Maximizing your energy is the easiest way to make sure you get the most out of your workouts. It doesn’t matter if you lift all the weights in the world, find the perfect balance of complex carbs and protein, if your energy levels are lacking during your workout, reaching your ideal physique becomes a harder goal to reach. High energy leads to notable gains during your workout, so adding energy supplements to your exercise regimen has the potential to completely transform your workout experience.
The problem? Not everyone loves coffee, and pounding caffeine does not always have the best health benefits long term. Luckily, there are plenty of energy supplements out there that are more natural and still have highly effective results in the physical exercise world. Even if maximizing your workout isn’t your primary goal, seeking out alternatives to caffeine can be a great journey for anyone who is trying to not go through the day overly exhausted. Looking for a bit of a pick-me-up that isn’t in the form of Starbucks or a sugary soda? Knowledge is power, and so the best thing you can do is read up about different forms of energy-boosting supplements to see which would be the best fit for your lifestyle, nutritional diet, and body composition. Hopefully, this compiled list can help you make the best-informed decision on which supplement would be the best fit for you.
- CoQ10. Starting off with a crowd favorite, CoQ10, or Coenzyme Q10, is an antioxidant that is actually already present in the cells of your body. Produced by the Mitochondria of your cells, CoQ10 helps prevent damage from occurring to your cells. This is a highly important job, as the Mitochondria are busy producing energy and converting food and air into energy called ATP. Unfortunately, as we get older CoQ10 starts to slow down and decline in our bodies, leaving us more susceptible to our cells working extra hard to repair the damage done to our cells without the aid of CoQ10. This leads to fatigue in our bodies on a cellular level. Delivering an extra dosage of CoQ10 to the mitochondria of our cells allows your body to produce the ATP you need for the day and have more energy.
- Vitamin B12. When you go to the doctor and complain about fatigue, one of the first things they’ll test you for is to see if you have a Vitamin B12 deficiency. Vitamin B12 can be found in animal protein and dairy products, but chances are you might not be getting enough in your daily diet. The lack of Vitamin B12 directly impacts your red blood cell count and can cause significant fatigue as Vitamin B12 is directly linked to cellular respiration. By adding a supplement or increasing Vitamin B12 in your diet, you may see an increase in your energy.
- Creatine. Creatine is another supplement option that impacts ATP, similar to CoQ10. As we mentioned above, ATP, or adenosine triphosphate, produces energy on a cellular level by converting food and air. In the case of Creatine, it contains a phosphate that can be given to ADP. It works to improve what goes into your cells in order to provide your muscles with the energy they need.
- Ashwagandha. The adaptogen Ashwagandha is a nootropic found often in mushrooms or herbs and is a natural supplement that works to reduce cortisol levels of stress and increase energy. By working steadily to lower stress levels and calm anxiety, Ashwagandha serves as a medicinal herb that allows your body to naturally fight burnout and responds to energy boosts.
- Citrulline Malate. Made up of the amino acid citrulline which binds itself to malic acid, Citrulline Malate helps with blood flow in the muscles which allows for more oxygen and nutrients to travel throughout the muscle. Citrulline Malate also fights ammonia build-up in the body which is made up of metabolized amino acids that lead to fatigue. By delaying the fatigue, this supplement allows you to get the most out of your exercise and daily activities by removing ammonia.
- Taurine & Tyrosine. Put simply, these two are amino acids that increase energy, aid in fat loss, build muscle strength, and enhance mental focus. This happens because during the day and as you exercise, amino acid levels drop in your muscles. B increasing these amino acids, different neurotransmitters and hormones are able to do their job and reduce the risk of fatigue.
- Vitamin D. One of the most common deficiencies, many people suffer from not enough Vitamin D. Unfortunately not receiving enough Vitamin D in your daily life can be directly linked to suffering from low energy and mental stress. With over 50% of people experiencing this deficiency, it is important to take a supplement that has been said to increase energy and improve mental health.
