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Introduction
Many people are turned down by the idea of having to consume chemicals and powerful stimulants when it comes to pre-workout supplements. Thankfully, there are natural alternatives to traditional pre-workouts.
Pre-workout supplements and drinks are simple in concept in that they are designed to help boost your energy and power for the workout ahead, but they aren’t always healthy. Many are packed with unnecessary ingredients including sugar and artificial dyes.
Thankfully, one can quickly gain multiple benefits by using natural alternatives and herbal remedies to the aforementioned. These have little to no side effects and can help more effectively.
In this article we’re going to take a look at some popular natural pre-workouts, but first, why is there a need for pre-workout supplements?
Why is There a Need for Pre-Workout Supplements?
The most common reason why people avoid working out according to the research, is due to laziness. Getting active when the day to day grind consumes so much of your time and energy, can no doubt be a challenge.
When there is a lack of energy in the body, we usually tend to lie down or rest instead of performing activities for fitness. Obviously it makes sense that one would prefer to get rest due to the lack of energy instead of running to the gym for an intense workout. This is where pre-workouts come into play.
The need for pre-workout supplements is pretty obvious. They help the body with lost energy by boosting it. However, due to the availability of so many supplements on the market, choosing the right pre-workout supplement can be confusing.
Not to mention, you may not want to consume such products to begin with. If you want to avoid these hassles altogether and save some money in the process, natural pre-workout alternatives are going to be a great option for you.
But first, let’s take a look at some common ingredients in pre-workout supplements…
Common Ingredients in Pre-Workout Supplements
People perform workouts that differ in intensity, and so, supplementation requirements will differ among individuals.
Therefore, the ingredients that each supplement contains may not be beneficial to one person but may be so for another.
Some ingredients help more with power, some with muscle growth, and others help with endurance in surprising ways.
Here are some common pre-workout supplement ingredients:
Caffeine
Caffeine is a great substance that can help the body with tiredness. It works by making individuals feel more alert. This can help them focus more accurately on their targets. One can help its cycling and sprint with using caffeine.
Sodium Carbonate
Sodium carbonate is a natural product that a person can get out of his house. It has surprising benefits for people who work out, which include fighting against the build-up of acids in the body. One can use it while running and cycling.
Creatine
Creatine is a popular supplement which people use for increasing muscle mass. According to the studies, a person can gain 5 to 10 percent more body mass than usual with its use.
Citrulline
Citrulline is another crucial element that one may require for increasing the blood flow in the body. This, in return, can increase the body’s performance in exercise.
Natural Pre-Workout Supplement Alternatives
The artificial drinks made up of a ton of sugar and caffeine may help in between the workout period. However, it causes harmful effects on health after letting it inside the body. These natural alternatives can help a great deal in this process. They include:
Beetroot Powder
Beetroot powder is a natural yet very effective remedy to increase athletic performance. It especially helps in fighting the oxidative stress in the body.
Kratom
Kratom is a versatile and natural alternative that can work as the perfect pre-workout essential for the body. Kraton can upsurge the energy levels in the body. It can help athletes, gymnasts, body-builders, and healthy individuals who work out, all in the same way.
Read more to know about how to take kratom powder to suit one’s needs for their workout. It gives a sudden energy boost in the body leading to better performance. However, it is also necessary to consume Kratom Krush in the right doses for better action.
Green Tea
Many suggest drinking a cup of green tea within the hour leading up to your workout session. The caffeine in the tea will provide a nice little energy boost to the body and help prevent you from tiring out. The number of antioxidants present in it also work in surprising ways for a pre-workout supplement.
Coconut Water
Coconut water works great to restore lost salts in the body. Coconut water also helps replenish electrolytes in the body. One can have coconut water either before or after a workout. Either way, it will help to hydrate the body which is ideal before working out.
Custom Pre-Workout Shake
The benefits of making a homemade shake are diverse. However, most importantly, they make a great pre-workout if you include the right ingredients in the drink.
In fact, you can add the aformentioned ingredients to your shake and any other ingredients you prefer. Kratom and beetroot powder can be blended into your custom pre-workout shake.
Try this strawberry shake using the following ingredients:
- One tablespoon honey
- 100 grams of strawberries
- Water (300 ml)
- Caffeine Powder (100 – 150 mg)
- 3g beta-alanine
Conclusion
For many of us, laziness and procrastination prevents us from hitting up the gym or engaging in other fitness activities. This is where pre-workouts are going to be very beneficial.
But while fitness is a prerequisite for a healthy body, mind, and soul, it is not always essential to ingest a ton of harsh chemicals for a successful workout.
Thankfully, natural pre-workouts such as green tea and others can replace expensive and not always healthy branded pre-workout supplements.
Try out some of the tips and natural pre-workouts recommended in this guide and let us know what you think in the comments below.
About Theresa Duncan
Originally from Detroit, MI, Theresa has been offering health and fitness advice for the last 30 years while working as an engineer. She decided to turn her passion into a profession, and finds nothing more satisfying than helping others reach their health and fitness goals.