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Generally speaking, a dietary or health supplement is a preparation that will usually take the form of a powder, tablet or shake. These preparations are developed to specifically provide the desired nutritional addition to your diet. Supplements can be developed to provide pretty much every type of nutrient there is, such as fatty acids, amino acids, vitamins, minerals and most commonly of all, protein.

Whether these supplements fall under the food category or the drugs category is something that has been internationally disputed. However, the Codex Alimentarius Commission, which is the UNs highest authority of food standards, agrees that any supplements containing dietary vitamins or minerals comes under the category of food.

Undoubtedly protein supplements are the most popular kind, with many different varieties. One variety of protein supplements are whey isolates, which usually contain Taurine for improved energy output, L-Glutamine for recovery and amino peptides for muscle growth & recovery.

A powdered protein supplement is often taken by bodybuilders. Usually, a powdered protein is taken before and after a workout, or to replace a meal. The idea behind this type of supplement is that a healthy flow of protein into the body allows for maximum repair and growth of muscle tissue.

Whey protein (as mentioned above) is most common type of protein. It is very quickly absorbed into the body and contains high levels of all essential amino acids. It is a mixture of globular proteins (soluble globe-like proteins) that have been extracted from whey, which itself is a liquid by-product of cheese production.

Another kind of protein is Casein protein (milk protein) and has particularly high levels of Glutamine (an amino acid that aids recovery). It also contains casomorphin, which helps the body absorb the amino acids over a longer time period.

There is a vegetarian alternative protein supplement, and that is soy protein. It contains all the essential amino acids and a type of phytoestrogen with weak estrogenic activity which can give greater testosterone levels.