This question must have crossed your mind whenever you’ve thought about let’s start working out, or getting a gym membership- is pre-workout bad for you? Don’t worry, we know it feels like Neverland, but we’ll sort everything out for you.
The most asked questions about pre-workout are: Is it bad to take pre-workout? Is it worth the hype? And a lot more.
Some of you are already hooked on the pre-workout lifestyle and seeing amazing results, but social media or some unverified articles keep telling you to ruin your routine with the hypothesis that pre-workout has side effects long term.
Let’s dive into this and clear all your doubts, as we provide a comprehensive guide on what exactly is in the pre-workout that you’re consuming, what it's doing for your workout, and whether it's good or bad.
What Exactly is A Pre-Workout Supplement?
Pre-workout is one of the primary supplements to improve athletic performance. Pre-workout supplements are used to increase energy levels before workouts. These items are collectively referred to be multi-ingredient pre-workout supplements, or MIPS. There are numerous varieties, and each makes a unique claim about how to improve performance.
Caffeine, creatine, and amino acids are among the frequent components. They do this to increase focus, strength, endurance, and energy levels. The well-liked supplements are available in liquid, powder, and tablet form. It is often taken 15 to 30 minutes before working out.
“There is a difference between knowing the path and walking the path."
- Morpheus (The Matrix: Movie)
By knowing what is pre-workout, you can also take a deep dive into the guide to pre-workout and how you can use it.
Is Pre-Workout Necessary?
You can hit the gym without pre-workout as well, the disadvantage is that it'll be harder to establish a routine muster the same amount of energy every day and accomplish your short-term goals. A pre-workout doesn’t do any harm to your body - it boosts energy, focus and endurance. It will help you be more productive and, therefore, closer to achieving your dream physique. It is safe to take pre-workout every day.
Does Pre-Workout Cause Hair Loss?
Pre-workout does not cause hair loss, this is a complete myth, There aren't any reputed studies that say pre-workout is directly responsible for hair loss. One dosage of pre-workout pills does not contain a significant amount of caffeine, despite the most implausible studies claiming that too much caffeine may raise stress, which may lead to hair loss.
Is Pre-Workout Bad for Your Heart?
Pre-workout is safe for the heart in healthy individuals without underlying medical conditions. Because pre-workout supplements contain beta-alanine and caffeine, they cause a brief, safe increase in heart rate that is quickly followed by a return to normal in a few minutes.
Make sure you stick to the dosage which has been scientifically proven to be safe. If you have an underlying heart condition, taking pre-workout before checking it with your doctor can make your condition worse.
Is It Bad to Take Pre-Workout for Your Skin?
For most people, pre-workout is not bad for their skin, but some people might be allergic to a particular ingredient in their pre-workout which might cause a skin reaction, you need to check with your doctor, or even change your pre-workout that doesn't have the ingredient you’re allergic to might do the trick. Some people feel a tingling and flushing sensation on their skin which is temporary and harmless.
Is Pre-Workout Bad for Your Liver and Kidney?
Pre-workout is not bad for your kidney or liver, however, if you have a preexisting health issue related to those organs, we would recommend consulting a doctor before you decide to take pre-workout supplements. Although the levels of creatine and artificial sweeteners in a high-quality pre-workout are too small to cause any harm, misguided research attempts to claim that these substances pose a risk to your kidneys and liver. Just be sure to take the medication exactly as directed.
Is Pre-Workout Bad for You at 14 or 16?
Pre-workout is safe for teenagers at the ages of 14 and 16 to consume, All things considered, they should consume according to the prescribed dosage, moderation is key. It is recommended that teenagers take pre-workouts that aren’t too heavy on caffeine content and suitable for beginners rather than (High-Intensive training) workout supplements. Sports supplements are dietary supplements hence unregulated by safety authorities, so the product may contain banned compounds, allergens, or high amounts of stimulants.
Therefore, teens should only consume pre-workout from a reputable brand that manufactures using safe, high-quality ingredients. Additionally, look for cGMP (current good manufacturing processes) and ‘third-party tested’ markings on labels. Ultimately, A pre-workout is not bad for you, if your age is around 14 or 16.
Is Pre-Workout Bad for Your Teeth?
Although the effects of pre-workout pills vary depending on the ingredients and how your body responds, they aren't always harmful to your health. Caffeine, creatine, and other stimulants that can increase energy and performance are found in many. However, adverse effects, including sleeplessness, elevated heart rate, or digestive problems, could result from overuse or sensitivity to specific substances. It's critical to read labels, adhere to dosage recommendations, and seek medical advice when in doubt.
What are The Main Ingredients in Your Pre-Workout and Their Function?
Caffeine:
Caffeine is why most of us get work done every single day, it does wonders, doesn't it?
So it is safe to say that caffeine is effective.
