When you do workouts or exercise, your body needs extra nutrition and energy. To balance it out, many people take pre-workout supplements. Since many pre-workout products come as a powder, you have it as a drink before starting your workout. Pre-workout supplements have their benefits, but on the other hand, they can also negatively impact your digestive health.
Some of you might have felt like pooping after drinking the pre-workout. Ever wondered what the reason is? In this article, let’s determine whether pre-workout makes you poop and why you feel like pooping after the pre-workout drink.
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What is pre-workout?
Pre-workout is a supplement usually taken before a workout session. Some people take it after the workout too, but experts suggest drinking pre-workout at least 30 mins before doing weights or cardio.
Pre-workout supplements give you energy and increase the effectiveness of the workout.
Although the ingredients in the supplements differ a lot with the brands, most of the pre-workout supplements have common ingredients such as Beta-Alanine, BCAA’s ( Branched-chain amino acid ), caffeine, and creatine. The ingredient that makes you feel like pooping is caffeine and creatine.
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How caffeine content in pre-workout make you poop?
Have you ever felt like pooping after having your morning cup of coffee or any time in the day? Caffeine makes the colon more active and makes you want to poop.
The pre-workout supplement contains a high amount of caffeine. Caffeine is added to the pre-workout supplement to boost your mental health and energy for the workout.
Research has shown that caffeinated coffee makes you poop than a normal coffee.
A serving of pre-workout will vary wildly based on which product you choose and what they classify as a serving. Even one scoop of most pre-workout supplements will contain more than 100 mg of caffeine; wherein many companies suggest two scoops.
The caffeine present in the pre-workout supplement activates contractions in your colon and intestinal muscles, making you want to poop.
Does creatine in pre-workout make you poop?
Creatine is naturally found in your muscle cells that produce energy for your body during workouts and weight lifting. Creatine is added to the pre-workout supplements for the same reason. It boosts your energy and prepares your body for the workout.
While high-quality creatine does not create any effect, if your protein supplement has low-quality creatine or a high amount of creatine, then it will make you poop.
The artificial sweetener in pre-workout supplements
Artificial sweeteners are added to the pre-workout supplements to cut out the calories in the sugar. When these artificial sweeteners are consumed in a high amount, they become difficult for your body to digest.
These artificial sweeteners do not get digested by your body, and when it enters your colon, the bacteria produce CO2 and methane. Since these two elements are gas, it creates bloating and causes discomfort in your abdomen.
When you consume a large amount of these artificial sweeteners, it absorbs the water in the colon, which creates an urge sensation for you to poop.
Why does pre-workout make you poop?
Your colons mainly manage your bowel movements, and the pre-workout supplements have the ingredients that activate the contraction in your colon, giving you a poop-like feeling.
Most of the pre-workout contains magnesium and lactose. These two substances make your colon super active. During the workout, your whole body stretches, which makes you feel like poop.
Pros and cons of pre-workout
Pre-workout supplements have their pros and cons for your health. Here are the pros and cons of taking pre-workout supplements.
Pros of pre-workout
A pre-workout formula contains a mixture of a lot of nutrients that boost your energy for the workout. Research shows caffeine is very effective in blocking pain. Pre-workouts also have caffeine content in them that helps ease the muscle’s pain during the workout.
The caffeine present in the pre-workout helps you increase your focus during the workout. It also improves the energy and stamina required for the workout. Some of the pre-workout also contain B vitamins that increase your metabolism.
Cons of pre-workout
While pre-workout supplements help you improve your workout, but on the downside, most pre-workouts contain artificial ingredients, which may cause you an indigestion problem.
It is also said that the pre-workout signals your kidney to release water to your body, and at times, it can cause dehydration. Drinking plenty of water can help you resolve this issue.
Sometimes pre-workouts can be overstimulating. The ingredients present in the pre-workout stimulates the energy of your nervous system. But if your nervous system cannot use all the energy, you might experience a shaky or tingly sensation. It also increases your blood pressure and causes insomnia, so it should be avoided if you have any heart condition.
Conclusion
Pre-workouts affect your digestion and may cause you to poop. While it is unavoidable, you can still handle the discomfort by drinking pre-workouts in moderate quantities. Also, if you experience any other side effects such as diarrhea or constipation, it is important to bring them to your trainer’s notice.
