Considering most people train less than 10 hours per week, that leaves a vast amount of time in what is known as the "recovery phase". As we train, we put our bodies under a significant amount of stress. This provides the stimulus required for adaptation and muscle growth, but its actually the periods between workouts where our bodies are repairing and rebuilding itself, especially during sleep. The rate at which we can recover is strongly affected by our age, stress levels, the amount of sleep we get each night and our nutrition. Recovery supplements can be a huge help in providing the body with the necessary nutrients required to speed up the recovery process. There are some fantastic recovery supplements available which include a number of key ingredients specifically included for this purpose. The main ingredients include Protein for rebuilding muscle tissue. Creatine for restoring energy in muscle cells. Glutamine which helps prevent muscle catabolism and enhances the immune system. HMB also know as Beta-Hydroxy Beta-Methylbutyrate, known to reduce muscle breakdown following strenuous exercise. Carnitine which helps to reduce exercise-induced muscle tissue damage and improve recovery of damaged tissue. And Anti-Oxidants which help to counter free radicals produced during exercise and prevent cellular damage.