Energy drinks are gaining popularity nowadays. Energy drinks are packed with a combination of ingredients to offer the users a stronger punch than regular caffeinated drinks. With its similarities with pre-workout supplements, people often think why not mix both of these to make a more powerful drink? What will happen? Is it safe or are there any side effects associated with it? In this article, we will understand everything about mixing energy drinks with pre-workout. Let’s get started!
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Can you mix pre-workout with energy drinks?
Energy drinks are packed with caffeine. The pre-workout supplement, on the other hand, is meant to give you a boost of energy and they also contain caffeine. So, the combination of these two together will cause you to intake too much caffeine which could be dangerous. The most common side effect of this mixture is the jitters, anxiety, nausea, digestive issue, headache, and heartburn.
So it’s better not to mix pre-workout with energy drinks. It will only be a bad idea. However, there is a certain condition when a combination of both of these could be safe. Let’s find out what these conditions are.
You can safely mix an energy drink with a pre-workout that does not have stimulant such as caffeine in it. You can easily get a stimulant-free pre-workout on amazon. That is the only way to make this combination safe.
Energy drinks and pre-workout drinks are two different things. But, there are some ingredients that are commonly found in both of them. These ingredients can be harmful if consumed together. You need to be careful as there are many side effects that can occur if you are consuming them in the wrong quantities. You should be careful about the dosage.
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Ingredients in energy drinks that you should avoid
Energy drinks are packed with a lot of ingredients. Most of these ingredients are not safe to consume. You should avoid the following ingredients.
High-Caffeine Content
You should avoid energy drinks with high caffeine content. Caffeine is the most common ingredient in energy drinks. Caffeine can cause insomnia, anxiety, nervousness, and tremors. It can also cause jitters and headaches.
Sugar
Energy drinks are usually loaded with sugar. You should avoid consuming sugar in your daily diet. Sugar can lead to obesity, diabetes, and many other health issues. It is a big no for fitness lover as it only adds extra calorie and do nothing good to them.
Taurine
Taurine is a stimulant that is found in energy drinks. It is known to cause many side effects when combined with caffeine such as increased heart rate, high blood pressure, anxiety, and insomnia. Taurine shows a diuretic effect on the body so you may also end up going for the loo more frequently.
Guarana
Guarana is a stimulant that is also found in energy drinks. It is known to cause insomnia, anxiety, and heartburn. It is also known to cause some side effects like nausea, dizziness, and headache. Guarana is a natural source of caffeine. So, if you are consuming guarana, you should avoid caffeine.
Ginseng
Ginseng is a natural herb that is found in energy drinks. In high doses, it can cause insomnia, anxiety, and digestion issues. Some other side effects of consuming ginseng are headaches, dizziness, and heartburn. When combined with caffeine it acts as a powerful stimulant so it is always recommended to avoid consuming it in high amounts.
What to look out for while mixing energy drinks and pre-workout?
You need to be careful about the dosage of each ingredient present in both energy drinks and pre-workout. You need to check the label and see if the product contains caffeine or not. If it does, then you should be careful. It is not recommended to consume more than 200 mg of caffeine per day. You should not exceed this amount. If you consume energy drinks and pre-workout on the same day, you should consume them at least three-four hours apart.
Should you drink energy drinks before working out?
Yes, drinking an energy drink before a workout may be a good idea. Caffeine in energy drinks helps to increase your energy level as well as your endurance. It also gives you a boost of energy and focuses to complete your workout.
But, energy drinks are not the best solution for an intense workout. They are not meant for that. Stimulants in energy drinks can give you instant energy but it does not replace how the pre-workout works. Pre-workouts not only give you energy but also help you with your muscle strength to do a more intense workout with much ease.
It is also important to avoid other caffeinated drinks and pre-workout supplements with caffeine after taking an energy drink. This is because it may cause an overdose of caffeine in your body. As a result, you may experience jitters and anxiety.
If you are going to mix an energy drink with a pre-workout, you should take a pre-workout that does not have caffeine in it. If you are using a pre-workout that has caffeine, it is better to avoid the energy drink.
Conclusion
Energy drinks and pre-workout supplements are a great way to get that extra energy and boost your workout. You can easily consume them on a daily basis. But, if you are going to mix them, then it is not recommended. Mixing both of these will cause you to consume too much caffeine and that’s definitely not safe. If you want them to consume together then they should be taken at least three-four hours apart. This is to avoid an overdose of caffeine in your body. Also, it is important to check the label of the products to know their ingredients. Don’t exceed the recommended daily dose of any of the ingredients used in these products. Doing so may cause you unwanted side effects.