Keeping your body and mind in peak condition takes more than just eating right and exercising: It often takes a proper dietary supplement.

Science has proven that getting enough vitamins and minerals in your diet is key to a healthy lifestyle, but that’s hard to do with food alone.

From magnesium to creatine and nootropic brain supplements—there’s a product out there for whatever health issue you hope to address or whatever niche of your health and wellness routine you hope to bolster.

What Are the Benefits of Taking Dietary Supplements?

You won’t add 50 pounds to your bench press just because you take a supplement, but it might help you burn fat more efficiently, get a better night’s sleep, or stay sharp for your next exam. And that all counts. This extra boost could be just what you need to reach the next level of performance.

As the body of scientific research grows, supporting the importance of vitamins and minerals in a proper diet, so does the supplement industry. In 2019, the global supplements industry grossed $123.28 billion, according to Grandviewresearch.com, and that number is expected to grow at a compound annual growth rate estimated to reach 8.2%.

Continuing weight management issues among the general population as well as increasing awareness of risks associated with cardiovascular disease are among several factors contributing to this strong outlook in the supplements market. That, and a positive consumer rating of the sports nutrition industry overall.

But when market growth is expected to be as strong as it is in the supplement industry, brands inevitably crowd the market.

Trends in the Supplements Industry

As of August 2020, top-grossing supplement brands include Maximum Human Performance, known for the HGH-booster Secretagogue-One. In 2020, the company brought in an estimated gross revenue of $19 million. There’s also Universal Nutrition, known for the Animal Cuts supplement, with an approximate gross revenue breaking the $48 million mark. Following that, there’s CytoSport, known for their weight-gain supplement Cyto-gainer and gross revenue of roughly $5.3 million.

In addition, new dietary and nutrition supplements pop up all the time, offering vitamins and minerals we didn’t even know we needed. Some of the most recent trends in the supplement industry include Vitamin D supplements, Vitamin D is linked with calcium absorption, immune system support, and reducing inflammation.

Sales of B-12 supplements are also predicted to grow. B-12 is a vitamin found naturally in meat, chicken, fish, and eggs. Since certain medications common for diabetes and acid reflux block the body’s natural ability to absorb this vitamin, many people pair a B-12 supplement with medications such as these to maintain a healthy diet. Sales growth is also expected for copper supplements, an increasingly popular way to support the body’s nervous system and overall metabolism.

Evidently, the supplements industry offers a lot of choice, with more products hitting the market every year. How do you know which supplement is right for the health issues you might face or the area of your health and well-being you’d like to support? The best thing to do in this situation is to talk to your health care provider.

For now, let’s take a look at some of the broad overarching categories in the supplements industry: supplements to support workout and exercise and supplements to support diet and nutrition.

What Kind of Dietary Supplements Should I Take?

Since many supplements fall into either workout support or diet and nutrition supplements, chances are the product you’re after can be found in one of these broad categories. In this section, we’ll further define these categories and provide examples of the kinds of supplements that are common in each.

Workout and Exercise Supplements

Workout and exercise supplements support muscle growth, the reason many of us exercise in the first place. These sorts of supplements are primarily defined as pre-workout supplements and post-workout supplements.

Pre-workout supplement formulas vary. Most boost performance during exercise and are delivered in powdered form. Common ingredients in these kinds of supplements include amino acids, B vitamins, caffeine, creatine, and artificial sweeteners.

A specific kind of pre-workout supplement is a BCAA supplement. One of the nine essential amino acids for humans, BCAAS account for 40% of the preformed amino acids required by mammals and 35% of the essential amino acids in muscle proteins.

Post-workout supplements are designed to increase muscle synthesis and help muscles recover after a workout. Two ingredients common in these supplements are glutamine and casein protein.

Among post-workout supplements, creatine supplements are also common. Found naturally in muscle cells, creatine increases lean muscle mass, builds strength, and helps muscles recover more quickly.

Diet and Nutrition Supplements

Exercise is only one part of a healthy lifestyle. There are supplements designed to support a healthy diet as well.

For example, keto supplements. Used by those on a keto diet, exogenous ketone supplements increase blood ketone levels. Those taking these supplements reach ketosis quicker, leading to rapid weight loss, which is the desired outcome of this popular diet.

Another popular type of diet and nutrition supplement is a magnesium supplement. A mineral crucial to several bodily functions, magnesium supplements help normalize blood pressure, keep bones strong, reduce inflammation, and regulate heart rate.

