With the world’s focus shifting to a much healthier lifestyle, people from all over the globe are exercising and eating better than ever before. Athletes and fitness fanatics of all ages are pushing their bodies to achieve insane results.
Apart from following a strict healthy diet that excludes toxic ingredients, people are incorporating different supplements into their daily consumption habits. Taking performance enhancing tablets and pre-workout supplements increase energy and endurance during gym sessions.
With the amount of false advertising going around online, it can be difficult to truly say whether or not a product is suitable for you. Or if it actually does what it claims to.
First, let’s understand the product a bit better.
What is a Pre-workout Supplement?
It’s a dietary supplement used by weightlifters, bodybuilders, and athletes to improve and enhance physical performance. Taking a pre-workout supplement can boost energy during gym sessions and even improve focus and motivation.
Learn more about the function of pre-workout supplements here: https://www.refinery29.com/en-us/pre-workout-supplements-effects-benefits
It can either be taken as a capsule, liquid, snack bar, or a powder that’s mixed with water or milk. Recommended time to consume the product is at least 30 minutes to an hour before working out.
Interestingly enough, pre-workout supplements have not been in the market for all that long. The first formula was created by Dan Duchain in 1982, it was called Ultimate Orange and became increasingly popular among body builders and professional sportsmen and women.
The downfall to the product in the late 1990s was the extremely active ingredient, ephedra, which caused some users to experience horrible side effects; strokes, cardiac arrhythmia, heart attacks, high blood pressure, and strokes.
Since then, many people were too scared to add any supplements associated with the Ultimate Orange into their workout routines. Luckily, chemists and scientists have developed performance enhancers over the last 30 years in order for them to be harmless for human consumption.
The result; high quality pre-workout supplements that have proven to be incredibly functional and supportive. Since the market is flooded with different brands claiming to create ‘the best’ product ever, it’s important to always have a deeper look at performance enhancers.
That is why we’ve consulted with experts on the matter, to discover the determining factors when it comes to purchasing the best pre-workout supplements. Looking at many online reviews and following expert advice, we’ve come to the following conclusions:
Ingredients are Important
To avoid any harmful side effects, consumers should first and foremost look at the ingredients. Manufacturers either make tablets, powders, snack bars, liquids, or capsules for consumption. Each of these products should have a detailed ingredient and nutritional information available.
Caffeine is one of the most common ingredients found in these products. Almost 86% of manufacturers incorporate between 100mg – 250mg in one dosage. Caffeine is a great source of energy and that is why so many manufacturers add it as a main ingredient. Furthermore, it promotes mental concentration, focus, and alertness.
It’s important to remember that the recommended dosage of caffeine is only 200mg per day (equal to 2 cups of strong coffee). So, you should make sure that you don’t overdo it, which can send in you in overdrive. Click here for transparent pros and cons of abusing pre-workout supplements.
DMAA also known as methylhexanamine is another common ingredient that acts as an alternative to caffeine. It decreases fatigue and helps the user maintain a strong performance throughout the workout session.
High levels of DMAA is considered as a banned substance according to the FDA. To avoid being banned from your favorite sport, you have to double check the DMAA content of your supplement, or rather opt for a product with caffeine and not DMAA.
Another common ingredient is Taurine. Some professional athletes take the supplement by itself to reduce recovery time and increase strength. Therefore, it’s a great ingredient to look out for in a pre-workout supplement.
Note that the recommended daily dosage of Taurine is 500mg – 2,000mg.
Creatine is a performance-enhancing chemical released naturally by the kidneys and liver. Creatine can be taken either to build muscle or increase strength. It’s an excellent ingredient within pre-workout supplements.
Note that the recommended daily dosage of Creatine is 5 grams.
Other ingredients that you can look out for that are not harmful are Beta-alanine (recommended daily dosage of 5 grams), Citrulline (recommended daily dosage of 6-8 grams), and BCAA(recommended daily dosage of 20 grams).
The nutritional facts should be available on the website and it will have a more in-depth description of all the ingredients.
The Brand Should Be Credible?
There have been many studies on the subject matter. Brands that invested time and money in the research have created excellent products that aren’t harmful to users.
It’s therefore incredibly important that you do your research on the brand you are considering. Check online and follow a credible Koala Freak review for some inside expert information.
If you haven’t seen anyone at the gym use or talk about the brand you are considering, then you should double check your consideration.
Credible brands and dispensaries will typically have an active online presence. Many users will have left reviews (of which most should be positive) and comments on it. Even better if someone shows you photos of results while using the product.
Recommendations from other body builders or gym junkies can also be considered. Veterans usually know which products work and which don’t.
How do You Feel?
Even if you’ve spent hundreds of dollars on a pre-workout supplement, you shouldn’t ignore your body’s response to it. Yes, some products work better for some than others, but if you aren’t feeling any positive changes, then you should let it go.
The proof is in the pudding (or in this case, in the shake). Stay aware of your body’s performance and whether you feel more energized or not. In the end, you have to do what best fits your physical needs.
Before buying tubs and tubs of product it’s important to consider and research the ingredients, the brand, and the proven results.
Pre-workout supplements might enhance performance only when they are added to
a very nutritious dietary foundation coupled with good hydration. Many studies on the effectiveness of a lot of these substances are conflicting except for caffeine and creatine.
It’s very true that you have to research carefully what you are buying as a doctor I know recently said that some nutritional supplements did not contain what they said on the label and others contained substances not declared on the label. It makes sense to only buy from a very reputable company.
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Thank you for the information I’m learning about weight gaining this really increased my knowledge about body and product/chemical nicely written.
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