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6 Best Supplements For Boxing: A Guide for Beginner Boxers

Supplements For Boxing

Boxing is a well-known combat sport that has been around since the first Olympic games in 776 BC, though many people box for fun and personal fitness.

No matter why you box, it’s a physically and mentally demanding sport with a variety of health benefits that make it appealing to a wide range of people.

However, boxing can be brutal on your body, which is why many people use supplements for boxing to improve exercise performance, recovery times, and muscle gain. But what are the best supplements for boxing?

Boxing supplements should contain proven active ingredients such as Whey protein, Creatine, Caffeine, Beta-Alanine, Fish oil, and CBD oil. Our favorite supplement for boxing is Dr. Emil Nutrition Lion’s Mane.

In this article, we’ll take a closer look at supplements boxers should take, what to avoid, how many supplements to take, and more.

Introduction

Although many people associate boxing with professional sports and Sylvester Stallone, it can be a therapeutic exercise for all kinds of people.

Whether you choose to box alone with a punching bag or with a coach or sparring partner, boxing practice is a great way to improve your physical fitness whilst challenging your mind and body.

Many boxing exercise programs involve footwork, punching drills, and conditioning exercises, such as running and jumping rope, aimed at improving overall fitness and coordination.

All this is a great way to get in shape, but it can be a grueling routine for competitive boxers, which is why many use supplements for boxing to stay in fighting shape.

Do Boxers Take Supplements?

Do Boxers Use Supplements?

While it’s possible (and generally recommended) to get all the nutrients you need from your diet, most boxers will use some form of dietary supplement to support their exercise regime.

Because boxing is a physically demanding sport, athletes are subjected to more physical stress (and injuries) than the average person, requiring a lot more calories and nutrients as a result.

To get all the calories and nutrients they need to support high-intensity training, many athletes use supplements for boxing as part of their daily routine or in preparation for fights.

However, supplements are no substitute for rigorous training, so you should carefully consider your fitness goals and dietary requirements before adding new supplements to your routine.

6 Best Supplements for Boxing

In recent years, the market for dietary supplements has exploded, and they are now an essential part of many athletes’ fitness routines.

Whether you want to boost your intake of a specific nutrient or take your training and performance to the next level, supplements for boxing can play a key role in getting the most out of your training.

Here are our recommendations for the best supplements for boxers:

1. Dr Emil Nutrition Lion’s Mane

Lion’s Mane mushrooms are promoted as nootropics, meaning they boost cognitive performance and focus while supporting your immune system.

Try these organic mushroom supplements to give yourself a little boost before training sessions, or read our blog on nootropic supplements to learn more about these so-called ‘brain boosters.


2. Vimerson Health Men’s Multivitamins

Although taking multivitamin supplements for boxing may not be the obvious choice, these supplements contain a wide variety of vitamins and minerals to keep you healthy.

Packed full of zinc, magnesium, and vitamins A through D to boost your natural energy levels, these Men’s Multivitamins have everything an up-and-coming boxer needs.


SNAC Nutrition Expedite Preworkout

3. SNAC Nutrition Expedite Preworkout

Marketed as an energy drink supplement, this powdered blend of Beta-Alanine, vitamin C, and energy-boosting compounds (including taurine) is sure to get you pumped up before a training session.

With a surprising 2g of sugars and 4g of protein per serving, these supplements definitely put the “energy” into “performance” energy, though they will raise your blood sugar levels, which you should be careful with.


Ancestral Supplements Grass Fed Beef Liver

5. Ancestral Supplements Grass Fed Beef Liver

Straddling the line between supplements and sustenance, these supplements are made with grass-fed beef livers, cooked and powdered to give you concentrated nutrients in a convenient capsule.

As well as being high in all the fat-soluble vitamins you need for an active lifestyle, these supplements support a keto diet, which helps promote lean muscle gain.


Men’s Multivitamin Supplements

6. One A Day Men’s Multivitamin Supplements

These multivitamins are specially formulated to support heart health, muscle function, and physical energy, so they have a lot of linked benefits for boxers.