It reduces fatigue in your body and gives you motivation to finish your workout. It also increases alertness, so you can focus better on the exercise you’re undertaking and stay sane in the gym. Usually, a safe amount of caffeine, taken 30-60 minutes before a workout, increases endurance for 1 to 2 hours.
Caffeine is dangerous if taken in too much quantity, What is too much quantity? Well, if you’re consuming around 375-975 mg of caffeine, you’re harming yourself. You could end up with an upset stomach, confusion and poor sleep.
The good news is- that a good quality pre-workout contains 85 to 300mg of caffeine, which is great.
Beta-Alanine
Beta-alanine is an amino acid that is naturally produced in your body. Beta-alanine also leads to the production of other elements like carnosine. Carnosine stored in your body is important as it maintains the pH level of your muscles. Therefore, the Beta Alanine in your pre-workout will delay fatigue, confusion, and muscle strain during high-intensity workouts.
Nonetheless, Beta-Alanine is a chemical that still requires research, which is why good quality pre-workouts only have them in smaller quantities.
BCAAs ( Branched-Chain Amino Acids)
BCAAs can be found in your daily diet as well. BCAAs are present in dairy, meat, and legumes, which is evidence enough that consuming BCAAs can't do any harm to your body. They reduce fatigue and mainly aim for muscle growth.
Creatine Monohydrate
Creatine monohydrate is another element that naturally occurs in our body, it is also found in seafood and red meat. It is added in small quantities to pre-workout supplements because it helps stimulate the body processes that influence muscle size and strength. So you’ll be able to do more sprints than usual if you have more creatine monohydrate in your system. Athletes are big fans of creatine because it improves athletic performance and provides quicker recovery than usual.
B Vitamins
B vitamins are an essential nutrient in everyone's diet. It can be found in chicken, fish and dairy products. It helps in the production of energy in your body. Exercise can increase the need for b vitamins in your body, especially vitamin B2 and vitamin B6. Your protein and supplement intake should therefore increase to restore balance.
So it's a good idea to take pre-workout supplements to meet this new need of your body as you navigate improving your diet during your fitness journey.
L-arginine and Nitric Oxide
L- arginine is one such element that helps increase blood flow by dilating the blood vessels. With increased blood flow, your body gets more blood, which results in more oxygen for your muscles to do aerobic respiration. Obviously, more nutrients are available to the body for recovery and the burning of calories. Nitric oxide does a similar thing. Nitric oxide dilates blood vessels to increase blood flow during your pump.
We would recommend not taking pre-workout at night as it can mess with your sleep and show pre-workout side effects long term. In compliance with that, working out at night is counterproductive, In the day your energy levels are highest so that's the best time to get your pump.
Do I Need Dietary Consultations?
It is important to consult your dietician before you commit to a workout supplement because you might be allergic to some components. For example, people who are sensitive to caffeine can get anxiety from the consumption of caffeine. People unable to process Niacin or Beta-Alanine, consumption of too much can lead to redness of the skin, numbness and tingling (if your pre-workout has ever made it feel like ants are crawling on your hands and legs, you need to switch to a better quality pre-workout like Gibbon Nutrition’s Level 10.
“Too much of anything is bad” applies to pre-workout as well, constant consumption of pre-workout in a single period to repeatedly get an energy kick can cause insomnia and quick exhaustion. Bad-quality pre-workouts are the biggest sin on this planet, one can end up with high blood pressure, and gastric problems like diarrhoea, racing heart and nausea.
Never Try ‘Dry Scooping’
The practice of 'dry scooping', which involves taking pre-workout powder straight from the tub without mixing it in the hopes of getting a quicker 'kick' or greater energy boost, has gained popularity recently due to Instagram trends.
To put it plainly, this is a terrible idea. Dry scooping can be quite risky. Choking and, in extreme situations, aspiration pneumonia are possible outcomes. Your pre-workout should never be dry; instead, it should be combined with water, a shake, or even food.
Pre-workout supplements are a topic of much online misunderstanding, and we are here to dispel it. When utilised properly, pre-workout is beneficial to your health. If you use it wisely and safely, it can revolutionise your performance in the gym.
Conclusion
In conclusion, a Pre-workout supplement is not bad for you as long as you stick to the dosage, consult a dietician to know if you’re allergic to anything in your pre-workout supplement and most importantly consume a good quality pre-workout. It is safe to use pre-workout every day. We would recommend Gibbon Nutrition’s Pre-workout supplements.
Gibbon Nutrition’s Pre-Workout is Your Best Gym Buddy
The best pre-workout supplement complements your fitness needs and goals. The products should be produced using scientific studies and customer wishes for desirable and effective results.
Here are our recommendations:
Gibbon Nutrition’s Jolt Pre-workout Supplement: Suitable for those who want to upgrade their productivity in the gym and indulge in high-intensity workouts.
We even offer our pre-workout in interesting flavours, you can enjoy their taste while prepping for your gym session. Gibbon Nutrition's pre-workouts are specially created to speak to those determined to achieve their best physique.