5 Best Supplements for Calisthenics 2023 (Backed by Science)

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Are you looking for an effective way to speed up your progression in calisthenics? 

Can supplements really help? 

Are they really worth it?

I get you, I was in the same situation back then when I relied only on my food as my main source of fuel.

But was it enough…?

Don’t get me wrong I’m not saying that you shouldn’t follow a good meal plan or doing such thing is a useless endeavor that won’t get you anywhere.

To be honest I’m highly recommending to do exactly that. 

But what if there is a better way…

What if you can easily get the maximum out of every meal and workout you do…

A certain way that can boost the efficiency of your hard work and help you get better results…

I know that this probably sounds like a fairy tale but it’s actually 100% true.

When I bought my first supplements and used them for a while I was quite surprised of how better results I got in certain areas. 

Actually including calisthenics supplements into my diet helped me a lot.

With the help of the right supplements I managed to quickly consume enough protein, calories, vitamins and minerals for my daily needs.

In addition to that, I also gained a lot of weight, size, muscle mass and got a nice boost of energy before my every workout.

Here’s what I achieved with proper training, eating and good supplements:

As you can see supplements do work and can really make a huge difference in results.

Let’s see which ones I personally use and why they can help you…

Hi there my name is Bozhidar and I’m the dude from the main picture that is pointing towards my personal supplement stack.

I highly recommend you to read this entire post till the end because in the next couple of paragraphs you are going to learn:

  • What are the 5 best supplements for calisthenics that I personally use
  • Why they work so well
  • Why science supports them

But that’s not all…

In addition to that this guide is packed with great value and many tips, you can use straight away.

Ready to get jacked, ripped and more muscular?

Good!

Let’s get rolling.

In a hurry?

If you don’t have the time to read my entire article I highly recommend you to take a look at what I find to be the most important supplement you must have.

The protein powder below I’m currently using is called Optimum Nutrition Gold Standard and it’s amazing.

My protein powder

Click here to check my protein’s latest price on Amazon

I really like it because it’s cheap, tastes well and it’s packed with 24 grams of high-quality protein, 5.5 grams of BCAAs and 120 calories per dose with only 1 gram of sugar!

These numbers make it perfect for daily use and a nice addition to your current eating. Click here to check it out.

With that being said before I show you my supplements let’s start with this simple, but really important question…

Do you need Supplements for Calisthenics?

No, you don’t really need supplements in order to see results and progress but if you do have some extra money to spend and want to speed up the whole process, don’t be afraid to buy supplements. They are proven to help and are worth the money.

Here’s a good example I will use to explain to you the importance of supplements:

Let’s say your body is represented by a sports car.

This is your body

At this moment your favorite sports car is parked away in Alaska literally in middle of nowhere…

But you want you to drive it and go to Mexico (your goal) where you are going to pick a sexy senorita.

In order to do that you have to cross a lot of distance.

We are talking about thousands of miles of mountains, deserts, and highways.

Luckily for you, you are given 2 choices you can get from Alaska to Mexico:

  • Option 1: You can use dirt roads filled with rocks, huge holes, and mud that pass through many mountains and hills (this is your normal meal plan containing only food)
  • Option 2: You can choose the straight and flat highway that passes through the whole country (meal plan + supplements). 

Which road is going to take you to Mexico faster? 

Of course, you can still choose the dirt road and get there but it’s going to be a rough ride, you are probably going to broke down your car and it’s going to take way longer to arrive.

What will happen to your car

And when that happens there is a huge chance that your future wife is going to run away with some other rich guy… (Dang!)

I hope now you have a clear idea and understanding of what role does supplements play in your progress and why you should use them. 

Now let’s get a little more specific and scientific on that matter.

Here’s a quick list of some things different supplements can help you with:

  • Improve your recovery process and helps your body heal faster. [1]
  • Give you more energy. [2]
  • Make you stronger and provide you with more endurance. [3]
  • Increase your muscle mass. [4]
  • Gain more explosive power. [5]
  • Help you burn more calories and lose weight. [6]
  • Help with muscle soreness [7]
  • Preserve your current strength and muscle mass [8]
  • They can save you time by not have to cook and prepare foods.
  • With supplements, you have an easy and fast way to get enough protein, vitamins, and minerals for your daily needs.
  • Save a lot of money on food.
  • Boost your overall progress and results.
  • and much more.

As you can see taking the right supplements comes with ton of very useful benefits.

