A general health or dietary supplement is a preparation, usually in the form of a tablet, powder or shake, developed in order to provide nutrition specific to that which your body is lacking, whether due to insufficient dietary nourishment, or a natural deficiency. Supplements can provide nutrients like minerals, vitamins, fatty acids or amino acids.

There is international disagreement as to whether these supplements fall under the category of food, or drugs. Supplements providing dietary minerals or vitamins are recognised by the UNs highest authority of food standards (the Codex Alimentarius Commission) as a food item.

Probably the most common type of supplement is protein, but there are many, what you might call sub-categories within protein. For example, whey isolates, which usually contain amino peptides for muscle growth & recovery, Taurine for improved energy output and L-Glutamine for recovery.

Bodybuilders often consume a powdered protein supplement, the essential tools for building muscle. Protein powder, generally speaking, is usually taken immediately before and after a workout, or instead of a meal. The theory behind taking this type of supplement is that having a regular intake of protein allows for optimum growth and repair of muscle tissue.

Whey proteins (as mentioned above) are the most commonly used kind of protein supplements. It gets absorbed into the body very quickly and provides you with high levels of all essential amino acids. Whey protein is a mixture of the globular proteins found in whey itself, which comes as a by-product of making cheese.

Another variety of protein is Casein (milk protein) and contains high levels of Glutamine, which helps recovery. Another substance Casein contains is casomorphin, which aids the body in soaking up amino acids over a longer period of time.

Soy Protein can also be concentrated into a supplement. It contains all the essential amino acids, and is a vegetarian alternative protein. Soybeans also contain isoflavones, which are a type of phytoestrogen, which have a weak estrogenic activity, to enhance testosterone levels.