Choosing the right pre-workout supplement is as important as choosing the types of exercises you’re going to be doing during your workout session. This is because the essential aim of using a pre-workout is to give your body the boost it needs to power through some of your more rigorous training sessions, especially if you’re working with a goal in mind and want to hit that sooner.
Just like your diet, your pre-workout will aid you in achieving your fitness goals faster. That’s why it’s important to choose one that’s inclusive of all the ingredients that will enable you to have a good workout.
There are numerous pre-workout brands out there, some of which may even contain harmful elements that can affect your growth in the long run. To avoid using the wrong supplements, it’s vital that you do your individual research before choosing which supplement you’re going to go for.
In this article, we’re going to help you make this decision by giving you all the main pointers you need to consider when choosing a pre-workout. Now let’s get started.
Table of Contents
1. Ingredients your pre-workout should contain
When choosing a pre-workout, make sure it consists of the following ingredients, as these are the important ones that will give you the energy you’re looking for.
L-Arginine
This compound helps you by increasing your blood flow and also the nutrient delivery to all your cells. This will give your muscles a good push forward to power through long hours of training, and will also leave you feeling energized rather than drained and tired. If you’re feeling a little weak, tired, or low on energy, the L-Arginine components in your pre-workout will act like a booster to instantly give you the energy you need.
Caffeine
This ingredient will give you the mental sharpness and wakefulness that you need to make the most of your workout session. It acts like a quick pick-me-up for your brain and body, by stimulating you and reducing any signs of fatigue or tiredness that you might have. For instance, there are certain types of c4 pre-workout supplements that have been proved to increase the cognitive functioning of the individual if it has been consumed an hour before the workout.
Beta-alanine
This ingredient is used by professional bodybuilders and athletes who train for several hours a day, and is especially helpful when it comes to heavy weight lifting. It is used to improve muscle performance, so if you plan on lifting a lot of weights or doing resistance training, then you need a supplement that contains this element.
2. Ingredients your pre-workout shouldn’t contain
There are also some harmful ingredients that many manufacturers include in pre-workouts. Some of the most common ones which you should avoid are:
- Sugars and sweeteners – they may make your drink taste good and also seem to give you a quick boost of energy, but are extremely damaging to your health in the long run.
- Too much caffeine – some pre-workouts consist of mostly caffeine. While caffeine is safe and useful when taken in the right quantity, this doesn’t mean that you should overload your body with it. It can impact your health adversely in the long run, and also give you an addiction to it.
- Any ingredient that isn’t approved by the FDA – if the Food and Drug Administration has not approved of any of the ingredients, be sure to avoid it as it may consist of ingredients that could damage your growth and health.
3. Don’t believe online reviews
Even if you see products that have the best reviews online, be sure to do your own research before choosing a pre-workout, because you need to be aware of what you’re putting into your body. Even if the supplement seems to be working wonders for everyone else, prolonged usage of harmful ingredients can set you back in the long run.
