Pre
workout supplements are one of the most used supplements for bodybuilders and
athletes for good reasons:
To
increase blood flow and circulation to the muscles for more endurance and power.
Boost stamina and improve
mental focus.
Increase
energy levels and combat fatigue.
Boost
natural growth hormones.
Promote
lean muscle mass.
Reduce
body fat.
Enhance immune
system.
Improve oxygen
flow and help transport muscle building nutrients to your muscle cells.
Basically
pre workout supplements will give you the "pump effect" resulting in
a more intense workout as your performance goes through the roof.
There
are two categories of pre workout supplements:
(1)
Those which use 100% wholefood ingredients like
Asian
ginseng root extract
Yohimbe bark extract
Green tea leaf extract
Goji
berry
Maqui berry
Acai berry
Beet root
Cinnamon bark powder
and
(2)
Those which use mostly ingredients like
Creatine
Monohydrate
L-Arginine
L-Carnitine
Beta Alanine
L-Citrulline
Malate - This critical ingredient in a pre workout is converted to L-Arginine
by your kidneys which in turn is converted into nitric oxide, a chemical which
can improve blood flow by widening your blood vessels. This has the benefit of
increasing oxygen uptake to your muscles during exercise for enhanced energy,
endurance, strength, improved performance and a more intense workout.
Caffeine Anhydrous
Both these type of supplements deliver results although people who go through
more hardcore workouts will find ingredients like L-Citrulline Malate and Creatine
Monohydrate more effective but whichever you prefer, it's also mostly a matter
of taste. One of the major concerns many people have about pre workout supplements
is the use of sucralose also known as splenda. Sucralose is a semisynthetic artificial
sweetener and is about 600 times sweeter than table sugar. Since the bulk of ingested
sucralose is not broken down by the body, it's non-caloric but that's not necessarily
a good thing because although sucralose is derived from real sugar, it's not natural
as it has undergone a multi-step patented chemical process whereby sucrose has
been chemically modified by replacing three hydrogen-oxygen groups with three
chlorine atoms. This will result in boosting the sweetening power, this is why
it's so much sweeter than table sugar. Some people use it as a sugar substitute
as it's non-caloric but is it healthy after all? Sucralose makes your pre workout
drink more palatable, this is why it's added but it's questionable for health
as to its long term use effects.
Some side effects of sucralose include
Put
you at risk of digestive issues
Change
insulin and glucose levels
Kills
good bacteria
Weakens gut health
and impairs the GI tract
Can
produce toxic compounds when heated
May
be carcinogenic
This
is why nowadays you have pre workout supplements without sucralose for those who
are health-conscious. Instead, natural sweeteners like stevia, erythritol, xylitol
and luo han guo are used or no sweetener at all. Stevia is actually a herb and
the sweetener is extracted from its leaves whereas erythritol is obtained by fermenting
corn's natural sugar and xylitol a naturally occurring sugar alcohol found in
many fruits and vegetables and fibrous plant material like sugarcane bagasse or
corn husks. As for luo han guo, it's an exotic fruit also known as monk fruit.
These are some of the best natural sugar substitutes as far as health is concerned.
Below
is my list of the top 6 pre workout without artificial sweeteners like sucralose:
(1)
The Genius Brand, Genius Pre, Grape Limeade, 11.92 oz (338 g) - contains
natural flavors, organic stevia leaf extract, beet root powder, a clinical dose
of 6 grams of L-Citrulline Malate 2:1 per 1 scoop
A
really great all-natural, stim-free, nootropics based pre workout with scientifically
proven clean ingredients. Experience better muscle pumps, faster recovery, better
focus and endurance and improved strength.
Focus
Without Caffeine
No
Artificial Flavors, Colors or Dyes
Mind-To-Muscle
Pre Workout Powerhouse
100%
Naturally Flavored and Sweetened
(2)
MRM, Driven, Pre-Workout Boost, Strawberry Kiwi, 12.3 oz (350 g) - contains
stevia and monk fruit extract
Good
pre-workout with natural strawberry-kiwi flavor, stevia leaf extract, monk fruit
extract, red beet powder. Increase energy, stamina and endurance.
Hydration
Blend - 4,200 mg consisting of Trehalose 3,100 mg, Betaine Anhydrous 625 mg,
N-Acetyl-L-Cysteine (NAC) 375 mg, Pine Bark Extract (95% Proanthocyanidins) 100
mg.
Muscle
Blend - 3,750 mg consisting of Arginine Alpha Keto-Glutarate 1,125 mg, Creatine
Monohydrate 1,125 mg, CarnoSyn® Beta-Alanine 1000 mg, Citrulline Malate 500
mg.
Energy
Blend - 1,225 mg consisting of Acetyl-L-Carnitine Hydrochloride 500 mg, N-Acetyl-Tyrosine
375 mg, Schizandra Berry Extract (2% Schizandrins) 193 mg, InnovaTea® Natural
Caffeine (from Tea)(yielding 125 mg Caffeine) 132 mg, Peak ATP® 25 mg.
(3)
Garden of Life, Sport, Organic Plant-Based Energy + Focus, Pre-Workout, Blackberry
Cherry, 8.1 oz (231 g) - contains organic stevia leaf extract
and organic erythritol
(4)
MRM, Organic Pre-Workout, Island Fusion, 8.5 oz (240 g) - contains
organic stevia leaf extract and organic monk fruit extract
(5)
Zhou Nutrition, Lite Up, Non-Stimulant Pre-Workout, Berry Lemonade, 7.5 oz (213
g) - contains stevia leaf extract and natural mixed
berry lemon flavor
(6)
EVLution Nutrition, BeetMode, Concentrated Beet Crystal, Black Cherry, 6.9 oz
(195 g) - contains stevia
Non-GMO
Beet Root Powder(4 grams), Organic Fermented Beet Root Powder(1 gram), Malic Acid,
Natural Flavor, Stevia Leaf Extract. This is a great natural pre-workout made
from concentrated beet crystals to enhance performance, boost nitric oxide levels
and increase endurance. Beets are loaded with nutrients and antioxidants.
