• First published on December 13, 2017
Taking a good pre workout supplement before hitting the gym can help you get ‘in the zone’ and make sure that you get the very most out of your training session.
But it’s no good if your time spent in the gym or playing sport is ruined by the distraction of a racing heart or that uncomfortable ‘jittery’ feeling.
Luckily, there are some key things to look out for when choosing a pre workout supplement to minimize the risk of those unwanted side effects.
In this article, we’re going to talk you through the main ingredients to look out for and the things you should be checking for when selecting a quality pre workout supplement.
So, with the introductions out of the way, let’s get down to business and kick things off in our search for a pre workout that doesn’t make your heart race.
The feeling of a racing heart or that ‘jittery’ feeling you get after taking certain supplements is actually a very common side effect.
Usually, the main cause of the issue is the over-use of stimulants such as caffeine in pre workout supplements.
Yes, you want your pre workout of choice to get you feeling energized, but too much caffeine is known to cause side effects such as a racing heart, the ‘jitters’ and energy crashes later in the day.
The problem is not so much the caffeine itself (which is one of our favorite pre workout ingredients) but the doses used.
Many pre workout supplements pack in more than 200mg of caffeine per serving, which is simply too much in our opinion.
If you’re a regular tea or coffee drinker, you’ll already be consuming a fair amount of caffeine from those sources, and that’s before taking into account the caffeine content of any other supplements you make be taking.
It’s also important to remember that some people are more sensitive to caffeine than others. Our best advice here is to sample a few products and pay close attention to how your body feels.
Caffeine is a potent stimulant and clearly you will want to choose a product that doesn’t use too much of it to reduce the risk of Caffeine-related side effects.
We’ve found it amazing that it’s so hard to find pre workout supplements which contain less than 200mg of caffeine per serving.
So, what’s the lesson here? Simple. If your pre workout supplement contains 200mg of caffeine or more, that’s probably what’s causing your heart to race. The solution? Find a product which contains less caffeine or similar stimulants.
So that’s caffeine content covered, but can anything else be done to reduce the chances of experiencing side effects from a pre workout supplement? The answer is yes.
If you’re a regular reader of our health and fitness articles, you’ll already know that we’re big fans of the L-Theanine and Caffeine combination.
L-Theanine is an amino acid primarily found in tea leaves and it’s been slowly gathering lots of attention in the fitness supplements market.
L-Theanine is known for its ability to bring on a sense of calm and relaxation, which is great.
But the real secret lies when it is combined with caffeine. The two substances perfectly complement each other.
In other words, you’ll get all of the positive benefits of caffeine, along with the great things L-Theanine brings to the table, such as that calm, composed and relaxed feeling.
Think: being energized and focused, but with a calm sense of focus and relaxation at the same time.
Sadly, there aren’t too many pre workout supplements around these days that do include both of these ingredients.
Our team of researchers has been testing and reviewing the leading pre workout supplements on the market right now over the last few months.
The disappointing thing we’ve found is that many of them are simply not up to scratch when it comes to their ingredients, with the exception of a few gems.
You can see some of our picks of the best pre workout supplements on the market right now by following the link shown below.
So there you have it, your guide to finding a pre workout that doesn’t make your heart race.
We’ve talked you through the main things to bear in mind when considering and comparing pre workout supplements, explaining the importance of sensible stimulant doses.
We’ve also introduced the powerful partnership of L-Theanine and Caffeine as a combination in the same supplement.
Remember that you can check out our updated list of the best pre workout supplements on the market at the moment by following the link shown below.
The information on this website is intended for entertainment purposes only and does not constitute professional, medical or healthcare advice or diagnosis, and may not be used as such.
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BIOGRAPHY: Ethan Hazard
BIOGRAPHY: Daniel Sturridge