Factors to Consider When Buying Pre-Workout for Men
When buying pre-workouts, you’ll want to choose a product suitable for your exact needs, whether that’s endurance or more energy.
Active Ingredients to Look For
Below you’ll find some of the most popular pre-workout ingredients that people buy and what they entail for your workouts:
BCAAs vs EAAs

BCAA stands for branched-chain amino l-acid and this amino consists of three compounds: isoleucine, valine and leucine. BCAAs aid in the production of protein, which supports the muscles in repairing themselves after a strong pump session [11]. They also decrease fatigue and combat soreness.
EAA represents another group of AAs that offer similar benefits as BCAAs, including muscle recovery and better athletic performance and endurance. Some believe that EAAs pre-workout is the better option, though studies are inconclusive.
Caffeine Content

Caffeine is that powerhouse ingredient in your cup of coffee or green tea. It comes in different forms in pre-workouts, mostly from coffee or green tea.
Some forms of caffeine may be cleaner than others and for those that are sensitive or worried about the jittery effect caffeine brings, opt for a pre-workout that contains L theanine. This amino acid helps relax you while supporting the energy boosting effect of caffeine.
Beta Alanine
Beta alanine is naturally occurring in the human body and it supports carnosine levels, which aid in endurance. It also contributes to quick lean muscle mass gains.
L Citrulline
Citrulline, a form of nitric oxide, marks one of many naturally occurring amino acids on the list. It’s said to benefit blood flow, relaxing veins and vessels for a smooth passage [12]. This provides better muscle building results by offering better transportation and absorption of nutrients.
Glutamine

This AA functions as a building block for protein production. It also plays a role in boosting the immune and digestive systems, both important markers for those that workout hard on a regular basis.
L Arginine
L arginine, or nitric oxide, is found in fish, red meats, poultry and dairy products. It’s another AA that participates in the synthesis of protein. Arginine might be beneficial for the immune and hormonal systems, too, the latter being especially important for testosterone levels in men [13].
Theacrine
Theacrine is an alkaloid found in teas and coffees. It works similar to caffeine, in that it’s a natural stimulant. This substance has an analgesic and anti-inflammatory effect, lowering pain in the body and fighting bloatation and swelling. Theacrine is very useful in workout recovery.
Nitrosigine
Unlike many of the natural substances included on this list, Nitrosigine is a premade complex. It’s made specifically for enhancing athletic performance and it combines ingredients commonly found in pre-workouts like inositol, potassium silicate and arginine.
Nitrosigine enhances blood flow and energy levels [14].
Adaptogens
Adaptogens consist of any plants that classify as herbal remedies, regardless of their use. They include ginseng, licorice, rhodiola, maca, ashwagandha and moringa.
Aframomum Melegueta

Aframomum, otherwise known as “grains of paradise”, is a common natural remedy found in a variety of supplements. It comes from the ginger family, similar to Enxtra. This substance might boost testosterone and immunity pre-workout, though studies aren’t conclusive at this time.
Sweeteners Used

You’ll often find sweeteners in pre-workouts, whether it’s for flavor or a quick boost in energy. Depending on the product, this might be a synthetic sweetener like aspartame or Stevia, whereas other supplements feature straight sugar.
This is a highly contested topic, where some say artificial sweeteners do more harm than good, including minor consequences to severe ones such as cancer.
One downside could be that these substances actually change the way you taste food [15]. For example, consuming artificial sweeteners regularly might lead you to find most vegetables completely unsatisfying or naturally sweetened fruits not sweet enough.
If you have to get these sweeteners in a pre-workout, do so with caution, otherwise choose natural sweeteners instead.

Ingredients to Avoid
There are other pre-workout ingredients that you should flat out avoid at all costs.
DMAA
Otherwise known as methylhexanamine, DMAA is a drug created for use as a nasal decongestant. People in the weight loss and physical performance worlds picked it up eventually for its ability to boost energy.
This amphetamine is now illegal in the United States, because of its dangerous side effects, including a tightening of the chest, heart attacks, and breathing difficulties.
DMHA
DMHA is another form of methylhexanamine, making it an amphetamine. As far as we know, the legality around this substance is up for debate.
Given its origin, though, it’s better you avoid it, as well, due to the potential consequences that accompany amphetamines.
Quality Manufacturers

Despite legal measures, some manufacturers sneak these substances into their products since they do offer some positive benefit when you’re bulking up.
For example, companies may list them by another product name, or further down the ingredient list where they could easily go unnoticed.
Use caution when choosing which pre-workout you want to take. Examine the ingredient list and customer feedback with discretion, so you get what you need.
Consider Your Needs
What one man, or woman, needs from a pre-workout may differ from another. Some are better for quick bulk, while others focus on losing weight and building lean muscle simultaneously.
For those craving a strong jolt of energy pre-pump session, choose something like BRF which offers 250 mg of caffeine per serving. This is also an excellent choice for those concerned with clean protein, considering its whey contents.
On the other hand, Powher and the thermogenic Capsiplex are both suitable options if you want to burn fat while you pump.
For all out endurance and power, choose something like Black Wolf. It contains Creatine for starters, and BioPerine for increasing the bioavailability of all the nutrients in the supplement. This could offer you the highest amount of benefits for better results.