Like the other multivitamins on this list, using these supplements for boxing has a wide variety of benefits both in and out of training and sparring, making them more desirable than specific supplements in a lot of ways.

Best Ingredients for Boxing Supplements

Best Ingredients for Boxing Supplements

Although there are hundreds of supplement brands out there, you should focus on supplements that contain one or more proven active ingredients, like:

1. Whey Protein

Most protein powders are derived from whey –  a by-product of cheesemaking – and contain all nine essential amino acids needed for muscle building, making them an excellent source of protein and one of the most popular supplements for boxing.

Furthermore, whey protein has been shown to increase muscle gain and promote satiety, helping you feel fuller for longer and avoid unhealthy snacks.

2. Creatine

Creatine monohydrate is one of the most researched supplements out there, and a wealth of evidence shows it to be beneficial for exercise performance, muscle gain, and muscle strength.

This powerful amino acid has a wide range of benefits, especially when taken with protein, which is why many supplement manufacturers include them together.

3. Caffeine

Caffeine is one of the most widely used stimulants globally and is effective in reducing fatigue, improving mood and boosting your reaction times.

Furthermore, caffeine is incredibly versatile and easy to use, whether you prefer home-brewed coffee or caffeine supplements for boxing as a pre-workout pick-me-up.

4. Beta-Alanine

Beta-alanine is a non-essential amino acid with surprising benefits for exercise performance and muscle strength, making it recommended for boxers.

However, some users report paresthesia (tingling on the skin) which can be reduced by taking beta-alanine supplements with a meal.

5. Fish Oil

Fish oil is high in omega-3 fatty acids and has a wide variety of benefits for general health and building muscle mass, making it a great all-rounder.

Most Americans could benefit from higher levels of omega-3, so we recommend fish oil supplements for boxing and general health. But don’t worry if you hate the taste, as there are tons of flavored supplements available.

6. CBD Oil

Cannabidiol (CBD for short) is derived from hemp and has anti-inflammatory effects that will help soothe your muscles after intense workouts.

What’s more, early research shows that CBD helps reduce anxiety and chronic pain, keeping you feeling better for your training sessions.

How Many Supplements Should Boxers Take?

Because no two boxers are identical, there are no one-size-fits-all supplements for boxing, and you may need more or less depending on your diet, exercise routine, and body composition.

For example, many competitive boxers train as often as three times a day in the build-up to a fight or competition, with each session involving strenuous exercises like weight training, sparring, and running

Lots of boxers use supplements to give their body the energy they need to perform in the ring and recover between training sessions or fights when training, so they may be right for your health needs.

It can be challenging to get all the nutrients you need from diet alone, so if you choose to supplement your diet, you should look for products that contain the following nutrients:

  • Protein: Essential for building muscle and is one of the most popular types of supplements.
  • Creatine: Helps to increase muscle mass, strength, and exercise performance.
  • Caffeine: A stimulant that increases alertness, mood, and motivation.
  • Multivitamins: Helps you get all the essential nutrients that you may not get through diet.
  • CBD Oil: An effective anti-inflammatory that can reduce muscle soreness after exercise.

What Are the Best Nutrients for Boxers?

A balanced diet is an essential part of a healthy lifestyle, and you should do your best to eat plenty of fruit, vegetables, protein and carbs to support your body’s needs.

Furthermore, vigorous exercise requires a lot of energy and nutrients, so boxers need to eat more to keep up their energy and stamina in the ring.

While there are lots of differing opinions on ideal diet plans for boxing (various sources promote plant-based, paleo, and intermittent fasting diets), the basic building blocks of nutrition remain the same.

Although you can get all of these vitamins or nutrients from diet alone, many athletes use supplements for boxing – protein powders are commonly used – to guarantee they can get the nutrients they need, including:

Healthy Fats

While many people who box for exercise are looking to lose weight, fat is an essential part of your diet and has more calories than carbs or protein, providing you with lasting energy.

Healthy fats are found in nuts, seeds, oily fish, and fatty meat, so try to include these foods in a balanced diet to get plenty of energy for boxing

Carbohydrates

Carbohydrates are high in calorific energy that fuels your muscles, especially complex carbs such as whole grains and beans that can provide energy throughout the day.