But which products are the most important ones?

Here are my top 5 best supplements for calisthenics I use every day.

Top 5 Best Supplements for Calisthenics You Must Use

Before I share with you all my supplements I want to tell you that they are not ordered by importance but I do find all of them to be very valuable and useful in their own ways. 

Don’t worry everything is backed by scientific studies so you won’t have to take my word for it.

Here’s a quick preview of all my supplements I’m going to talk about.

Here are my Top 5 Supplements for Calisthenics I use every day:

PreviewProductType
1Optimum Nutrition Gold StandardProtein Powder
2Legion Recharge Creatine
3Evlution BCAA EnergyBCAAs
4Vintage BlastPre-Workout
5Vintage Build Post-Workout

Ready to get to the interesting part? Let’s go!

1. Protein Powder 

My protein powder

Click here to check my protein powder on Amazon

Why do you need to take protein powder?

Including protein powder in your diet can bring you a lot of benefits.

For starters getting enough protein is an essential part of recovery [9] meaning you will feel way better before your next workouts if you consume enough of it. Which isn’t very easy if your only source is food.

Too…much…food…

Protein is also responsible for maintaining and increasing your muscle mass and strength [10] and without consuming the right amounts no matter how much energy and time you put in your workouts you won’t see the results you want.

Protein powder does also have a positive effect on your overall physical performance [11] which if used properly is going to lead to faster progress. 

But the best part is the powder like form.

Because of that this supplement is extremely convenient to take and it really helps you hit your daily protein daily easily.

You don’t have to cook, prepare or preserve meals.

And if you get your hands on a decent product that taste good you are one step closer to beating sugar cravings without having to consume unhealthy foods ever again!

According to science and common sense powder is a fundamental supplement for calisthenics every person needs to have in their diet.

Recommended Protein Powder I Use:

Optimum Nutrition Gold Standard – Best Protein Powder for Calisthenics

My protein powder

Click here to check its latest price on Amazon <<

My experience and opinion about it

If you are looking for a very affordable and at the same time quality protein powder you won’t any mistake if you choose Optimum Nutrition Gold Standard.

This protein tastes marvelous and it’s packed with high-quality protein per dose. 

We are talking about 24 grams of protein per serving coming from good sources – whey isolate, concentrate, and peptides.

You can easily trust that the quality is going to be on point because this product is made from one of the industry’s giants.

From my experience I can tell that I haven’t tried bad products from them. 

One of the reasons why this protein powder is my favorite is that it does also contain good amounts of amino acids (BCAAs) (5.5g.) per dose so you don’t have to spend extra cash to buy them separately. 

This detail increases the total value you get in return.

This powder does also has low number of calories (120) and sugar per serving (only 1 gram).

Those number makes it an excellent addition to any meal plan. 

Another thing I like about this protein powder is that its formula doesn’t use any banned or dangerous additives. Everything is made from natural and harmless ingredients so there won’t be any side effects on your overall health. 

I’ve used it for months now and I haven’t seen any negative changes in my body and health.

It’s also good to mention that this powder doesn’t contain gluten so if you are gluten intolerant and are seeking for a good product this may be a nice fit.

I and many other customers like the taste and I have to say that there aren’t any problems mixing it with other liquids. 

I usually drink mine with water (when outside) and milk when I’m at home.

When you put it in water it doesn’t leave lumps or taste like sand.

In my opinion, this protein powder does have all the needed ingredients to help you build muscle, strength and boost your physical performance.

The high amount of protein does also helps you to meet your daily protein needs if that’s a current issue you have. 

Overall this is one of the essential and most important supplements you can get for calisthenics. 

Here’s a little more info on the Ingredients you get per dose:

  • Protein: 24 g.
  • Calories: 120 
  • BCAAs: 5.5 g.
  • Sugar: 1 g.

What I like:

  • With every scoop, you also get a nice amount of BCAAs which saves you money.
  • A great way to add additional protein into your diet in an easy-to-digest way.
  • Very tasty with good mixing abilities. It comes in 4 different flavors to choose from.
  • It provides you with very good macronutrients – a high amount of protein, low calories, and a low amount of sugar.
  • Produced by a famous brand that has many years behind its back.

What I don’t like:

  • Not very good return policy if you have quality issues.
  • The product formula has recently been changed and some customers do not like the new taste. I personally don’t have a problem with that.

