Top Pre-Workout Ingredients: Boost Energy, Focus & Performance

• Preworkout supplements have been used for decades to boost workout energy, stamina, performance, and recovery
• They are safe, effective, and scientifically proven
• Ingredients such as caffeine, theacrine, methylliberine, citrulline, beta-alanine, and betaine have incredible performance benefits
• Proprietary stimulant and extract blends can turbo-charge pre-workouts to help you avoid “crashing” and unlock other health benefits

Over the past few decades, pre-workout supplements have skyrocketed in popularity. As an increasing number of people incorporate weightlifting and bodybuilding activities into their everyday routines, sports nutrition experts and companies have responded by introducing a wide range of supplements designed to enhance workout energy, stamina, performance, and recovery.

The energy-boosting properties of pre-workouts are widely-recognized and backed up by extensive scientific research.

Found in a variety of forms, including powders, pills, gels, and bars, pre-workouts are go-to supplements for many high performance athletes, bodybuilders, and home gym warriors. But how can you tell which ingredients should be in your go-to pre-workout? Let’s take a look at a few of the ingredients that go into producing the very best pre-workout formulas.

Caffeine

One of the core ingredients in most pre-workout supplements, caffeine is the world’s favourite psychostimulant. Naturally found in the leaves, seeds, and fruits of many plants—including coffee beans, cocoa beans, and tea leaves—caffeine has been shown in countless scientific studies to enhance short-term memory, decrease fatigue, and promote mental acuity (focus). In pre-workout supplements, caffeine and other stimulants work to sharpen your mental alertness and focus, allowing you to channel maximal energy towards your weightlifting exercises without distraction.

Theacrine and Methylliberine

Naturally occurring compounds similar to caffeine, theacrine and methylliberine are long-lasting stimulants that can decrease fatigue while boosting energy and performance. Found primarily in the tropical fruit cupuaçu and in a Chinese tea known as kucha, theacrine and methylliberine stimulate your central nervous system in a sustained way that mitigates the “jitters” that often accompany other stimulants. In pre-workout supplements, theacrine and methylliberine frequently take the form of patented compounds like TeaCrine® and Dynamine®. These compounds help you avoid the “crash” associated with lower quality pre-workout supplements and energy drinks by delivering a smooth release of energy that’s accompanied by intense mental clarity. The effects of TeaCrine® and Dynamine® last the entire duration of your workout—they won’t stop until you do.

Citrulline

Citrulline is an amino acid that is both found in a variety of foods and produced by your body. Although it isn’t directly involved in the protein building process, citrulline has been shown to have a stimulating effect upon protein synthesis. Research has shown that one of citrulline’s primary effects on the body is vasodilation, or in other words, the widening of veins and arteries, resulting in Increased blood flow and lower blood pressure. In pre-workout supplements, citrulline promotes vasodilation in order to increase blood flow throughout your body, allowing critical nutrients to be delivered to the muscles that need them and cellular waste to be removed. Citrulline helps your body run at its most efficient exactly when you need it to.

Beta-alanine

Beta-alanine is an amino acid that plays a critical role in carnosine production. Together with histidine, an amino acid that is more readily available in your muscles, beta-alanine supplementation can trigger significant carnosine production. Increased levels of carnosine directly promote a number of muscular functions that reduce lactic acid and enhance athletic performance. In pre-workout supplements, beta-alanine functions to promote the body’s natural production of carnosine which in turn reduces and neutralizes lactic acid build up, allowing you to workout longer and harder because your muscles are less sore and fatigued.

Betaine

Betaine is one of a group of organic compounds known as osmolytes that influence cellular fluid dynamics within the body. Used to break down and eliminate harmful substances, betaine promotes liver health and can improve athletic performance. Research has shown that betaine can improve body composition, arm size, bench press work capacity, and overall power when taken in conjunction with regular strength training. In pre-workout supplements, betaine helps limit the accumulation of cellular waste and promotes the healthy exchange of fluids within the body while you workout. When taken regularly, betaine helps optimize your body for peak athletic performance, ultimately promoting muscular function and boosting your workout results.

What else should you look for in a pre-workout formula?

In addition to these popular ingredients, there are some other things to keep in mind when choosing the pre-workout that is best for you and your workout needs. Look for a pre-workout supplement that includes proprietary blends of thermogenic stimulants in precise ratios. Some ingredients to look for include Grains of Paradise extract and theobromine. These ingredients support and boost thermogenesis, the process by which your body burns calories by generating heat. Under the right conditions, thermogenesis helps your body dip into fat reserves in order to meet your energy needs, effectively helping you burn fat faster. A well-formulated pre-workout combines all these ingredients and more, promoting focus, energy, and endurance while minimizing the “crash” some people experience after its effects begin to wear off. Science-backed precision formulas help deliver sustained energy that will keep you motivated and productive throughout your workout—set to set—start to finish.

Allmax’s Impact Igniter Xtreme is a cutting-edge pre-workout supplement that combines all these ingredients and more.

 

 Blending caffeine with the patented stimulants TeaCrine® and Dynamine® gives Impact Igniter Xtreme unparalleled energy boosting properties and mental clarity. One study showed that a combination of caffeine, TeaCrine®, and Dynamine® increased mental performance without increasing anxiety. When this triple threat of mutually beneficial stimulants meets theobromine and CaloriBurn GP (Grains of Paradise extract), a thermogenic explosion of long-lasting energy is unleashed. Another incredible component of Impact Igniter Xtreme is Lion’s Mane mushroom extract which boasts a range of health benefits. Lion’s Mane supports the nervous system, immune system, digestive tract, and has been linked to enhanced mental functioning. Mushroom extracts, like Lion’s Mane, have been shown to contain incredibly potent anti-inflammatory and antioxidant compounds, promoting general health and potentially combatting serious chronic illness. Beneficial ingredients like these can be found in the best pre-workout formulas, and Allmax’s Impact Igniter Xtreme is the pinnacle of pre-workout excellence. For all your pre-workout, post-workout, and performance nutrition needs, Allmax has you covered with a comprehensive range of professional-grade supplements. You can find unmatched products like Impact Igniter Xtreme, Isoflex protein, weight-loss and weight-gain supplements, essential vitamins, and much more at allmaxnutrition.com.

Sources:

https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/foods-with-caffeine#The-bottom-line https://www.webmd.com/food-recipes/features/pros-and-cons-caffeine-craze https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/citrulline-supplements https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4501114/ https://www.winchesterhospital.org/health-library/article?id=21871 https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3844502/ https://www.bodybuilding.com/content/your-expert-guide-to-theacrine.html https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/lions-mane-mushroom#TOC_TITLE_HDR_10