Is It Safe To Take Pre-Workout Every Day?
Many athletes and gym-goers take pre-workout to improve their athletic performance and help boost their energy levels before and during a workout — but is it actually safe to take it every day? That depends on the ingredients (via Men's Health). The key ingredient in most pre-workout supplements is caffeine. However, some brands contain higher levels of caffeine than others. The maximum limit of caffeine intake is 400 milligrams per day. If a single serving of pre-workout exceeds this limit, it's probably best to avoid that brand and look for pre-workout supplements that contain less caffeine per serving.
While caffeine can help reduce fatigue and improve your reaction time, consuming excessive amounts of caffeine on a regular basis can have negative side effects. For instance, excessive caffeine consumption can potentially lead to nausea, gastrointestinal issues, tingling, high blood pressure, and heart palpitations (via the Cleveland Clinic). It can also result in overstimulation and jitters, which may cause you to lose sleep.
Get performance-boosting nutrients from food
While pre-workout contains other beneficial ingredients that can help improve your workout, like carbohydrates, beet juice, and creatine, it's better to get these ingredients from actual food (via Self). "We have to stop thinking about nutrition as something that comes in a tub and start looking at our body's natural fuel: food," Jessica Crandall, a registered dietitian and spokesperson for the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, told Self. Getting your nutrients from fruits and vegetables is better for you because you know exactly what you're eating and how much.
According to Crandall, you can fuel up on carbohydrates before you work out by eating half a banana or a slice of toast with jam or preserves. It's also a good idea to eat a few grams of protein before you exercise to help improve your performance and build muscle mass. If you need some caffeine to help give you a jumpstart, you can drink a cup of coffee half an hour before you start working out.