If you struggle to find the energy to stick to your exercise routine, consider adding more carbs to your diet before turning to supplements for boxing.

Protein

As the building block of muscle cells, protein is essential for repairing and building muscle and can even aid weight loss since it takes longer to digest than carbs or fat.

If you’re looking to build muscle mass, you need to eat plenty of protein from sources such as meat, eggs, tuna, peanut butter, and beans or protein powder.

What Supplements Should Boxers Avoid?

Supplements to Avoid for Boxers

There are lots of supplements for boxing on the market, and while most of them can help give you an edge during training, some aren’t just ineffective but dangerous.

To help you stay safe when boxing, we’ve created a shortlist of some of the most unnecessary (or dangerous) types of supplements that boxers should avoid, such as:

Weight Cutting Supplements

Weight-cutting – the process of rapid weight loss before a sporting event – is common in professional combat sports, as competitors must weigh within a certain threshold to compete.

However, this is a dangerous practice, and many athletes end up severely dehydrated as a result, so we recommend you do NOT use weight-cutting supplements as a replacement for responsible weight-loss programs.

Anabolic Steroids

Steroids are widely known to boost strength, muscle mass, and endurance, but they increase your risk of cancer, heart and liver disease, and even infertility, leading the US to heavily restrict them.

Not only are anabolic steroids illegal without a prescription, but they are banned from most major sporting events, so athletes who use anabolic steroid supplements for boxing will be disqualified or worse.

Testosterone Supplements

Testosterone (T) – the male sex hormone – is responsible for muscle growth, energy, and mood, with low levels linked to weight gain, depression, and infertility.

While healthy T levels are essential for general health and building muscle, testosterone supplements can increase your risk of heart attacks, so you should try to increase your levels through lifestyle changes, such as losing weight and exercising regularly.

Creatine (sometimes)

Creatine is effective at promoting muscle gain and improving your exercise performance, but it can cause weight gain and bloat, due to water retention.

This bloating is harmless but makes it much harder to lose weight, especially if you’re working towards a weigh-in before a boxing match.

Water retention puts you at a higher risk of dehydration, so you should completely avoid weight-cutting supplements for boxing and be careful to stay hydrated.

Frequently Asked Questions

Should boxers take creatine?

Creatine supplementation can be beneficial for boxers and it is not illegal in boxing or any other sport. It has been shown to improve strength, muscle mass, and performance in high-intensity exercises.

Do boxers take pre-workout?

Many boxers do take pre-workout supplements to enhance their energy, focus, and performance during training sessions. These supplements often contain ingredients like caffeine and amino acids.

What vitamins did Mike Tyson take?

It is not publicly known specifically which vitamins Mike Tyson took. However, like many athletes, boxers often take a range of vitamins to support their overall health and performance, including vitamins like B-complex, vitamin C, and

Should boxers drink protein?

Yes, protein is important for boxers to support muscle recovery and growth. Consuming protein after workouts helps repair muscle tissue.

Conclusion

As with any sport, there are no easy shortcuts to becoming a better athlete, so while these supplements for boxing may not make you a better fighter, they will help improve your muscle gains and make it easier to put in the training you need to meet your goals.

Whether you’re a professional or just starting out in boxing, remember the nutritional tips and recommendations in this article to give you an edge in the gym and the boxing ring.

However, these supplements aren’t suitable for everyone and you should always ask your doctor before using a new supplement, as some can be harmful in larger doses.

But no matter what supplement or workout routine you use, remember the fundamentals of healthy exercise:

  • Stay hydrated
  • Eat a balanced diet
  • Don’t overexert yourself
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Written and Researched by

SupplementsYouCanTrust is made up of passionate health writers dedicated to providing reliable information on supplements and vitamins. With backgrounds in nutrition, medicine, and research, our team brings a diverse range of perspectives and expertise to the table.
Dr Wasim Khan

Medically Reviewed by

Dr. Wasim Khan’s areas of expertise lie in understanding the role of dietary supplements and vitamins in healthcare. His in-depth knowledge allows him to provide comprehensive advice and help you make informed decisions about your nutritional intake and supplement usage.

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