ZMA
ZMA is a supplement that is often touted as a testosterone booster in marketing campaigns. But does ZMA really work, or is it just a bunch of nonsense?
Composed of a simple formula of Zinc, Magnesium, and Vitamin B6, ZMA is a relatively straight forward supplement. It is typically used by athletes to boost recovery time, and to achieve deeper levels of REM sleep.
One scientific ZMA study concludes that the supplement will benefit those who are deficient in either Zinc, Magnesium, or Vitamin B6 the most.
Some people who use a ZMA supplement regularly claim that it:
- Greatly enhances their quality of sleep
- Makes their dreams more vivid
- Helps them remember their dreams after they awake
One such ZMA review can be seen on the 6 Pack Fast Track YouTube channel:
The overwhelming consensus on ZMA supplements is they won’t boost your testosterone as much as taking steroids will, but it can definitely help boost your overall energy and hormone levels if you use it properly as a supplement. If building bigger muscles and boosting testosterone is your primary goal, you may want to also add a muscle building supplement to your stack.
Obviously nutrition should be your number one focus (and don’t forget how important Probiotics can be to break down and extract the nutrients in the food you eat) to get your daily quantity of Zinc, Magnesium, and Vitamin B6, but we do recommend supplementing where you can when it makes sense and your budget allows.
In order to maintain healthy testosterone levels, good quality sleep is absolutely essential. Anywhere from 6 to 9 hours of sleep per night is optimal, depending on the individual.
But the real key to getting good sleep is to achieve the REM state of sleep four times each night. For those of you who are unfamiliar with REM sleep, it’s the kind of sleep where you have very vivid dreams and typically your body is paralyzed during REM. Another characteristic of REM sleep is rapid eye movement – hence the name REM.
This is why taking a ZMA supplement, especially before bedtime, can be most beneficial.
Elevating your levels of Zinc, Magnesium, and vitamin B6 right before you hit the sack for the night can help you get significantly better sleep. Unless you’re eating a heavy meal right before bedtime, chances are most of your natural zinc, magnesium, and vitamin B6 has been depleted.
Overall, ZMA is an effective supplement to help you get better sleep, which in turn will boost your overall energy and vitality the following morning. Zinc is the primary component of ZMA that will directly work to boost your testosterone levels, while magnesium and vitamin B6 will help you get deeper more restful sleep – which we believe is the primary benefit of taking a ZMA supplement.
A Word of Warning on ZMA Side Effects
Some ZMA supplement manufacturers sneak a dose of melatonin into their formula; and technically if ZMA has melatonin in it, it’s not really ZMA anymore. Melatonin is a hormone that you’re body produces naturally in the evening. Often times taking a supplement that contains melatonin will lead to you feeling very tired and groggy in the morning, and over time, you’re body will also become dependent on it.
Taking melatonin regularly will likely lead to you being unable to fall asleep on your own without taking it. This is because your body will stop producing it’s own melatonin in the evening if you are ‘doping’ with external melatonin supplements.
Be sure to buy ZMA that does not contain melatonin!
ZMA itself does not lead to drowsiness in the morning; in fact, often times users feel more alert the morning after using a ZMA supplement.
One final word of warning we have for you regarding ZMA side effects is thirst.
Sometimes users of a ZMA supplement report that they wake up feeling very thirsty. This is likely due to the individual being in a state of minor dehydration before they went to sleep.
It’s not a bad idea to keep a bottle of water on your nightstand if you plan on taking ZMA before bed. This way you’ll be able to quench any thirst/dehydration issues you may encounter while taking ZMA.
If you’d like to try ZMA, grab a bottle from a reputable brand. We recommend this particular ZMA due to it’s positive user reviews and popularity in the marketplace. However, if you choose to go with a different brand of ZMA we encourage you to avoid a ZMA supplement that contains melatonin!