Many athletes and bodybuilders regularly take some form of sport supplement to get the best results out of their training regime. A variety of products to aid with sports performance, fat loss, muscle gain and rest and recovery time are available.

Although they've become fairly popular with even casual exercise enthusiasts, how they work is rarely clear from the product names. For many of us the names of chemical compounds and organic substances like Creatine or Amino Acids are fairly alien and can be a little confusing. Even the benefits of protein drinks are unlikely to be immediately obvious to you.

So, just how can sport supplements help you build muscle?

The majority of products simply supply your body with extra amounts of substances that are naturally created in the body. A prime example can be found in the the most popular ingredients of sports supplements: protein and creatine.

The two substances are often combined in 'protein drinks'. Essentially, protein is what your body makes muscle out of and repairs cell damage with - and all exercise is ultimately temporary tissue damage. Powdered protein drinks contain high amounts of the substance and as a sport supplement, they help you build muscle by providing immediately available 'building blocks' just before or just after exercise - this means your body can repair itself immediately.

Creatine is often included in protein drinks but also comes in a much wider variety of products. Basically this is an organic acid that supplies energy to your muscle cells for short burst of energy. This can help you go further in your weight training, with studies suggesting that it can benefit strength, energy, muscle mass and reduce your recovery time. It is usually included in protein powders as 'Creatine monohydrate', a crystallised distillation.

One variation on the sport supplement approach is the 'meal replacement product' (MRP). MRP's are consumed in the place of a whole-food meal and are designed to encourage weight loss whilst providing the body with all the ingredients it needs to build muscle. Generally, MRP's are high in protein, low in fat, have a moderate amount of carbohydrates and contain a wide variety of vitamins and minerals.