Final Thoughts:

Protein powder is my favorite supplement and I believe it’s a must-have for anybody who is serious about calisthenics. The ON’s protein tastes good, has a nice amount of protein, mixes well, and is made from good ingredients. And of course, there are thousands of happy customers worldwide that also recommend it. It can surely help you progress so check it out.

Click Here To See This Protein’s Latest Price on Amazon <<

2. Creatine 

My creatine

Click here to check my creatine on Amazon <<

Why do you need to take creatine?

Creatine plays a very important role in your progress and it’s really good for helping you to improve performance during your workouts [12] and provide you with the additional energy [13] that is going to help you push those last reps that are going to make the difference. 

Adding creatine in your diet can also help you become more durable throughout your training [14] and does also helps you build more muscle and strength.

It also has positive effects on weight loss too because of the extra energy you get. [15]

Including creatine into your diet can also speed up your recovery process [16] meaning you can train more often without burning out easily.

As you can see there are a ton of good reasons why you should add this supplement to your nutrition.

Recommended Creatine I Use:

Legion Recharge – Best Creatine for Calisthenics

My creatine

Click here to check my creatine on Amazon <<

My experience and opinion about it

This creatine is produced by a big and trustworthy band so you shouldn’t have any issues regarding quality and customer service.

I really like Legion and find that most of their products are made with decent ingredients and have nice prices. 

With Legion Recharge you are getting 60 doses in total which to be honest is a lot and if you do the math you will see that the price per dose you get is very affordable. 

I have chosen to use this creatine because it’s made from useful ingredients that are going to improve your energy, endurance, and strength. 

Speaking of ingredients I really like their product because it’s made from only natural ingredients (natural sweetener, natural colors, and flavors).

I don’t know about you but I do really care what I put inside my body and how it’s going to affect my health so natural products are the way to go.

With Legion products, you can be sure that you won’t consume any bad or dangerous substances that can harm you. Another good thing about their creatine is that it doesn’t contain any lactose, gluten and it’s keto-friendly. 

And to be honest it does taste really good and mixes well with most liquids.

I really like to combine it with my protein powder and a little milk and the flavour is amazing.

If you are curious about the flavors Legion Recharge comes in 4 naturally produced flavors – strawberry (my favorite) , fruit punch, watermelon and for the people who want it simple – unflavored

Another good thing to know is that all Legion products are made in the USA, are 3rd party tested and do come with a 90-day return policy

In my opinion this is an overall good product that does exactly what it’s supposed to do – to give energy, improve performance and help with the recovery.

Here are the ingredients you get per dose:

  • Total servings: 60
  • Creatine: 5 g.
  • L-carnitine: 2.1 g.
  • Calories: 0

What I like:

  • It does contain enough creatine and other 2 very important ingredients that do really help with recovery and performance. 
  • It has a very good price per portion and it’s going to last a while.
  • The mixture tasted good and it’s made from natural ingredients.
  • It’s great for people intolerant towards lactose or gluten.
  • Manufactured in the USA and backed up with nice return policy and customer service.

What I don’t like:

  • It may need a little longer mixing
  • The unflavored version is not very good.

Final Thoughts:

If you are looking for a good and affordable creatine powder for calisthenics you can’t go wrong with Legion Recharge.

I do believe this product is the best one I’ve personally used and it does really deliver to you all the benefits you want to have from this type of product.

It tastes good and it’s going to last you a decent amount of time. In my opinion, this creatine is totally worth it.

Click Here If You Want To Check Legion Recharge’s price on Amazon <<

3. Branched-chain amino acids (BCAA’s)

My current BCCA’s

Click here to check my BCAA’s latest price on Amazon <<

Why do you need to take BCAA’s?

It is proven by science that BCAA’s have a big impact on muscle growth [17] so consuming enough amino acids on a daily basis is also going to help you with muscle soreness [18] and protein synthesis [19].

They are also going to help you preserve your hard-earned muscle mass by stopping your body from using its own muscle mass as energy by breaking it down [20]

So, in a nutshell, BCAAs help you get big and strong while protecting what you have already achieved.

Look at it as a type of shield. 

Recommended BCCA’s I Use:

Evlution BCAA Energy – Best BCAAs for Calisthenics

My current BCCA’s

Click here to check my BCAA’s latest price on Amazon <<

My experience and opinion about it

I really like these amino acids because they do really work and are made by a highly reputable brand (Evlution Nutrition) that has excellent customer service. 

The price per serving is reasonable and you also get a good amount of BCAAs per portion.

