According to Complementary Medicines Australia (CMA), Australia’s supplements industry was valued at AUD$5.69bn (US$4.2BN) in 2021, up 1.5% from the previous year. Further, in 2022, the growth rate of the supplement manufacturing industry in Australia is expected to increase by 2.4%. Researchers say that 7 out of 10 Aussies are using at least one type of supplement; however, the majority is, of course, of people with rigid fitness regimes.
Getting yourself to the gym is not hard enough but pushing through till the end of the workout session is a great challenge for some (if not for all). If you are a gym-goer and you find yourself low on energy during your workout sessions, taking Australian pre-workout supplements, also called ‘pre-workouts,’ can benefit you. Their core purpose is to help you ease the fatigue and recover from an intense workout. Pre-workout supplementation gives you an extra boost of energy to complete your workouts while enhancing your performance and body composition.
Most pre-workouts promise to keep you focussed and improve your overall performance. As the name suggests, you must take these supplements before starting your exercise. They are typically powdered; you just have to mix them in water and drink before starting your everyday fitness regime. The main ingredient that enables these supplements to stand by their words is high levels of caffeine. Per serving offers you about 150mg to 300mg of caffeine, that’s exactly equal to three cups of coffee. Apart from caffeine, pre-workouts contain a mixture of ingredients like amino acids, creatine, beta-alanine, and vitamins. When all these elements are combined, they maximize both anaerobic (strength/ power)and aerobic performance (endurance).
How do pre-workout supplements work?
Pre-workouts are designed to provide you with physiological effects from multiple angles. Read on to understand how.
There’s no denying that, to begin an intense workout, all you need is the motivation and energy to proceed. And this is half accomplished by pre-workouts. First, the pre-workouts stimulate your nervous system, which enhances your motivation and increases your energy levels.
Next, a good supplement increases the blood flow and the number of nutrients and oxygen in the blood. This feeds your muscles with the essential ingredients required for high-intensity training. While nutrients help build muscle and increase metabolism, oxygen provides stamina. Plus, the increased blood flow allows your body to go through the strain of a serious workout.
Moreover, having other ingredients like creatine and BCAAs provides your body with the vital building blocks for muscle protein synthesis and fat reduction. Plus, the ingredients like beta-alanine help reduce soreness and muscle fatigue, sugar provides energy for the elemental metabolic reactions necessary for sustaining high energy levels and building muscles.
Hence, it helps you produce the results you are looking for.
Are pre-workouts safe?
It is a long-standing debate among fitness enthusiasts if pre-workout is safe or not. Well, pre-workout supplements are consumed by many and are widely considered safe. Studies have proven that there are no adverse effects of taking pre-workout supplements if you take them in an adequate amount. However, excessive intake of everything can be dangerous, and these supplements are no different. Here are some tips for consuming these supplements:
- Take the pre-workouts 20 minutes before you exercise.
- Take them consistently.
- Don’t take too much.
- If you experience any symptoms that worry you, consult your doctor.
- Better if you talk to your doctor even before you start taking up these supplements, especially if you have underlying health conditions.
While choosing the best Australian pre-workout supplement for yourself, ask yourself what you want from it? Are you taking it for a quick boost in energy and alertness before you exercise or for increasing your endurance during exercise, for bodybuilding or running, or both, or just to help you to break through a plateau with an increase in strength/ power? These critical considerations can significantly determine your choice and help you find the best supplement for yourself.
Author:Alison