While energy drinks are a popular staple among avid gym goers, these products carry significant drawbacks in the form of additives and unpleasant side effects. A nootropic pre workout supplement can give you a boost of clean energy without the crash, and it may be the healthy alternative you’ve been looking for.
In a world recovering from the COVID pandemic, conscientiousness toward health has risen for the sake of longevity, motivating an increase in exercise. This has inspired a market for biohacking enhancements to sustain our increased ergogenic lifestyles. Unfortunately, a paradox lies in the enhancement of choice for many gym-goers today.
The mass consumption of energy drinks as a pre-workout supplement is due to the powerful energy they bring. Energy drinks augment performance but bring along unwanted side effects. For the sake of longevity and to meet the health goals intended in your exercise adoption, we will discuss the negative side effects of some ingredients in energy drinks and introduce several natural, nootropic pre workout alternatives.
Benefits of a Nootropic Pre Workout Supplement is an original (AthleticInsightNews) article.
Caffeine and sugar:
The drawbacks of energy drink ingredients
Caffeine is a natural component derived from a vast array of plants. It is popularly ingested in coffee and is the most consumed psychoactive drug in the world. Natural as well as synthetic caffeine is added to energy drinks to increase their stimulant properties. Up to 400 milligrams (mg) of coffee daily is safe for healthy adults according to recent research, which is roughly the amount of four cups of coffee or ten sodas. When digested in moderation, caffeine may enhance cognitive function, including alertness and wakefulness. One study revealed a positive correlation between caffeine and performance enhancement in endurance athletes.
Natural caffeine is considered a nootropic pre workout. The problem lies in overconsumption; when the caffeine content in energy drinks can range from 50 mg to 505 mg per can or bottle. The FDA enforces a caffeine limit on food and drink products. However, energy drink manufacturers can sidestep the caffeine limit allotted for beverages by classifying their products as a supplement, resulting in easy overconsumption.
This may lead to insomnia, creating a problematic cycle of over-caffeinating to combat tiredness which then causes sleeplessness. The negative side effects of insomnia may hinder muscle recovery as well as the reparation of micro tears and injuries experienced while exercising. Evidence also shows that 250mg of caffeine may create elation, while 500mg increases irritability, anxiety, and jitteriness.
In the United States, the average adult consumes approximately 17 teaspoons of added sugar in a day, with the recommended daily intake being 12 teaspoons. Energy drinks contain an average of 14 teaspoons of sugar per 473 ml can. High sugar intake has been associated with an increase in heart disease, the leading cause of death worldwide. Animal studies show that high fructose consumption may cause leptin resistance and therefore decrease hunger cues. Due to the rapid production of insulin following overconsumption of sugar, which causes blood glucose to decrease, energy levels may drop as quickly as they arrive, commonly known as a sugar crash or hypoglycemia.
Nootropic pre workout alternative:
1. L-theanine with caffeine
An example of an effective natural nootropic pre workout is L-theanine. L-theanine is a natural, non-essential amino acid found in green tea leaves that is incredibly effective in reducing mental and physical stress, enhancing cognitive function, and boosting sleep quality. When coupled with caffeine, it may help cultivate focus without jittery overstimulation. This combination can affect chemicals in the brain, including serotonin and dopamine, to instigate stress relief without the commonly associated drowsiness.
Nootropic pre workout alternative:
2. Natural herbs and roots
Another natural nootropic pre workout is ashwagandha, a medicinal herb used in Ayurveda. Studies show that ashwagandha may raise your energy by increasing your body’s resilience to mental and physical stress and alleviating fatigue during exercise. In a study of elite cyclists, those who ingested ashwagandha could cycle 7% longer than those who were given a placebo.
Another natural nootropic pre workout is Panax ginseng, an herb derived from a root localized in Korea, China, and Siberia. One study of this herb found that athletes who consumed Panax ginseng over several days used less effort to complete the same physical tasks and had a faster rate of recovery of their muscle force in comparison to the athletes who did not consume Panax ginseng.
Nootropic pre workout suggestions
The over-saturation of the media regarding energy drinks for ergogenic use can make finding natural pre workout supplements difficult. One effective and natural nootropic pre workout product available on the market is QUANTUMiND by Evolvere.
The founder of this company is Neal Thakkar. After reaching sobriety from an addiction to Adderall and Xanax, Neal understands the dangerous slope that begins with craving the immediate energy provided by products like energy drinks. He created QUANTUMiND to help facilitate the improvement of the brain, body, and mind naturally and safely. QUANTUMiND includes the natural ingredients listed above as well as a host of others that work together to optimize mitochondrial function and reduce oxidative stress. This product offers many other benefits that promote a healthier brain, helping to optimize your energy and bodily function even after your workout.
The promotion of increased mental alertness and physical performance from energy drinks is accurate. But these beverages only produce short-term benefits that couple with long-term, unwanted side effects. The lack of regulation of these products pushes the boundaries of a healthy overall lifestyle, creating a contradiction in their use as a pre workout supplement. Natural ingredients produce organic energy without causing a crash after your workout. They promote the quality of your mental health outside the gym walls.
Further Reading for Additional Reference:
PubMed: “Energy Drink Consumption: Beneficial and Adverse Health Effects”
Medical News Today: “What are the pros and cons of drinking coffee before a workout?”
Research and Markets: “Energy Drinks Market- Growth, Trends, COVID-19 Impact, and Forecasts (2022-2027)”
Very Well Fit: “How Energy Drinks Impact Your Workout”
Important Note: The information contained in this article is for general informational purposes only,
and should not be construed as health or medical advice, nor is it intended to diagnose, prevent, treat, or cure any disease or health condition. Before embarking on any diet, fitness regimen, or program of nutritional supplementation, it is advisable to consult your healthcare professional in order to determine its safety and probable efficacy in terms of your individual state of health.
Regarding Nutritional Supplements Or Other Non-Prescription Health Products: If any nutritional supplements or other non-prescription health products are mentioned in the foregoing article, any claims or statements made about them have not been evaluated by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, and such nutritional supplements or other health products are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.
