're sold everywhere, including the internet. There are nutrition bars that are high in protein, and many contain vitamins, minerals and amino acids. You should read the list of ingredients in an energy bar to determine how healthy it really is. Energy bars that contain added sugar are best avoided. There are some truly high quality energy bars on the market, and these will be made with primarily raw foods and all natural or organic. Some energy bars, of course, are made for particular purposes in mind, such as weight gain bars, but even with these you want to get your calories from a quality source. Sports supplements, then, come in many forms and perform a variety of functions. Some supplements provide you with nutritional support such as vitamins, others help you gain or lose weight. The above pointers on sports supplements, combined with your own experience when you take them, can help you find the right products.