Your best workouts don’t happen by chance; they come with planning. Before you head to the gym you have to prepare both your mind and body for the work to come. You need to get in the amino acids and other nutrients that help fuel your muscles to perform at their peak, and you also need supplements that support energy and focus. The solution is to take a range of pre-workout supplements, including creatine, beta-alanine, nitric oxide (NO) boosters, and cafeine and its analogs. At right, read more about what each of these ingredients provides.
CREATINE
Drives production of ATP, increasing workout volume. Creatine is an energy substrate, formed by three amino acids (arginine, glycine, and methionine). During workouts, creatine donates phosphate to adenosine triphosphate (ATP), the energy that fres muscle contractions. Look for creatine monohydrate and/or creatine HCl.
BETA-ALANINE
This amino acid supports strength and endurance, but research also demonstrates that taking beta-alanine with creatine improves the benefits over taking either alone. Beta-alanine works synergistically with creatine to support muscle mass while reducing body fat and combines with histidine to form carnosine, which studies show increases strength.
NITRIC OXIDE
Nitric oxide boosters allow more blood, oxygen, and nutrients to reach working muscles. In your body, amino acids such as arginine readily convert to nitric oxide. Agmatine, an arginine derivative, also boosts NO, and has been shown in some studies to have certain anti-depressant effects.
CAFFEINE
Research has shown that caffeine increases strength and reduces the level of perceived pain. The anhydrous (dry) form has been shown to be the most effective. Caffeine analogs such as higenamine HCl, hordenine HCl, and yohimbine HCl also help increase thermogenesis (fat burning).
