If you watch any gym-related content online, you’ve surely heard of the term “pre-workout.” Many influencers start their “get ready with me” videos by drinking their pre-workout out of a shaker or by “dry scooping” some in their car if they’re in a hurry, and most of them will tell you all about the positive effects they see from this supplement (1). In recent years, taking pre-workout has almost become a must-do for all gym rats and fitness enthusiasts, largely due to this type of heavy marketing.
With that said, if you haven’t been a part of the fitness community for long, you may be unaware of what these “pre-workout” supplements are, what they do, and why someone would consider taking one. Fortunately for you, we’ve got you covered, as we will be discussing all that and more in this short article.
Now, without wasting any more precious time, let’s get right into discussing all things pre-workout supplements.
What are Pre-workout Supplements?
Pre-workouts are a stimulant used to provide you with extra energy during exercise. Their main ingredient is caffeine, but most of the pre-workouts you can find on the market contain plenty of other vitamins, minerals, and amino acids as well.
More often than not, you will see people consuming pre-workout by drinking it from a shaker, because usually you can find this supplement in powder form. But in recent years the market has expanded and now there are also pills, gums, and even candy.
Along with that, most companies produce many flavors of pre-workouts – some are fruity and reminiscent of lemonade, while others imitate popular drinks such as Coca-Cola, Red Bull, and others.
More often than not, pre-workouts are used as a way to boost energy before heavy workouts and are a stronger form of caffeine in a way – because a dosage of them is usually the equivalent of two or more cups of coffee. In addition to caffeine, most pre-workouts have beta-alanine, which further improves the stimulating effect of the drink.
Are There Vegan Pre-Workout Supplements?
You may think that pre-workouts are vegan products, to begin with, but the reality is that not all of them are vegan by default (2). While it’s true that most pre-workout powders on the market are plant-based diet friendly, some can contain specific types of animal-based additivities – those are typically easy to identify, but it can be difficult to find them, especially if the product has an extensive ingredient list.
Additionally, pre-workouts that come in any kind of capsule form are often not vegan, as the binding ingredient used to make a capsule typically contains traces of gelatin – an ingredient derived from the ligaments, skin, tendons, or bones of cows or pigs.
All of that is to say that before purchasing any pre-workout, you have to make sure that it’s vegan (by label) and FDA-approved. If you want to go a bit further, you can also check the ingredient list online and ensure that the marketing is in line with what’s actually in the product. That way, you will be certain that you’re making a safe choice that’s also fully aligned with your own dietary needs
Who Should Use Them?
Pre-workouts can be safely used by adults if they’re FDA-approved. However, they’re not recommended for teenagers and young adults. You can think of them as a stronger, more potent form of your morning coffee.
They’re a terrific way to get yourself going, especially at those times of the year when you’ve had a rough night sleeping or if you’re simply lacking the energy to perform (3). With that said, pre-workouts shouldn’t be taken at all times throughout the day – especially if you don’t want to mess up your sleeping schedule.
So our advice would be to take a pre-workout supplement only in the morning or early afternoon hours that way, it’s less likely to affect your nighttime sleep. You also shouldn’t learn to depend on pre-workouts – they’re not recommended for daily use as they’re a strong stimulant. And similarly to coffee, the effect you get from them tends to decrease over time and you will need to go higher and higher in dosage, which is not beneficial for your health.
In general, pre-workout supplements can be used by anyone who’s active, going to the gym frequently, or is just in need of a stronger boost of energy than plain old coffee. As long as the product you’re using is FDA-approved and doesn’t contain any harmful ingredients, pre-workout is completely safe and tested for use.
Before You Go,
We’ve reached the end of this article. After reading it, you should know everything you want about pre-workout supplements. The main reason why most fitness enthusiasts use them is to boost their energy and to get them in the right headspace for a long and difficult training session.
Just remember – while it at first glance, all pre-workouts are vegan-friendly (considering everything you know about their ingredients) If you’re vegan, you shouldn’t rely on the assumption that all are safe for consumption. The best practice here is to always check the label for any animal product and also for FDA approval – that way; you will be certain that the product you’re buying is both safe to use and in line with your dietary needs.
