Pre-workout supplements are no longer the optional luxury they once were. Every time you walk into the gym, you’re bound to see most men and women (even the elderly) throwing back a shaker filled with bright blue or red liquid. Pre-workouts are an easy way to find the energy to complete a workout after a grueling day at work. They give you that extra edge with an assortment of energy boosters, thermogenics, and nootropics. 2017 is going to be a big year for the supplement industry. Let’s take a look at the 3 pre-workout ingredients you need to start using in 2017.

3. Guarana

Named after an Amazonian tribe, Guarana has been used as an ancient form of medicine. It has persisted over the ages and its benefits are now being revealed by science. Within the health and fitness realm, Guarana has been shown to be a powerful pre-workout booster. Studies show that Guarana can help to increase energy levels, boost performance, and support a healthy weight loss. (1)

2. Yerba Mate

Yerba Mate has one of the most interesting backstories of any of the ingredients on the list. (Although Guarana is a close second.) Yerba Mate is made from the Holly tree of the Amazon. It is said to have the strength of coffee and the health benefits of tea. It was such a popular drink in ancient times that tribes, namely the Aché Guayakí, used it as a health remedy. In fact, it was a communal drink that was passed around in a gourd. (How cool is that?) Today, science has shown Yerba Mate to be an excellent way of naturally increasing your energy levels while promoting fat oxidation. (2)

1. Theacrine

Finally, we have Theacrine. Trademarked as TeaCrine, this ingredient is said to be the lighter cousin of caffeine, providing you with comparable energy and none of the anxiousness. Theacrine also has been shown to be more readily absorbed, meaning it gets to work right away. If you really want to send your energy levels into overdrive, you can pair traditional caffeine with Theacrine. For example, one serving of Theacrine mixed in with your morning coffee is an effective and inexpensive way to start your day.

Supplements Are Supplementary

One important fact to note is that supplements are just that… supplementary. They should be assisting your diet and training program. Supplements should never replace whole food nutrition. If you are an avid user of supplements, it’s important to cycle off for a month after finishing a bottle. This will allow you to avoid complications such as adrenal fatigue syndrome.

Tell Us What You Think!

Have you tried any of these ingredients before?

What were your results?

Let us know in the comments below!

1. Kennedy DO, Haskell CF, Wesnes KA, Scholey AB. Improved cognitive performance in human volunteers following administration of guarana (Paullinia cupana) extract: comparison and interaction with Panax ginseng. Pharmacol Biochem Behav. 2004 Nov;79(3):401-11.

2. Young-Rye Kang, Hak-Yong Lee, Jung-Hoon Kim, Dea-In Moon, Min-Young Seo, Sang-Hoon Park, Kwang-Ho Choi, Chang-Ryong Kim, Sang-Hyun Kim, Ji-Hyun Oh, Seong-Wan Cho, Sun-Young Kim, Min-Gul Kim, Soo-Wan Chae, Okjin Kim, and Hong-Geun Oh. Anti-obesity and anti-diabetic effects of Yerba Mate (Ilex paraguariensis) in C57BL/6J mice fed a high-fat diet. Lab Anim Res. 2012 Mar; 28(1): 23–29.

3. Daniel J. Kuhman, Keanan J. Joyner, and Richard J. Bloomer. Cognitive Performance and Mood Following Ingestion of a Theacrine-Containing Dietary Supplement, Caffeine, or Placebo by Young Men and Women. Nutrients. 2015 Nov; 7(11): 9618–9632.