Can Pre-workouts cause anxiety?

This blog post will answer the question: Can Pre-workouts cause anxiety? What are some ingredients in the pre-workout supplements that one can look out for in order to avoid it? What are the symptoms of pre-workout anxiety? What are the ways to deal with pre-workout anxiety? Can caffeine sensitivity have an impact on a person’s pre-workout anxiety?

Can Pre-workouts cause anxiety?

Most pre-workouts usually consist of caffeine. when an individual takes an excessive amount of these pre-workouts consisting of high amounts of caffeine in them it might lead to negative effects such as causing anxiety in individuals.

If an individual continues to take a pre-workout supplement that causes excess emotions of anxiety it could lead to much bigger problems that could be difficult to tackle at an advanced stage if neglected and avoided at the initial stages.

It’s not the pre-workout supplement in itself that causes the anxiety but the ingredients that are found in these pre-workout supplements that cause it negative effects. 

Pre-workout supplements that are very high in stimulants are usually the ones that an individual should be conscious about as these are the main reasons that might cause anxiety post its use.

What are some ingredients in the pre-workout supplements that one can look out for in order to avoid anxiety post-its use?

Caffeine

It’s a well-known fact that caffeine is usually used to boost an individual’s energy that is it is a solid energizer. It’s not right to say that caffeine is not safe for consumption however anything when consumed in excess can result in negative effects.

The same holds with caffeine. A very high amount of caffeine taken per day continuously for a long period of time can have negative effects on an individual such as it might cause anxiety or high blood pressure.

According to the Mayo Clinic, healthy adults should not consume anything more than 400 milligrams of caffeine per day. Using a pre-workout that has higher amounts of caffeine than the suggested amount might put an individual in a spot of overdosing.

Other stimulants

The pre-workout supplements that do not have a predominant level of caffeine have other stimulants that play a similar role. These stimulants again are not bad in themselves but having an overdose of them could put an individual at risk.

It is best advisable that whenever an individual is looking for a Pre-workout, they must look into the amount of stimulants present in the pre-workout by having a look at the ingredient list.

Bitter orange

Orange is another common substance found in many pre-workout supplements. Usually, when an individual sees this ingredient in the ingredient list of the pre-workout supplement the first thought might be that what harm can orange do?

There is enough evidence that shows bitter orange does not affect the performance of an individual during exercise In fact evidence suggests that when bitter oranges are combined with caffeine it might lead to adverse effects such as increased anxiety or heart arrhythmia.

What are the symptoms of pre-workout anxiety?

The symptoms of pre-workout anxiety are:

• Increased heart rate
• Nervousness
• Dizziness or Lightheadedness
• Sweating and trembling
• Difficulty in breathing
• Restlessness

What are the ways to deal with Pre-workout anxiety?

Take some water

The most effective way to get rid of the anxiety caused due to the high levels of caffeine or other stimulants is to try and flush it out of an individual’s body. 

This can best be done by drinking some water. Consumption of water will help to decrease the effects that caffeine caused within a short period. 

Being dehydrated on the other hand can increase the effects caused by those stimulants or caffeine. The best ratio would be drinking two glasses of water for every cup of pre-workout taken

Exercise

Caffeine and other stimulants are usually used to help individuals perform their best while exercising, But increased levels of these might cause negative effects such as anxiety. Exercising helps to improve an individual’s metabolism and make them feel good about themselves. Indulging in a moderate level of physical activity post the use of a pre-workout may help to reduce the anxiety within a span of 10 to 15 minutes.

Give it some time

Usually, the effects of caffeine and stimulants fade away by themselves. However, the other alternative method could be to practice deep breathing techniques while patiently waiting for the effects of the caffeine to subside naturally. Individuals must usually be feeling back to their normal within a couple of hours if an individual is ready to give it that time.

Use of herbal drinks

It is known that herbal drinks help to neutralize the effect of caffeine and other stimulants in an individual’s body. Apart from neutralizing the effect of these substances, they are also known to contain ingredients that are considered to be beneficial to an individual’s health such as helping in digestion. one such helpful herbal drink could be chamomile tea.

Can caffeine sensitivity have an impact on a person’s pre-workout anxiety?

It is known that some people are more sensitive to caffeine than others. In other words, people differ in their thresholds towards the use and effect of caffeine. Does people were more sensitive to caffeine might experience higher amounts of pre-workout anxiety than those who are less sensitive to it.

It is known that the half-life of caffeine is about 5 to 7 hours for many people however for some it may be as much as 10 hours. these differences may be explained by genetic factors, age-related factors, or gender.

In that, it is seen that men metabolize caffeine slower than females and therefore are more sensitive to its side effects putting them at a higher risk of experiencing pre-workout anxiety.

 

Conclusion

To avoid any long-term damage or any distress due to the pre-workout supplements it is always best to carry out research on the pre-workout supplements that you plan on buying.

As it doesn’t make sense to rely on potentially damaging supplements that are loaded with stimulants and caffeine that leave an individual feeling depressed or anxious even after the workout.

People usually go to the gym in order to feel light and feel good about themselves. In order to do so the first step is to choose the right pre-workout supplement that will help them achieve their set goals and not leave them feeling low or anxious.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs):

How do I stop pre-workout anxiety?

Some ways to stop pre-workout anxiety are:

Try and understand what is causing the anxiety. Anxiety is usually looked at as the body’s natural way of indicating a threat.

To avoid the instances of experiencing pre-workout anxiety the best and most reliable solution is to avoid taking caffeine-dominant supplements before a workout. Although it is a well-known fact that the use of caffeine helps to boost energy sometimes the use of it may backfire.

Try to pick a physical activity that is not very challenging and is enjoyable for you. Many people usually have a notion that starting with very challenging physical activities might bring out results faster however this might not go as taught always.

Does pre-workout affect mood?

Pre-workout supplements usually have ingredients that improve muscular endurance there is no evidence that these pre-workouts have any effect on mood states.

Why shouldn’t you take pre-workout?

Most pre-workout or energy-boosting substances have caffeine in them, an excess intake of caffeine can lead to negative effects such as disturbed sleep, anxiety, or a rise in blood pressure.

Can I take pre-workout every day?

Evidence indicates that for adults it is considered safe to consume about 400 milligrams of pre-workout per day. An individual needs to keep a track of how much caffeine the pre-workout contains concerning the number of scopes they are consuming before each workout.

How long does it take for exercise to help reduce anxiety?

It takes close to five to 10 minutes of exercise to improve an individual’s mood and reduce distress and improve an individual’s overall mental state.

Citations

https://thesportsdaily.com/2019/06/12/pre-workouts-and-anxiety-the-ugly-truth-revealed/

https://totalshape.com/supplements/can-pre-workouts-cause-anxiety/

https://www.deathwishcoffee.com/blogs/coffee-talk/coffee-jitters-here-s-the-fix