Curtis Harwell Discuss's Pre Workout Supplements and Health & Fitness

Are Pre-Workouts Bad for You?

When you want to get the most out of your workout, you make sure every rep, step and weight really counts. Of course, dragging yourself out of bed first thing for a workout can be less than inspiring. Enter the pre-workout supplement, designed to help amp you up for a better, more effective workout. But before you down that caffeine-laced drink, make sure you know how it's going to affect your body during exercise -- you may find that a natural alternative is a healthier choice.

Purpose

While different pre-wrokout supplements make different claims, their main purpose is to supposedly help you get more out of your workout by increasing your energy and blood flow to the extremities. When taken before a workout, they're designed to help you have better focus, lift heavier and have more energy for a tough workout. A study published in a 2010 issue of the "Journal of the International Society of Sports Nutrition" found that using a pre-workout before exercise did increase cardiovascular activity and anaerobic running capacity in subjects.