Pre-workout - side effects and safety of pre-workout supplements

Pre-workout characteristics

Pre-workouts are dietary supplements that are very popular among athletes and physically active people. These are concentrated, one-or multi-component preparations that, when used before starting training, can have a positive effect on the functioning of the athlete's body.

Pre-workout supplements can mobilize and prepare the athlete's body to perform intense training. Pre-workout supplements can cause increased energy, improved endurance and concentration, as well as increased strength and muscle pump effect. In addition, they can contribute to the delay of fatigue, accelerate the regeneration of the body after completing training and faster return to full condition.

Pre-workouts may contain various ingredients. Most often, pre-workout supplements include compounds such as caffeine, taurine, creatine, L-citrulline or BCAA branched chain amino acids. However, is the use of pre-workout preparations safe? Are pre-workouts harmful?

Are pre-workouts harmful?

Pre-workout supplements may differ in both composition and action. On the market can be often found preparations containing stimulating ingredients, such as caffeine, which can stimulate the nervous system. And although the occasional use of this type of compounds should not adversely affect the functioning of the human body, taking stimulating pre-workout while providing the body with stimulants from other sources, e.g. along with coffee, it can negatively affect the work of the body, resulting in excessive stimulation, as well as irritability, difficulty falling asleep and heart disorders.

When deciding to use pre-workout supplements, it is also worth paying attention to the fact that some pre-workout supplements contain ingredients that may have addictive properties. Regular use of stimulants may result in a weakening of the body's reaction to a given product, which may be associated with the need to increase the amount of substance taken. Too large amounts of compounds delivered to the body can cause undesirable effects.

Reaching for a pre-workout supplement, it is also worth remembering about the individual tolerance of the body. People who have never used this type of products should start taking pre-workout preparations from small portions to check the individual reaction of the body to a given supplement. In the event of allergic reactions or adverse gastrointestinal symptoms, it is worth stopping the use of the preparation. When planning to take a pre-workout, you should not be guided by the opinions of other people, vogue for it or advertising. Each organism may react slightly differently to a given dietary supplement, which is why preparations should always be used in accordance with the needs of their own system.

Recommended pre-workout supplements

Pre-workouts - side effects

Pre-workout supplements, used in accordance with the manufacturer's recommendation and guidelines, are considered safe compounds that should not contribute to the occurrence of undesirable symptoms. However, it should be remembered that pre-workout supplements should be used occasionally, because long-term use of this type of products can make the athlete's body resistant to the valuable ingredients contained in it, and the preparation will not affect the exercise capacity of the athlete. Moreover, the abuse of pre-workouts can cause headaches, nausea, chest pain, vomiting, diarrhea, as well as distraction, an increase in blood pressure and increased drowsiness or difficulty sleeping.

A player struggling with chronic diseases or taking medications should consult a doctor before using pre-workout supplements to discuss the safety of using pre-workout supplements, as well as possible contraindications and possible interactions between dietary supplements and used pharmaceuticals.

It is worth remembering that pre-workouts are dietary supplements that may be helpful during intense training, but they are not a substitute for a healthy and balanced diet. When using pre-workout supplements, you should also remember about proper hydration of the body.

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Natalia Goździak

Copywriter - nutritionist. Bachelor's degree in sports dietetics She graduated from the Academy of Physical Education in Poznan, while her master's degree in dietoprophylaxis and dietotherapy - from the University of Physical Education in Poznan. at UP in Poznań. However, she treats the principles of healthy eating primarily as valuable guidelines, rather than strict rules that must be strictly followed. Knowledge in the field of copywriting, on the other hand, she draws from courses and industry literature, but since the best way to learn is to practice. learning is practice, she spends many hours each day playing with words and creating new, unique content. content. Privately, she is passionate about photography and can't imagine life without books.