In addition to that, you also receive a lot of very important vitamins which is really helpful because if you are like me it’s not that easy to get them with food. 

Another good thing about Evlution amino acids and why I use them is that they don’t have any calories, carbs, or sugar.

And the best part is that this product still tastes pretty fine and has nice mixing abilities.

It doesn’t leave chunks and mess you have to clean every time you decide to make yourself a drink. 

Speaking of good taste what I really like about Evlution is that they offer you a ton of different flavors but unfortunately most of them are artificially made.

The good news is even so they are not dangerous for your health so you can go with the one you like. 

I personally really like the Blue Raz flavor so give it a try if you like.

Taking this supplement is also going to help you increase your energy for the workout because it contains natural energizers that are going to boost you up. 

That’s why I really prefer to drink it 20-30 minutes before my workouts and from experience have to say that having enough energy can really make a big difference in how you are going to perform with all your sets and reps. 

Oh and I almost forget…

Evlution BCAA’s also comes with a measuring scoop that is really helpful (I know how annoying it can be if you have to use your own). 

You won’t make a mistake if you decide to go for this product because it’s really well made, works as promised and is backed up by a lot of satisfied worldwide customers including me. 

Ingredients per dose:

  • Total Servings: 30
  • Calories: 0
  • BCAAs: 5 g.
  • Vitamins: B6, B12, and C
  • Caffeine: 110 mg.
  • Sugar: 0 g.

What I like:

  • Great price and value per dose.
  • Good taste and nice mixing abilities.
  • Provides a reasonable amount of energy for workouts.
  • A very big choice of different flavors to choose from.
  • Made by a highly reputable brand with many other good products.

What I don’t like:

  • Some of the flavors are made from artificial ingredients.

Final Thoughts:

If you are looking for a great bargain and good quality at the same time you should take a closer look at Evlution’s BCAAs.

This product tastes really good, provides a nice amount of energy, and does help to get bigger and stronger.

Even if some of their flavors come from artificial ingredients this is still a great product to try. I highly recommend you give it a try.

Click Here if you want to check Evluvo BCAA’s on Amazon <<

4. Pre-Workout 

My current pre-workout

Click here if you want to check my pre-workout on Amazon

Why you should use a pre-workout

It is important to use a pre-workout because most pre-workouts contain caffeine which is famous for giving you energy, focus, and boosting your physical performance [21]. They also contain more useful ingredients that can have a positive effect on your workouts. 

Me after taking a pre-workout

I’m talking about things such as beta-alanine, citrulline malate that can help with post-workout fatigue, increase endurance [22], and give you a better pump [23]

Some products even contain creatine and BCAAs so you won’t have to buy them additionally and pay extra.

Recommended pre-workout I use:

Vintage Blast – Best Pre-Workout for Calisthenics

My current pre-workout

Click here if you want to check my pre-workout on Amazon

My experience and opinion about it

I really prefer to use Vintage Blast instead of the other pre-workouts because the overall ingredients and quality are way better

The product’s quality is backed up by a very well-known and trustworthy brand so you get exactly what you have ordered. No false advertising and misleading promises.

Of course, you don’t have to believe me on that.

Just click the link above and see for yourself what thousands of people have to say about that. 

I’ve used this pre-workout for a couple of months now and I have to sayt that it gives me a nice energy boost and increased endurance.

So yes, this product works pretty good.

When it comes to ingredients you get a nice mixture of vitamins, minerals, caffeine, citrulline malate, and beta-alanine. 

As you can see this pre-workout does have all the essentials you need.

You can also be sure that everything you can see on the label comes from natural sources (sweeteners, flavors, and colors).

Everything.

That may not seems like much but in today’s world where almost everything is artificial and packed with things, we can’t pronounce I find this aspect very important.

You won’t find any calories or sugar within Vintage Blast and its worth mentioning that it also works great for people following the keto diet. 

There is no gluten, soy, or dairy inside making this pre-workout an excellent alternative for a lot of people.

I want to also add up that this product is made in an FDA certified facility which is a very good sign.

Please have in mind that most supplement companies can’t state such claims.

Here’s what you get per dose:

  • Doses: 20
  • Calories: 0
  • Caffeine: 150 mg.
  • Beta-Alanine: 1 g.
  • Citrulline Malate: 5000 mg.
  • Sugar: 0 g.

