To boost and enhance their energy and performance level while doing exercise, many people turn towards consuming pre-workout supplements.
They generally come in powder form with added flavor and essential ingredients that are targeted toward enhancing specific performance.
Pre-workout supplements are advertised to increase your stamina and energy during your workout. They help you reduce excess body fat and help build muscles. One of the best supplements is the insane labz psychotic pre-workout.
But what most people don’t understand is that they cause a lot of side effects. And some of these side effects can be long-lasting.
Side Effects Of Using Pre-Workout Supplements
Here are some of the possible side effects of pre-workout supplements you should keep an eye for.
-
Insomnia
Many people who work early morning shifts, would opt for a night shift at the gym. And if they consume the pre-workout supplement at this time then it can cause some problems in the long run.
Most pre-workout supplements contain powerful caffeine, mixing that in your blood might cause you to develop insomnia in the long run.
Surely caffeine in your supplement provides you with the extra jolt of energy that you need, but that shouldn’t be the cause to sacrifice your sleep cycle. So what is the solution here in this case?
Caffeine stays in your body for about 3-4 hours. So if you go to sleep at 11 pm, then consume the supplement at about 5-6 pm in the evening. That way it won’t affect your sleep.
-
Diarrhea
Diarrhea is one of the most common side effects of pre-workout supplements. It can happen due to 2 main areas.
The first area could be due to a specific ingredient in the pre-workout supplement, which has a laxative-like effect to it. Hence, if you have a sensitive stomach then you might want to stand near the toilet.
The second area could be the fact that in the supplement industry people are creating these products without knowing how they will react to the human body. Or how they will absorb into the body.
To counter the effects of the supplement, you can add extra water to the mixture. Water will in turn fully dilute the powder properly, and lessens the risk of diarrhea. You should as well drink plenty of water during a workout to hydrate yourself.
-
Dehydration
There are certain types of ingredients in these pre-workout supplements, that absorb water from your body, which can cause you to dehydrate rapidly.
Few ingredients do this purposefully to help in weight loss, such as diuretics. When you consume these supplements in high amounts, the chances of dehydration increase. And with that rises the chances of headaches.
The only solution to this problem is to increase your water intake daily, even if you are not thirsty. If you are going to the toilet more than usual after consuming the supplement, then refuel that lost water by drinking more water.
You need to stay hydrated throughout the day to counter the effects of these pre-workout supplements.
-
Headaches
As I said before, If your body is dehydrating, this gives rise to headaches. Water travels around your brain and in turn, creates a protective layer around it.
When you are dehydrated, then the fluid surrounding your brain becomes thinner. And that causes your brain to hit the skull and this causes the aching feeling in your head. Intense headaches are very bad for your health.
Few ingredients in these pre-work supplements promote vasodilation, this is when your muscles pump on your own. These promoting ingredients are arginine, citrulline malate, or even beta-alanine.
When vasodilation occurs, all the blood vessels inside your body expand, and these vessels include the ones inside your head as well. This expansion of the blood vessels causes headaches as well.
If you are experiencing headaches due to vasodilation, then you should immediately keep your pre-workout supplement aside. And should consider lowering the volume or dosage of the supplement you consume in a day. And notice whether things are changing.
-
High Blood Pressure
Most stimulants out there increase your blood pressure, that is quite natural. It is even more natural for ingredients such as caffeine. But this can be a problem when you already have high blood pressure.
Maybe you already have high blood pressure and might not know about it. Then consuming more and more pre-workout supplements is going to be harmful to your body. So it is always recommended to consult your doctor before you start an exercise routine, and consume supplements.
Most often pre-workout supplements are combined with High-Intensity workouts, such as weight lifting. Without even realizing this workout routine can elevate your blood pressure rapidly.
Normally after the workout blood pressure usually comes down to normal, but if it is not happening in your case, then is it worrisome. Hence, if your doctor said that you have high blood pressure, then you should stay away from consuming pre-workout supplements.
-
Tingly or Prickly Sensations
One of the most common side effects of pre-workout supplements is a prickly or tingly sensation all over the body. Though this is a side effect but is quite more harmless than the rest.
Everyone has a different reaction to different ingredients in these supplements. If your supplement contains niacin, beta-alanine, or even vitamin B3, then you might have this side effect.
If your pre-workout supplement has high volumes of niacin, then it might be a problem. Your skin might have a flushing effect, accompanied by redness, a botched feeling, and even itchiness. Then you should definitely consult a doctor.
To deal with it reduce the dosage of your supplement or in severe cases, avoid consuming it altogether.
Conclusion
There are a lot of supplements on the market that has a lot of side effects, but there are good ones as well. For example, the mass tech 2000 extreme. You need to look for the pre-workout supplements that are good for your and your consumption purpose.
Read Also: