Boosting your exercise routine with the right pre-workouts is vital if you want real progress. Find out what the best pre-workout is for better performance.
It’s time to start your workout but you’re feeling tired and unmotivated. What do you do?
Taking pre-workouts seems to be the answer if you want to give your athletic performance a boost.
According to a study in the Journal of the International Society of Sports Nutrition, combining pre-workouts with HIIT workouts is very effective.
HIIT stands for high-intensity interval training and involves doing short periods of all-out work followed by short periods of active rest.
However, it’s important to know how pre-workouts affect your body before going down that route.
What are pre-workout supplements?
To get the best out of your workouts, you can’t just jump into them cold.
Fueling yourself properly is essential to get all the benefits you’re looking for and that’s what pre-workouts are designed to do.
Pre-workouts come in many forms (pills, shakes, meals, etc.) but they’re all meant to increase focus and boost your energy levels.
The most common way to take pre-workout supplements is by mixing it with a drink and take it before a workout (usually 30 minutes beforehand).
What are some pre-workout ingredients?
Preworkouts usually contain caffeine, sugar, and other stimulants that will boost your energy during workouts.
When looking through the ingredients list of your supplements (as you should), make sure that it doesn’t have too much caffeine.
Yes, some caffeine is necessary to raise those energy levels, but too much can cause insomnia, anxiety, and high blood pressure among other issues.
Most people shouldn’t experience adverse effects from their pre-workouts and any side effects should be mild.
If you’ve never taken pre-workout supplements, it’s best to start in small doses and slowly increase them so you can gage their effects.
The following are some of the more common ingredients found in preworkouts.
BCAAs
BCAAsBranch chain amino acids (BCAAs) can increase strength and boost endurance.
They work by supporting protein synthesis and maintaining cell energy.
B-Vitamins
Some important B vitamins include vitamins B1, B2, B3, B5, B6, and B12.
They all play important roles such as supporting blood production, promoting healthier skin, and helping with energy production.
Creatine Monohydrate
This is one of the most popular supplements for fitness-focused people and it’s no wonder why.
Creatine can help improve performance and increase muscle power during workouts.
NO2 Boosters
Supplements that boost your nitrogen dioxide (NO2) levels such as arginine and citrulline can act as vasodilators.
In other words, they expand your veins and arteries, which makes it easier for blood to circulate throughout the body and efficiently deliver nutrients.
L-arginine Plus is one of the best arginine supplements on the market, combining the power of arginine and citrulline together.
Taurine
This particular supplement is found in various animal meats such as fish, turkey, and chicken.
The foods with the highest amounts include shellfish (scallops, mussels, and clams).
Taurine is a sulfonic acid that can help fight oxidative stress and contributes to the metabolism of fats.