How late should you take a pre-workout drink before bed? And is it safe to take a pre-workout supplement right before sleep?
Taking a pre-workout supplement can actually help you get your muscles ready for the next day. It can also help increase the amount of energy you feel during the workout session. But there are some things you need to keep in mind when taking pre-workout supplements.
A lot of pre-workout supplements contain caffeine and other stimulants which could keep you awake. And taking these supplements right before bed could leave you with an upset stomach or even a lot of other things, and we’ll cover those issues in our article later.
In this article, I’m going to give you everything you need to know about pre-workout supplements and during what time of the day you should take them.
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Is it bad to take pre-workout at night?
Drinking pre-workouts at night is not recommended as it can affect your sleep. However, it also depends on the pre-workout you are talking about. Most pre-workout supplements contain stimulants that affect your sleep, but this doesn’t mean that you can’t take them near bedtime. In fact, there are certain types of pre-workouts that can be taken before you sleep and still allow you to get a good night’s rest. The key is to find out what works best for you, and what you are comfortable with.
The pre-workout supplement contains ingredients such as creatine or beta-alanine that will keep you awake for long periods of time, and so experts advise against using them at night. Many people do not get the quality of sleep that they need because they are on a pre-workout supplement and end up feeling more tired than usual. Caffeine is another common ingredient in pre-workouts that cause a negative impact on your sleep so you should avoid taking it at night.
If you still want to take pre-workout at night then you need to purchase a stimulant-free product which doesn’t have caffeine so could be taken at night.
Drawbacks of taking pre-workouts at night
Taking pre-workout supplements right before you sleep can be very dangerous as it can affect your sleep and could also affect your overall health. Let’s understand all the drawbacks of taking pre-workouts at night.
Insomnia
Insomnia is a common problem that people face while trying to sleep. It can be caused by a lot of factors and one of the most common causes is your pre-workout. If you are taking a pre-workout supplement right before bed, it can affect your sleep and leave you with a lack of sleep. When you take a pre-workout supplement before you go to bed, caffeine and other stimulants cause your body to release adrenaline and cortisol, which can make you feel more alert and awake. This is the reason why many people who take pre-workout supplements before they go to bed end up sleeping less.
Headaches
Taking a pre-workout supplement before bed can cause headaches. This is because of the caffeine in the supplement which can make you feel a bit tired. It could also cause headaches due to the lack of sleep you are getting. The caffeine in this supplement is stimulating, which can cause blood pressure to increase. This may cause blood to flow more rapidly in your brain. This may also cause headaches or migraines.
Digestion Issues
Another common problem with taking pre-workout supplements before bed is the fact that they can cause digestion issues. This is because of the caffeine in the supplement which can cause stomach cramps or nausea.
Late-night craving
If you are taking a pre-workout supplement before bed, it can also cause you to have late-night cravings. This is because the caffeine in the supplement can cause your body to release more fat. It can also cause you to feel hungry more often. This may lead to you eating more, and so you can end up gaining weight also.
Heartburn
Taking a pre-workout supplement right before bed can also cause heartburn. This is because the caffeine in the supplement can cause the stomach to release acid. This may cause heartburn.
High blood pressure
Taking a pre-workout supplement before bed can also cause high blood pressure. This is because of the caffeine in the supplement which can cause blood pressure to increase. It can also cause heart palpitations or rapid heartbeat.
More frequent urination
Taking a pre-workout supplement before bed cause you to urinate more often. This is because certain ingredients in the supplement can cause a diuretic effect on your body. This means you have to go to the bathroom more often. Pre-workout before bed cause you to sweat more. This is because of the caffeine in the supplement which causes the body to release more sweat. This may cause you to feel more tired and also dehydrated and an urge to drink more water than usual.
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How to safely drink pre workout at night?
If you are going to take a pre-workout supplement right before you go to bed, you need to know the best way to do it. Let’s understand all the best ways to take a pre-workout supplement before you go to bed.
Take sleep supplements
It is best to take a sleep supplement whenever you take a pre-workout before bed. The reason why you should take a sleep supplement is that it will help you get better sleep. It will also help you get rid of insomnia. Sleep supplements will ease you get a sound sleep avoiding any negative effects of pre-workout stimulants.
Use stimulant-free pre-workout.
You can use a pre-workout supplement that has no caffeine or other stimulants. This will make sure that you don’t get any sleep disturbance or digestion issues while still allowing you to take your pre-workout at night.
Do not eat heavy meals
Caffeine and other stimulants in pre-workouts cause an increase in adrenaline which results in you getting less sleep during the night. A heavy meal will make things worse as it will cause your body to have more adrenaline spikes making you more alert and awake. So, if you are taking pre-workout at night, then do not eat heavy meals rather keep it light and simple.
Take a hot bath
If you want to take a pre-workout supplement before you go to bed, you should take a hot bath. This will help you relax and feel more comfortable while giving you a good night’s sleep.
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What time of the day should you take pre workout?
The best time to take a pre-workout supplement is 30 minutes before when you do the workout. Make sure you don’t take a pre-workout supplement that contains caffeine too late in the day. Caffeine has a half-life of around 5 hours. This means that if you consume caffeine 5 hours ago then your body still has 50 percent of the caffeine at about this time.
Caffeine is an effective performance enhancer in pre-workouts, but it does have its downside. If you are sensitive to caffeine, you may experience insomnia if you consume your pre-workout before going to bed. Caffeine is a central nervous system stimulant and it can cause increased heart rate and blood pressure too. So it is advisable not to consume pre-workouts 5-8 hours before you go to bed otherwise you will be left with a sleepless night.
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Conclusion
In conclusion, there are many reasons why you should not drink pre-workout supplements before bed. The biggest reason is that they can affect your sleep. You should only consume pre-workout supplements during the day at least 5-8 hours before your bedtime. You should also keep in mind that most pre-workout supplements contain stimulants that can affect your sleep. This is why it’s best to stick to caffeine-free pre-workout if you intended to consume it at the night.