Are Pre-Workout Supplements Any More Than A Mix Of Caffeine And Creatine?

Over the past years, there are two types of supplements that have received great media coverage and have been subjected to intense debate: pre-workout supplements and weight loss supplements. Pre-workout supplements are said to be nothing more than a mix of caffeine and creatine - while this may be true for the first types of supplements, the modern ones are far more complex and they are designed to benefit the athlete or bodybuilder in more than just one way. Here you will find out more about these supplements and how they help thousands of men and women worldwide:

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The Myth

Simply put, the lies regarding pre-workout supplement claims that these nutritive products contain just a plain mixture of creatine and caffeine, a real mix that is certainly designed solely to pump the muscles without delivering any actual benefit. However, the myth also states that creatine might be a steroid which includes devastating effects on our bodies over time - that is completely false, as creatine is really a natural compound that ensures the proper energy delivering for the muscle cells. Creatine is safe and natural as long as the recommended dose isn't exceeded.

The false though also says that caffeine can lead us into serious addiction which needs to be fueled more and more often. While it is true that excessive caffeine intake can certainly promote an addiction, this is simply not the situation with pre-workout supplements when used properly.

The Truth

Pre-workout supplements are way more than creatine and caffeine - they contain a blend of potent ingredients that aim to reduce the muscle breakdown rate, to improve the delivery of nutrients to body cells and muscles, to boost your ability to concentrate, to boost your efforts and to lead you to perform stronger lifts. Caffeine and creatine alone couldn't possibly enable you to do all these tasks - this is when additional compounds help (including Taurine, Tyrosine, BCAA, L-Citruline, Beta Alanine, Glutamine, Nitric Oxide, Thermogenics or whey protein isolate) and provide an abundance of health improvements.

Every compound has its benefits: while whey protein is quickly digested and it supports muscle growth, creatine is designed to decrease the muscle breakdown, to provide extra energy and to allow your muscles to recover quicker. Nitric oxide, on the other hand, increases the delivery of oxygen to your muscle tissue, while caffeine makes you stay focused throughout your workout.

Logically speaking, caffeine and creatine alone would only give you extra energy, speed up the muscle recovery process and boost your ability to focus. This is far from being enough for a professional bodybuilder or an athlete that exercises on a regular basis, thus the compounds mentioned above have been added to boost the properties of the pre-workout supplement.

The Conclusion

In conclusion, there are many different pre-workout supplements on the market and you must choose the best one for you. One thing is for sure, though: even though these supplements may have one main ingredient (such as caffeine, whey protein or nitric oxide boosters), there are several other compounds besides that particular ingredient!

About the Author:

Looking to find to find the truth about a supplement in particular? Check out Marks' site Before Your Workout.com, where he provides unbiased reviews of the most popular products out today. Not sure where to start? Begin by looking through his top rated pre-workouts list, and see what a high quality supplement should really look like.