What I like:

  • Made entirely with natural and safe ingredients.
  • Third-party tested and approved by the FDA.
  • Doesn’t contain any gluten, soy, or dairy.
  • Provides good amount of energy and stamina for your calisthenics workouts.
  • Made by a proven brand with many other great products alike.

What I don’t like:

  • The price per serving could be a little higher compared to some products.

Final Thoughts:

I believe that having a good pre-workout is one of the best calisthenics supplements you can get.

Taking it right before your workout can really increase your intensity and productivity.

And trust me that can really have a great impact on your results. I advise you to take a closer look at Vintage Blast because it has great taste, natural ingredients, and works well.

Click here if you want to check Vintage Blast’s latest price on Amazon <<

5. Post-Workout 

My current post-workout

Click here if you want to check my post-workout on Amazon

Why do you need a post-workout supplement?

Drinking a post-workout is one of the most convenient ways to supply your body with all the necessary nutrients it needs right after the workout. That way you are going to boost the recovery process [24] and be fresh and ready for your next training session. 

The reason behind why so many people use this supplement is because many post-recovery drinks contain BCAA’s, taurine and glutamine which are essential ingredients for your recovery.

A good post-workout does also help with muscle soreness and fatigue. [25]

Filling your body’s depleted cells with essential nutrients is going to also have an impact on your muscle size, endurance, and strength

If you don’t want to carry post-workout food around with you anywhere you go then it may be a good option to use a post-workout drink. It does the same job in a much more convenient way. 

Recommended Post Workout Drink I use:

Vintage Build Post Workout – Best Post-Workout for Calisthenics

My current post-workout

Click here if you want to check my post-workout on Amazon

My experience and opinion about it

The final product I want to share with you is made from the same brand as the pre-workout. 

The reason behind this is that I really like the Vintage Build product line and find their products to work fine

To be honest, I don’t believe I’m the only one, just check how many sales and positive reviews they have and you will easily see why they are 2 times in my top 5 list and in my daily meal plan. 

Drinking this supplement doesn’t only taste good – it also has all the really important essentials you want to get so you can speed up your recovery process and get the maximum from your workouts. 

In every serving, you are going to get good amounts of BCAAs, creatine, and l-glutamine – the best trio when it comes to recovery. 

In addition to that all other included ingredients are harmless and come from natural sources so you don’t have to worry about GMO, fillers, artificial additives and other bad stuff you have probably never heard about. (and better not)

Even if this supplement is pretty sweet you shouldn’t be worry because all the sweetness comes from stevia and it doesn’t cost you any additional calories or sugar.

When it comes to taste and mixing properties everything is fine and you shouldn’t have any problem using water, milk or other supplements.

I really like to combine Vintage Build with a scoop of powder and some milk and I don’t have any issues.

With this product, you have 2 options to pick from – Lemon Lime or Fresh Berries (my favorite choice is the berries). 

And let’s not forget that you can sleep well knowing that this product is made in an FDA and GMP-certified facility in the USA.

I know FDA is not perfect but it’s still a lot better than having zero certificates.

This product is also a great option for vegetarians and people who follow the keto diet.

Ingredients per dose:

  • Total Servings: 30
  • Calories: 0
  • BCAAs: 5 g.
  • Creatine: 3 g.
  • L-glutamine: 2 g.
  • Caffeine: 110 mg.
  • Sugar: 0 g.

What I like:

  • Tasty, and full of beneficial ingredients that are going to boost your recovery process.
  • Does mix well and comes in nice quantity.
  • Doesn’t cost much and has everything you want in such a product.
  • It uses natural and safe ingredients and sweeteners. 
  • Certified by the FDA.
  • Has creatine and BCAAs inside. That way you don’t have to buy them separately.

What I don’t like:

  • The taste might not be good for everyone

Final Thoughts:

If you don’t like to meal prep and carry around meals with you every time after you finish a workout then using a good recovery drink like Vintage Build will do the trick.

To be honest this is my favorite post-workout drink and makes me feel a lot better after my calisthenics workouts.

It tastes good, uses natural ingredients, and has everything a good supplement should have.

And it has creatine and BCAAs included!

Click here if you want to check Vintage Build on Amazon

7 Things You Should Look for When Buying the Best Supplements for Calisthenics

Here are my top 7 things I highly recommend you check before you buy any type of supplement for calisthenics.

Doing that can save you a lot of money, time and most importantly preserve your health.

