There are many opinions on pre-workout supplements in the fitness community. There’s also a lot of doubt and questions, even from people who actively use pre-workout supplements.
One big question a lot of people ask is if it’s ok to take a pre-workout every day.
A pre workout may be safe in moderation, but what about when you’re at the gym every day and taking a supplement 5, 6, 7 times a week?
If you’re in doubt, keep reading, as this article will answer whether or not it’s ok - as well as covering some more common sources of confusion or misinformation surrounding pre workout supplements.
Is it OK to Take a Pre Workout Every Day?
So, is it ok to take a pre workout every day or not?
In most cases, it’s fine. However, this depends on the quality of the supplement you take, as well as your personal medical history.
Whether you’re taking a pre workout once a month, once a week or once a day, you should ensure it’s clean, made from quality ingredients, and doesn’t contain any harmful additives.
This is particularly important, however, if you’re going to take a pre workout more than just every so often.
If you take a questionable pre workout once, you might not do any lasting damage to your health. But regularly taking a supplement with, say, tons of added sugar or a dangerous level of caffeine every day can have serious long-term health consequences.
There also could be some medical circumstances that make a pre workout supplement not safe for daily consumption only for certain people. For example, if you’re sensitive to caffeine (which is in many pre workout supplements), or it happens to interact with other medication you’re taking.
If you have health conditions or are taking medication, check with your doctor before taking any supplement, especially on a daily basis.
For most people, however, a clean, high-quality pre-workout is safe to take every day.
When is it Not OK to Take a Pre Workout Every Day?
There are some warning signs that you should watch out for that your pre workout isn’t safe - or at least, that you should not take it every single day. Here are a few:
You’re Becoming Dependent
You’ll want to watch out that your pre workout doesn’t become a crutch. You should be able to work out without it, and not constantly feel like you “need” your pre workout.
It’s fine to feel a boost from your pre workout supplement, but when you start to feel dependent on it, this might be time to hit the brakes. This can be a common situation with clean, yet powerful supplements.
Though the ingredients may not be dangerous, they may come in such high levels that routine use begins to hurt your ability to perform naturally.
If you think you’re becoming dependent on your pre workout, taper off and give your body a break. It may be difficult for a few sessions, but eventually your body should re-adapt to performing without it.
Then consider switching to a different supplement, or lowering your regular dose.
You Get Jittery and Crash Soon After
One of the most common reasons you might need to think about easing up on your pre workout intake is if it results in you getting a ton of caffeine. And one of the side-effects of taking too much caffeine is jitters, followed by a big crash in energy levels.
Caffeine on its own is not necessarily a harmful substance, but there is a limit to how much you can take safely.
This limit is likely to be lower for some people, depending on your body composition and any other medical conditions (particularly cardiovascular-related), and how long the effects of pre workout last for you.
It’s also easy to overdo it if you drink a lot of coffee throughout the day, and follow it up (or take beforehand) a caffeine-loaded pre workout.
Supplements Loaded With Sugar or Artificial Additives
In general, you should stay away from supplements with artificial additives or sweeteners, including those with a lot of sugar. But if you only take a pre workout every now and then, a supplement with a high amount of sugar probably won’t do a lot of harm.
When it becomes a problem is if it’s a regular thing, like if you take a pre workout every day. If this is the case, you need to pay more attention to finding a pure supplement, like our clean citrus pre workout supplement.
Over time, you’ll significantly cut down your sugar intake and any negative effects from daily pre workout use.
Your Pre Workout is Affecting Your Sleep
Finally, if you work out late in the day, your pre workout supplement may affect the quality of your sleep, or make it hard to get to sleep.
As mentioned already, most pre workouts contain caffeine. And even a small amount of caffeine can harm your sleep quality, if your body hasn’t had time to process it yet.
Pay attention to your sleep quality, and the time it takes to get to sleep, particularly on days when you take pre workout. If you see any negative effects, consider other supplements, or foregoing pre workout altogether.
What Time of the Day is Best for Pre Workout?
Following from the previous point, the presence of caffeine and other energy boosters means it’s generally better to take pre workout earlier in the day.
Caffeine has a half life of around 5 hours, which means it can take around 10 hours for the body to process fully. Ideally, you want all this caffeine processed and no longer active when it’s time to sleep, which means for most people, avoiding caffeine in the afternoon.
How Long Before a Workout Should I Take a Pre Workout?
Aimt to take your pre workout about 15-30 minutes before you start working out.
Most pre workouts kick in pretty quickly, but you should still give it a little time to start working. You also want to take some time so your body isn’t working to digest it while you’re also straining to lift hard or run fast.
The best time to take a pre workout does depend on your body type, as well as the composition of your supplement, so it can vary from case to case. Do a bit of trial and error on your own, to find out what time works best for you.
Final Thoughts
A lot of people will tell you pre workout supplements are harmful, and shouldn’t be taken in any circumstance. For most pre workouts, that’s just not true.
Whether you should take a pre workout every day, however, is another story. There are some cases where even mostly safe pre workouts shouldn’t be taken 5, 6 or 7 times a week.
However, if you stick to a clean pre workout like Naked Energy, you should be fine. Just pay attention to what your body tells you, and keep an eye out for any warning signs that you may need to taper off.