There are many supplements on the market today which apparently can help those who take them to have a great workout. ZMA is one such supplement that I get asked about a lot. I’m not a huge fan of supplements as a general rule, but in the spirit of being a helpful personal trainer, my advice on ZMA (if you are interested!) is as follows.
ZMA is a post-workout supplement - Zinc Monomethionine Aspartate, Magnesium Aspartate and Vitamin B6 - used primarily by athletes, gymnasts, and bodybuilders. It is generally advertised as a 'recovery aid' that supposedly helps the body achieve deeper levels of REM sleep and also has an anecdotal reputation for also improving the libido of the person who takes it.
This could be down to the zinc in ZMA.
You generally take 3 capsules at the end of the day, before you go to sleep.
So, if you are interested in how well you recover from a strenuous workout, ZMA may be for you.
Though if you are interested in getting a good, restful and recuperative sleep, you may want to try bananas, milk and avoid alcohol, coffee or stimulants in the final hours before you plan on sleeping.