For many people in the UK, 2022 has been a challenge. Not a day goes by without someone mentioning the word inflation or someone else telling you how much it cost them to fill their car up.
Like most industries, you may have noticed that the price of supplements has gradually increased over the last year, with many factors contributing to this. In this article, we're looking at why this is the case and offering our recommendations for some wallet-friendly supplements so that you can still benefit from the best supplement staples.
Table of contents:
Why are supplements so expensive?
Whey Protein
Creatine
Amino Acids
Health Capsules
Pre-workout
Why are supplements so expensive?
The rise in raw ingredient prices is one of the biggest factors driving the cost. Take Whey Protein, for example. The price of 1kg of Whey Protein Concentrate (WPC80) has increased by more than 100% from May 2021 to May 2022. As well as this, Creatine Monohydrate has increased by nearly 500% and is still climbing!
These price rises are driven by demand, outweighing supply. In a constantly growing market, with most of the world shut down during the pandemic, production of these raw ingredients reduced significantly, meaning there wasn't enough product to facilitate consumers.
Not only have raw ingredients impacted the price, but the cost of delivering these ingredients has also dramatically increased, with the price of Petrol and Diesel reaching record highs. For example, the price of a shipping container increased by 330% in the same period.
Further still, but not quite as damaging, the price of packaging has been creeping up too, whether that be your favourite protein powder tubs or your box of protein flapjacks.
The causes of price rises within our industry are endless, but we strive to bring you the best possible prices while still delivering great value and service.
1.Whey Protein
Protein is a vital nutrient that gives the body essential amino acids to build and repair muscle after a workout. Consuming protein will complement your training and help you get your desired results.
According to the NHS, the recommended daily amount of protein for an adult male is 50g. However, this doesn't consider your size, weight, or calorie expenditure.
A good gauge for an active person is to consume 1.2g – 1.7g of protein per kilogram of body weight per day. For example, if you weigh 80kg and live an active lifestyle, you should aim to consume 96g – 136g per day. Most protein powders yield 20g-25g per serving, which makes them such a convenient option.
Our best value Whey Protein and our recommendation of choice would be XL Xtra Whey Protein 2kg which includes 67 Servings per 2kg pouch, coming in at just £0.45 per serving.
- Creatine
Creatine is probably the most researched sports supplement on the planet.
Naturally found in muscle cells, it assists the body in producing energy during high-intensity exercise and heavy lifting. Only about half of your creatine stores come from the food you eat, so taking creatine powder daily is a great way to boost those creatine levels!
Again, with demand outweighing supply, the price of creatine has shot up over the past 12 months. However, despite the benefits creatine monohydrate delivers, it is still incredibly cheap for what it does.
Our current cheapest offering is CNP Creatine 250g, coming in at £0.26 per 5g serving.
- Amino Acids
Amino acids are known as the building blocks of protein. Amino acid supplements help to increase and maintain muscle mass. They comprise many of the body's cells, muscles, and tissues.
Essential amino acids cannot be produced by the body and must be consumed through foods. Amino acids supplements are therefore ideal for increasing your amino acid intake.
Again our cheapest option comes from the XL Nutrition range, whose BCAA 210g powder works out as £0.54 per serving.
4.Health Capsules
General well-being supplements can contribute to your overall health by using key vitamins, minerals, and nutrients. Well-being multivitamins are specifically formulated to provide your body with everything it needs to thrive and grow.
Optimum Health's capsule range quickly became our best-selling brand in this category. Based on the number of products in the range, there is something for everyone within this brand.
- Pre-workout
Pre-workouts are not for everyone, but demand for them has increased massively in recent years. It's probably the most diverse category within sports supplements. Whether you are looking for a bit of extra motivation or looking for your next high stimulant pre-workout, we've got you covered.
One of our cheaper and best-selling pre-workouts is the Applied Nutrition ABE which comes in at £0.73 per serving.
However, if you are a seasoned pre-workout taker looking for something a bit stronger, Efectiv ELITE comes in at £1.00 per serving and contains a wealth of stimulants (we'd recommend that you start with half a serving!)
It certainly didn't disappoint the Review Bros; these guys know their pre-workouts! Watch their in-depth review to hear what they thought of it.
Conclusion
Most of us can't escape inflation, but we can make conscious choices of what we buy and look for the best value in everything. Although costs of raw ingredients are rising and prices are on the up, by shopping our recommendations via the links above, there's no reason why you can't get all of the supplements you need at a wallet-friendly price!
Browse our full supplement range at Discount supplements today, and if you need more advice on any of our products, please feel free to contact us for advice either by the methods provided or via our site's Whatsapp feature on 07947835095.