Here’s a preview of what I’m going to talk about:

  • What company is selling it?
  • Number and quality of the ingredients
  • Amount of sugar
  • Number of calories
  • Artificial flavor, colors, and preservatives
  • Taste and mixing abilities
  • What is the price per dose?

Let’s get more in dept.

Should you care about brands when it comes to supplements?

If you have searched for a supplement before you know that the market is really overcrowded and there are hundreds of different companies selling similar products at the same price.  That’s why it’s really important to care about the brand and the quality of the products you want to buy.

what company is selling the supplements

Don’t believe what they say and instead take some extra time and do research on the company you are interested in.

Doing that is going to provide you with additional information that may help you see the truth and find out if an organization is trustworthy or not.

A good company should really care about its customers by offering great customer service and a reasonable return policy.

Check what control they have over their product quality and if they have certificates, do 3rd party testing, etc.

Another thing good to know before you purchase a specific product is to find out how big and recognized is the company you want to buy it from. 

I don’t believe you want to be drinking something nobody has ever heard about and has no reviews or feedback. I won’t! 

Quick Tip:

Have in mind that even if a company isn’t very well known or famous that doesn’t mean its products are bad. Sometimes smaller companies have 10X better products than some well-known giants. Always strive for quality, not popularity. The reviews can help you with this.

What is the number and the quality and type of the ingredients?

Take the extra time and read the label to see what is included with your favorite supplement. Doing that will give you a rough estimate of how many ingredients are there and what are their names. They do your research to see if they are really beneficial or just artificial fillers.

Your goal should be to always pick the product which has the least amount of ingredients that you know and trust to be safe.

If you come across an ingredient you don’t recognise do a quick google search and educate yourself. Try to find what it is used for and what side effects it can have on you and your health. 

жълтоThere isn’t anything worse than eating or drinking something you don’t have a clue about. 

I know researching isn’t a pleasant and fun thing to do but it could be very useful for the future of your health. 

Here’s a quick video showing you some great tips you can use when you read a label:

The bright side of educating yourself is that you only need to do it once.

After you had found a calisthenics supplement you like and know what is made from you can easily continue to buy it over and over without worrying about its content. 

Is the amount of sugar per serving in supplements important?

Knowing how much sugar you consume is really important because in today’s daily life it has become very easy to overdose on sugar which may lead to lots of negative effects on your health. So it is a very good practice to read the label and find out how many grams of sugar you get per serving. 

amound of sugar in supplements

Here’s a quick video showing how exactly is sugar bad for your health:

My advice is that you pick a supplement that has low amounts of sugar to none.

Even if a product states that it doesn’t have any on the label (“0 grams of sugar”) that isn’t always true because many of the products use sugar in different forms

The most common types are stevia, artificial sweetener or sugar alcohol. That’s why I’ll repeat myself and tell you to read the label and google an ingredient you don’t recognize. Try to remember the other types of sugar and their forms and learn which ones are dangerous for your health.

Quick Tip:

If a supplement you like uses stevia as a sweetener that is a really good sign. Even if it’s not stevia make sure it does some from another natural source. That way you are going to enjoy the taste of your drink without consuming added sugar.

How many calories do supplements have?

When it comes to calories not all supplements are the same and it really depends on the type of supplement. While some may have 0 calories per serving others could provide you with somewhere between 100 up to 200. Others can have up to 300-400.

Consuming such high calories may be an issue if you are on caloric deficit and have to eat only 1500 calories per day. 

On the other hand, you may welcome a few extra calories because you are bulking and need to consume a lot more than that on a daily basis. 

No matter what’s your goal it is really important for you to know how many calories are you going to get per serving and how it is going to affect your meal plan. 

To make things easier for you I have already stated how many calories are there per dose of every supplement from the recommended options above.

Should you avoid artificial flavors, colors, and preservatives with supplements?

The cons are worse that the pros so its not really worth to consume a supplement that has a good taste and long expiry date but is jammed with shady ingredients and artificial additives you haven’t ever heard about. Always go for the natural choices instead.

Taking in such chemicals on a regular basis could be very dangerous for your health and could potentially result in side effects such as bloating, gas, stomach pain, diarrhea, and many other things I don’t want to write about. 

Of course, not all artificial ingredients are bad so before you make a decision about a specific one do research and find out.

Even so I still highly recommend you to go for a product that is using ingredients that mainly come from natural sources. 

I know that it’s very hard to find such products but give your best and try to get as close to that as you can. 

