Pre-workouts cover a fantastic array of supplements, quite obviously taken before working-out to maximise results! Choosing a Pre-workout can be very daunting, especially if you turn over the tub to peruse the ingredients list! At first glance it can appear to just be a terrifying list of nonsense chemicals, which is completely understandable. So here we go, I'm going to lay out a number of the most common ingredients, and try to explain their role in the Pre-workout, and their effects on your body!
First of all there's the king of the stimulants, of course.. it's caffeine. Caffeine has lots of fantastic benefits to your workout. It is brilliant for improving strength and power, whether lifting weights or performing explosive movements. It is great for endurance sports and also for RPE. (Rate of perceived exertion.) You can have caffeine in a cup of coffee before workout, sure, but for a larger dose, or for a great stack with other brilliant ingredients, turn to a pre-workout.
Next there's Beta Alanine. Beta alanine's primary functions are to increase exercise capacity and decrease muscle fatigue. It is very much an endurance ingredient, in terms of muscular endurance, by allowing you to perform more repetitions. You'll know if your pre-workout has Beta alanine if you feel a tingling feeling, especially in your face. This is acute paresthesia, which is beta alanine's effect on your central nervous system. It's nothing to be concerned about, though!
Creatine is a very important supplement, and is often found in good Pre-workouts. Creatine is a brilliant muscle-building supplement, aiding your body with growth and recovery. It is debated when the best time to take Creatine is, due to it's mixed benefits. I personally use Creatine throughout the day, but it is certainly great to take before a workout as it acts as a kind of energy unit amplifier. Creatine can bolster your ability to perform bursts of speed and energy, so it is fantastic for power and weight lifting.
Now we're onto Amino Acids, but more specifically, L-Arginine. The amino acid L-Arginine changes into nitric oxide in the body. Another way of describing Pre-Workouts is often “Nitric Oxide Boosters”, so it's needless to say how L-Arginine can improve your workout! Nitric Oxide boosters are vasodilators, meaning they relax the inner muscles of your blood vessels, improving blood flow, allowing more oxygen to reach your muscles for performance. Also we're going to look at L-Citrulline. L-Citrulline is a by-product of the body-s conversion of Arginine into Nitric Oxide. It helps to rid the muscles of ammonia before it can induce fatigue in the muscles. It can also be converted by the body to L-Argentine
Finally there's L-Taurine. Taurine is found in many energy drinks as well as Pre-workouts. It has many benefits including cardiovascular health! Exercise can deplete skeletal muscle Taurine stores, so it is important to supplement Taurine to prevent this by taking it pre and/or post workout. It is useful for improved focus as well as increased strength! It's main benefit to pre-workouts, though, is that it increases muscle cell volume, boosting muscle hydration and muscular function. It goes without saying that improved muscular function if fantastic for a good workout.
To conclude, Pre-workouts can have a tremendous effect on your body, and can act as a brilliant addition to your supplement cabinet by enhancing your performance in difficult workouts, aid the beginning of your recovery process, and keep you focused. Hopefully this article has helped you to learn about some of the key ingredients in Pre-workouts, which may make them appear less daunting in future! Be sure to research any further ingredients if you are unsure!
