{"id":9922,"date":"2016-06-21T18:10:59","date_gmt":"2016-06-21T17:10:59","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.bulk.com\/uk\/the-core\/?p=9922"},"modified":"2026-05-07T14:21:50","modified_gmt":"2026-05-07T13:21:50","slug":"nutrition-for-body-types-choose-the-supplements-that-are-right-for-you","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.bulk.com\/uk\/the-core\/nutrition-for-body-types-choose-the-supplements-that-are-right-for-you\/","title":{"rendered":"Nutrition for Body Types | Choose The Supplements That Are Right for You"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><em>We\u2019ve all heard about body type theory. But how does your body type affect the supplements you use? It\u2019s time to find out.<\/em><\/p>\n<h2>Body Types 101<\/h2>\n<p><em>The concept of somatotypes &#8211; body types &#8211; dates back to 1954 where it was set out in the book \u201c<\/em><em>Atlas of Men<\/em>\u201d, written by American psychologist William Herbert Sheldon.<\/p>\n<p>Sheldon proposed three somatotypes: endomorph, mesomorph, and ectomorph. He initially came up with these distinctions to predict people\u2019s mental characteristics, but also identified common physical characteristics. It\u2019s this aspect of somatotyping that the fitness industry still uses today.<\/p>\n<p>Which Somatotype Are You?<\/p>\n<p>Like all absolutes, it\u2019s not black and white. Most of us are some combination or two (or even three) of the somatotypes. But here\u2019s a guide:<\/p>\n<h3>Ectomorphs.<\/h3>\n<p>Ectomorphs are the \u201c<strong>hard gainers<\/strong>\u201d of the gym world. They are usually <strong>thinner, longer, and taller than others<\/strong>, with small bone structure, thin limbs, small wrists and ankles. They might struggle to put on weight and muscle, and find it very easy to lose weight. If they\u2019ve got muscle, they worked very hard to get it there (and live in fear of losing it). Ectomorphs tend to be thyroid dominant and may feel like they\u2019re running off their nerves a lot of the time (they\u2019re often sensitive to the catecholamines epinephrine and norepinephrine). Ectos tend to have a high carbohydrate tolerance.<\/p>\n<p>A good macro split for ectomorphs might be 25% protein, 55% carbs, 20% fats (regardless of numbers, definitely a higher carb, moderate protein, lower fat approach).<\/p>\n<h3>Endomorphs.<\/h3>\n<p>Endomorphs have a <strong>larger bone structure than ectos<\/strong>, with more total body mass and fat mass. Think powerlifter build. Endos are often <strong>very strong<\/strong>, but don\u2019t gravitate towards cardio (and the idea of endurance style cardio baffles them!) Endomorphs tend to be less naturally inclined to general activity than ectomorphs, which could be one explanation for their ability to lay down more body fat. They usually have a lower carb tolerance, a slower metabolism, and find it pretty easy to put on excess body fat (and find it difficult to lose it, too).<\/p>\n<p>A good macro split for endomorphs might be 35% protein, 25% carbs, 40% fats (in general, a higher fat and lower carb intake, with carbs being timed mostly around training).<\/p>\n<h3>Mesomorphs.<\/h3>\n<p>Everyone wants to be a mesomorph. These guys and girls <strong>put on muscle easily and respond well to training<\/strong>. They look muscular but athletic, and have a balanced physique and medium bone structure. If they stay active, they usually have a decent amount of lean mass and stay pretty lean, too. Mesos tend to be naturally testosterone and GH-dominant, which could explain their ability to build muscle and maintain low body fat.<\/p>\n<p>A good macro split for a mesomorph would be fairly balanced &#8211; try 30% protein, 40% carbohydrate, 30% fats.<\/p>\n<h3>Useful Supplements For Your Body Type.<\/h3>\n<p>It\u2019s important to eat the best macro split for your body type, and to pay attention to meal timing, too. But what about supplements?<\/p>\n<h3>Best supplements for Ectomorphs?<\/h3>\n<p>Since ectomorphs can struggle to put on weight, and often seem to be hard-gainers, they need <strong>calorie dense foods<\/strong>. They could benefit from a quality mass gainer as a protein choice. Ectos &#8211; stock up with <a href=\"..\/..\/foods\/nut-butters\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">tasty nut butters<\/a>, and try <a href=\"https:\/\/www.bulk.com\/uk\/products\/complete-lean-mass-gainer\/bble-clma\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Complete Lean Mass<\/a>\u2122 or <a href=\"https:\/\/www.bulk.com\/uk\/products\/informed-mass\/bpps-imas\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Informed Mass<\/a>\u2122\u00a0as a post-workout shake you can use throughout the day to get plenty of protein and carbs into your diet without having to shovel in a high volume of food.<\/p>\n<h3>Best supplements for Endomorphs?<\/h3>\n<p>Endomorphs can put on unwanted body fat easily, so they need to make sure their <strong>carbs come from quality sources<\/strong>. They shouldn\u2019t avoid fats completely, but consider <a href=\"https:\/\/www.bulk.com\/uk\/health-wellbeing\/essential-fatty-acids\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">EFAs<\/a>, <a href=\"..\/..\/cla-conjugated-linoleic-acid-softgels.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">CLA<\/a>, and <a href=\"..\/..\/organic-virgin-coconut-oil.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Coconut Oil<\/a> for supplemental fats with added benefits. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.bulk.com\/uk\/products\/super-strength-green-tea-capsules-450mg\/bpb-gt95-0000\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Green Tea Capsules<\/a>, or <a href=\"https:\/\/www.bulk.com\/uk\/products\/matcha-green-tea-powder\/bpb-matc-0000\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Matcha Green Tea Powder<\/a>, can support metabolic rate and encourage a little extra calorie burn throughout the day. In terms of protein, <a href=\"..\/..\/pure-whey-protein.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Pure Whey Protein<\/a>\u2122 will deliver the protein you need without extra carbs or fats, Whey Isolate will be the purest and lowest-fat option for you, and <a href=\"..\/..\/complete-diet-protein-advanced.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Complete Diet Protein\u2122 ADVANCED<\/a> will support your goals if you want to shed some weight.