Which types of supplements are the best to take for boxing training? Boxers want to gain lean muscle mass, but they don't necessarily want to bulk up or gain weight. Boxing is about strength, speed and fluidity, not about having the largest muscles. Some of the greatest boxers of all time never so much as picked up a weight to train with, such as Muhammad Ali. Of course, we all can't be blessed with his skills and natural talents. So when training for boxing today, it's important to tighten up your physique, and gain muscle mass and strength, while avoiding building too much muscle. So which muscle building supplements are the best for boxing training and gaining strength?

There are many different types of supplements that can be beneficial for boxers or people training in boxing. Again, I can't stress this enough, boxers shouldn't be trying to pack on tons of new muscle mass. Boxers won't to lean out their physique, strengthen their muscles and build lean muscle mass. This will keep you quick and make you stronger, and will also prevent you from lifting yourself up into entirely new weight classes!

Best Supplements for Boxing and Strength Training

Glutamine: Glutamine is actually the amino acid that is most commonly found in your muscles. That means it's very important to muscle growth and muscle repair. Even with it being so common in your body, you still may need more of it to keep your muscles in their best condition. What does glutamine do?  Glutamine increases the speed and quality of muscle repair while limiting damages to muscles during working out and during periods of rest. Glutamine will also help to keep your muscles properly fueled during a workout, enabling you to work out longer and harder.

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Arginine: Arginine is another amino acid that boxers should consider taking as a supplement for building lean muscle mass. Arginine is multifunctional, but one of its strongest benefits for strength training in boxing is that it helps ward off free radicals. Free radicals can damage your muscle cells, so having arginine in good supply in your blood helps keeps your muscles healthy.

Whey Protein: Boxers don't want to put on weight, but they still need protein to keep their muscles strong. That's why whey protein comes in handy. Whey protein is isolated protein that you can mix into a protein shake or into a bowl of cereal. The benefits are that its extremely low in calories and it's an easy way to ensure you get the protein that you need. After a hard day in the gym, a quickly made whey protein shake is a great way for boxers to easily fuel back up. It can also provide an energy boost an hour before a workout.

Antioxidants: Antioxidants are found in many different sources and can help you improve overall body health and muscle functioning. Some of the best sources for antioxidants include green tea, acai berries and other berries and fruits. You should incorporate them into your diet but you can also buy antioxidant supplements that will give you a strong dosage very easily.

Find a full listing of and purchase the best supplements for boxing training here.

Which Supplements to Avoid When Boxing

Boxers should stay away from all weight gain supplements, which are essentially just calorie bombs. Boxers should also stay away from any kind of supplement promising to build tons of new muscle in a short amount of time, or promising to increase your muscle size. The bigger your muscles are, the more restricted your punches will be in the ring.

Somebody in boxing training should want to be quick and agile, not bulked up. So you should take supplements like the amino acids and protein listed above to help you build and maintain lean muscle mass, rather than bulking up and gaining weight.