There are also supplements within this category called fat burner supplements. Though somewhat controversial, fat burner supplements are designed to help the body’s natural fat burning processes. Supplements like these contain ingredients ranging from caffeine to L-carnitine to green tea, each designed to boost metabolism and reduce fat absorption.

Other common diet and nutrition supplements include probiotics to support digestive health for both men and women, as well as protein powders.

Health and wellness aren’t just limited to the body. There are also supplements to support proper brain functioning, called nootropic brain supplements. While research is ongoing, nootropic supplements are thought to enhance executive function, memory, creativity, and motivation through a variety of ingredients.

Multivitamins for Men and Women

A sub-category of diet and nutriton supplements are multivitamins for men and women. Multivitamins for men are designed specifically for the metabolism of the male body, with the vitamins and minerals, as well as herbs, amino acids, and fatty acids, men need to stay healthy.

Just like multivitamins for men, multivitamins for women offer the vitamins and minerals women need, including things that women tend to lack in their diet but are vitally important, like folic acid, calcium, and vitamin D.

Now that you have a better idea of the broad categories of the supplement industry, let’s begin shopping.

How to Shop for Supplements

Ready to start shopping? Here are the best products across all the supplement varieties.

50 Best Pre Workout Supplements: Vegan, Keto, Sugar-Free, and More

Take a pre-workout supplement to increase your brain’s executive function, improve blood flow, and get the most from your workout. This ranking of the best pre-workout supplements separates fact from fiction about which supplement ingredients to look for and which to avoid, collecting the best pre-workout supplement brands all in one place.

40 Best Supplements — Protein, Magnesium, Probiotics

Some of the most popular niches in the supplement market include protein, magnesium and probiotics. In addition to those three, this ranking collects the very best BCAA, multivitamin, fat burner, creatine, and nootropic supplements all in one place, helping you make the most informed choice possible. It also explains what each supplement does and how to know which supplement is right for you.

Best Protein Powder

Protein is an essential macronutrient that everyone needs in a certain amount on a daily basis. Protein powders, popular nutritional supplements, build muscle, especially for those who struggle to get enough protein naturally in their diet. But even if you’re not looking to supplement your protein intake, a good protein powder is a quick and easy meal replacement for those on the go.

Frequently Asked Questions About Dietary Supplements

Still wondering which supplements are right for you? Let these FAQs help guide your decision-making process.

What Is a Pre-Workout Supplement?

Seeking additional information on the benefits of a pre-workout supplement? This article gathers everything you need to know about pre-workout supplements all in one place, going into detail about how this niche of dietary supplement boosts performance while working out. That’s whether you’re looking to increase strength and endurance, reduce muscle breakdown, or simply improve focus and energy. For even more information about pre-workout supplements, check out our ultimate guide.

How Long Does a Pre-Workout Supplement Last?

Nobody wants a pre-workout supplement to wear off before they even get to the gym. This thorough and comprehensive article answers all your questions about how long pre-workout supplements last. Pre-workout supplements will last you about an hour, so timing when you take them is vitally important. But there’s more to how long a pre-workout lasts than the time between when you take it and when you start exercising, including the strength of the supplement, caffeine tolerance, and hydration.

Are Pre-Workout Supplements Bad for You?

At RAVE Reviews, we’re all about telling you the truth. There are things related to the supplement industry to be cautious about, nowhere more so than with pre-workout supplements. This article tells you what you need to know about ingredients and negative side effects to pre-workout supplements, including immunity to the product, overstimulation, and artificial ingredients. We tell you what you want to see in the best pre-workout supplements, as well as what to stay away from.

How Do You Buy Fat Burner Supplements?

You’ve decided you’re ready to try fat burner supplements. How do you make sure you’re taking something that will actually work? The last thing you want is to invest in something ineffective—or worse—dangerous. This guide answers not only how to buy fat burner supplements, but which ingredients to look for and which to avoid, the best time to take a fat burner supplement, and how long it will take before you notice results.

How Do You Buy Creatine Supplements?

For those seeking a creatine supplement to enhance athletic performance, many questions may remain about how to choose a creatine supplement that does what it says it will do. This article defines creatine, explains what results to expect, and identifies who should and shouldn’t take creatine and why—everything you need to know to get the most from a creatine supplement.