<\/p>\n<h3>Best supplements for Mesomorphs?<\/h3>\n<p>Mesomorphs will need to support their training with the best quality food they can lay their hands on. They should focus on <strong>quality sources of carbs, and supplements for power, performance, and recovery<\/strong>. Mesos will probably feel a lot of benefit from <a href=\"..\/..\/sports-nutrition\/creatine\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Creatine<\/a> and, if they need an extra boost for training, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.bulk.com\/uk\/products\/elevate\/bpps-elev\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">ELEVATE<\/a>\u2122 would be a great choice (it contains 13 pre-workout ingredients and is tested under the Informed Sport programme). <a href=\"https:\/\/www.bulk.com\/uk\/products\/informed-whey\/bpps-iwhe\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">INFORMED WHEY<\/a>\u00ae would be a solid choice as their post-workout, and Liquid Egg Whites could be a useful kitchen staple for adding extra protein to meals without fats or carbs.<\/p>\n<h3>Related articles<\/h3>\n<p>Keen to learn more about fitness and nutrition? We believe that every person, with support, has the right to transform their lives through fitness. That&#8217;s why we&#8217;ve put together of articles with expert advice, all to help you on your fitness journey. With topics including protein-rich recipes, <strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.bulk.com\/uk\/vitamins\">vitamins and supplements,<\/a><\/strong> explore more articles similar to this one.<\/p>\n<p><span data-sheets-value=\"{&quot;1&quot;:2,&quot;2&quot;:&quot;pull day workout&quot;}\" data-sheets-userformat=\"{&quot;2&quot;:769,&quot;3&quot;:{&quot;1&quot;:0},&quot;11&quot;:3,&quot;12&quot;:0}\"><a class=\"in-cell-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.bulk.com\/uk\/the-core\/4-ways-to-supercharge-your-coffee\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Supercharging supplements<\/a>\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 <a class=\"in-cell-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.bulk.com\/uk\/the-core\/coconut-protein-cake-recipe\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Protein cake recipe<\/a><br \/>\n<a class=\"in-cell-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.bulk.com\/uk\/the-core\/strongman-supplements\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Best strongman supplements<\/a>\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 <a class=\"in-cell-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.bulk.com\/uk\/the-core\/7-supplements-to-fight-tiredness-stress-and-fatigue\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Vitamins for energy and tiredness<\/a><\/span><span data-sheets-value=\"{&quot;1&quot;:2,&quot;2&quot;:&quot;pull day workout&quot;}\" data-sheets-userformat=\"{&quot;2&quot;:769,&quot;3&quot;:{&quot;1&quot;:0},&quot;11&quot;:3,&quot;12&quot;:0}\"><br \/>\n<a class=\"in-cell-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.bulk.com\/uk\/the-core\/maca-powder-benefits-uses-recipes\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Maca powder benefits<\/a>\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0<a class=\"in-cell-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.bulk.com\/uk\/the-core\/loaded-vegan-burger-recipe\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Vegan burger recipe<\/a><br \/>\n<a class=\"in-cell-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.bulk.com\/uk\/the-core\/heating-stability-of-whey\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Can you microwave protein powder?<\/a>\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 <a class=\"in-cell-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.bulk.com\/uk\/the-core\/7-quick-easy-high-protein-recipes\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Protein recipes<\/a><br \/>\n<a class=\"in-cell-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.bulk.com\/uk\/the-core\/protein-shake-before-after-workout\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Protein shake before or after workout?<\/a>\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0<a class=\"in-cell-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.bulk.com\/uk\/the-core\/5-vitamins-help-combat-tiredness\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Best vitamins for tiredness<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>We&rsquo;ve all heard about body type theory. But how does your body type affect the supplements you use? It&rsquo;s time to find out. Body Types 101 The concept of somatotypes&#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":10,"featured_media":15132,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":"","_links_to":"","_links_to_target":""},"categories":[352],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-9922","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-nutrition"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.bulk.com\/uk\/the-core\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/9922","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.bulk.com\/uk\/the-core\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.bulk.com\/uk\/the-core\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.bulk.com\/uk\/the-core\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/10"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.bulk.com\/uk\/the-core\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=9922"}],"version-history":[{"count":18,"href":"https:\/\/www.bulk.com\/uk\/the-core\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/9922\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":25400,"href":"https:\/\/www.bulk.com\/uk\/the-core\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/9922\/revisions\/25400"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.bulk.com\/uk\/the-core\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/15132"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.bulk.com\/uk\/the-core\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=9922"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.bulk.com\/uk\/the-core\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=9922"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.bulk.com\/uk\/the-core\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=9922"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}