Some good news is that because of the complains some companies have started to eliminate unhealthy additives from their products and that’s why today you have a lot of good options to choose from.

Quick Tip:

Even if you have to pay more for a product because of the ingredients do it! I don’t know about you but my health is my number one priority and it’s far more important than money. 

Are the taste and mixing abilities really that important?

One of the worst things that can happen to you is to buy a supplement that tastes like chalk or can’t mix smoothly with milk or water. So yes, it is really important for you to use only supplements you like and can mix well.

That way you won’t have any problems to drink your daily dose for a long period of time.

As we all know some supplements have a great variety of different flavors while others are simply tasteless. 

Depending on how you are going to consume it – alone or with other ingredients you have to decide which one you prefer.

My personal preference is sweet flavor because I like to use supplements to satisfy my sugar cravings.

My simple rule of finding good flavors is this:

If a lot of completely different people say that something tastes good then it has a high chance of actually be something I may like

Yes, I know that this is not the case for everybody but I still believe doing this is giving you a better chance of hitting something you may enjoy drinking.

That’s why my recommendation is going to be to only buy supplements which taste is proven to be good by the majority of customers.

Another thing that may help you choose the right product is to simply pick a flavor you like to eat as real food.

Example: You really like chocolate so pick the brownie flavor, etc.

It is going to be helpful if you know where do your favorite flavors come from – natural sources or not. Obviously you want to choose the natural ones if you have the chance.

I have added the part about mixing because a while ago I had the bad experience of buying a supplement that didn’t go well with water and to be honest with you it was a huge pain in the neck. 

So if you don’t want to eat chunks of sticky powder-like substance every single day, make sure to find out how well does a specific supplement handles water and other liquids. 

You can do that by reading some of the reviews and try to find if previous buyers have such problems. 

The good part is that this is already done for you so if you don’t want to have chewing problems check out my recommendations above.

What is the price per dose? How much should you pay for a dose of supplements?

While there is not a specific number because each type of supplement has its own price range you shouldn’t go for anything above $1.50 – $2 per dose. If you do the math thats’ about $45-$60 per month.

I’m a hard believer that anything that has the capacity to speed up your results and help you achieve your goals and dreams faster is really worth the price. 

But how much is too much?

While I can’t give you a specific number there is a good range to follow. 

Depending on the supplement you want to use the price per dose may vary but for rough estimate go for something in the range of around $1-2 per serving. 

Here’s a quick example of how to calculate the price per dose for a specific product you like.

Example:

Let’s say that the product you like comes in 60 doses and it’s priced at $28 + shipping. In order to find out the number you seek, you are going to divide the price by the total number of doses.

$28 / 60 = $0.46 per dose.

Now that’s a steal.

As you can see calculating this is simple math anyone can do. If you are having trouble picking between 2 very similar products use that technique, find their numbers to check which one has the upper hand.

Like I said earlier I wouldn’t recommend you pay above $1.50 – $2 per dose because it’s not really necessary when you can get cheaper and better options.

You can get the same amount of ingredients and benefits from a cheaper price than that but always be careful because too cheap does come with a price. It’s usually the quality.

Final Thoughts

I really hope that at this point you have a clear understanding of why supplements are important and why they are worth it. 

I have given you my top 5 best supplements for calisthenics and showed you my personal recommendations.

If you have read everything till now then you should know what you should be careful about before you buy supplements and what to watch for. 

I know that all that information may be overwhelming for some of you but I really tried my best to help you the best way I can. 

If you don’t know which supplement to pick or you simply have enough money to choose only one product then my personal recommendation for you is going to be to buy yourself a protein powder. 

I find that it’s very difficult for a lot of people including myself to get enough protein regularly and using protein powder can help a lot. As you have learned this is also a vital part of muscle growth and progress.

Buying a protein powder is one of the best things you can do and if you decide to get only 1 supplement.

I highly recommend you to go for the Optimum Nutrition Gold Standard because it’s one of my favorite ones.

Click Here to check it’s the latest price on Amazon. <<

In my opinion, this is the best protein powder for calisthenics and it has everything you can really want in such a product.

Doing calisthenics is one of my favorite ways to train.

If you are passionate about bodyweight training and want to learn more feel free to check my Latest Guides and Best Equipment categories. You can find a ton of great and applicable content there!

But in case you want more related and helpful content about supplements and nutrition feel free to check these gems:

If you like my content please share it with your friends and don’t forget to leave a comment below. 

See you soon,

Bozhidar

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