Can I take a pre-workout supplement while pregnant? This is a concern that plagues a significant number of expectant mothers. In a nutshell, the answer is that the ingredients decide it.
Consuming pre-workout supplements, typically rich in bodily stimulants, might harm you and your unborn child.
However, we could all use a little more energy boost to make it through our workout. Doing so is much more important when pregnant because you’re already energy efficient.
There are, fortunately, some pre-workout supplements that are safe for pregnant women to consume.
Before discussing which pre-workout supplements are safe for pregnant women, we need to examine how pre-workout supplements deliver energy to the body.
How Does Pre-Workout Work?
Pre-workout is a supplement that provides your body with a blend of ingredients intended to help improve your performance during your workout.
By providing your body with these beneficial ingredients, pre-workout supplements can help you to feel more energized and focused during your workout, which may lead to better results.
Before purchasing a new batch of pre-workout, it is important to check the label to see what components it contains.
Caffeine is the most essential component to look out for because its content can range from moderate to high. In extreme cases, high caffeine levels can cause serious health issues like anxiety, insomnia, and high blood pressure.
Supplements in Pre-Workout and Their EffectsThese
Pre-workout has a lot of ingredients, but some of the most common ingredients are:
Caffeine
Caffeine is a stimulant present in the majority of pre-workout supplements. By attaching to the adenosine receptors, it enhances your energy.
Adenosine controls the wake-sleep cycle. When levels of this neurotransmitter rise, sleepiness increases; caffeine stops this from happening and keeps you awake and stimulated during exercise.
REMEMBER: Too much caffeine is not safe for pregnancy.
Beta-Alanine
Beta-alanine is an amino acid that the liver produces. Beta-alanine is likely present in any pre-workout substance that induces a tingling sensation.
Moreover, beta-alanine can also work with caffeine to prevent weariness during exercise, strengthening endurance and athletic performance.
REMEMBER: Women should not take alanine supplements while pregnant or breastfeeding.
Theacrine
Teacrine is a proprietary ingredient included in numerous pre-workout supplements.
Teacrine is an intriguing component because it enhances energy, endurance, performance, and mental clarity. Additionally, it pairs well with coffee. However, because it is not a stimulant, it has no adverse side effects, such as anxiety or a crash.
REMEMBER: Although the beneficial effects of taking theacrine have been demonstrated, there is insufficient accurate evidence on its safety during pregnancy or breastfeeding.
Nitrosigine
Nitrosigine is another chemical patented and used in pre-workout supplements. It is a non-stimulant chemical that enhances muscle blood flow. It also enhances energy (without jitters or crashes) and improves concentration.
REMEMBER: According to a study, Nitrosigine concentrations that are too high should be avoided whenever possible since they are linked to an increased risk of preeclampsia developing in pregnant women.
Creatine
The liver, pancreas, and kidneys are the organs that manufacture creatine.
When ingesting creatine in supplement form, you enhance your body’s natural supply of phosphocreatine (the stored form of creatine). The body then uses phosphocreatine to make adenosine triphosphate (ATP), giving you extra energy and enhancing exercise endurance.
REMEMBER: An oral creatine supplement is a risk-free and inexpensive medication. It can lessen the pregnancy issues connected with low or lack of oxygen from the mother to the baby during pregnancy.
L-Citrulline
L-Citrulline aids in the body’s generation of nitric oxide. Nitric oxide increases the arteries’ relaxation, improving blood flow and nutrient and oxygen delivery to the muscles.
REMEMBER: Supplementing with L-citrulline when pregnant appears to have positive impacts on the vascular health of the mother, which may have translational implications for enhanced cardiovascular health in the mother.
L-Theanine
It is an amino acid that is found in tea leaves. The effect is soothing but not sedative.
L-Theanine is frequently eaten alongside caffeine. This combination allows you to maintain concentration without experiencing agitation or anxiety.
REMEMBER: This supplement is thought to be safe to take during pregnancy and may help relieve symptoms associated with anxiety, stress, and depression.
I’m pregnant; Can I Still Use Pre-Workout Supplements?
Can you take a pre-workout when pregnant? The simple answer is that you certainly can, provided that the supplements you take do not have any components that could be hazardous to your child.
After all, the Food and Drug Administration does not test dietary supplements like pre-workout pills to identify whether or not they are safe and effective.
However, this does not necessarily imply that pre-workout pills, in general, are unsafe for pregnant women to take. Aside from discussing this matter with your primary care physician, we advise avoiding consuming large amounts of caffeine or other stimulants.
Many pregnant women choose to take a pre-workout supplement that does not contain caffeine but several substances designed to maximize their workouts.
Pre-Workout Alternatives For Pregnant Women
There is a wide variety of healthy foods and supplements available to choose from that will help raise your energy levels and get you ready to concentrate on your workout.
Green Tea
If you want to increase your energy levels but are concerned about exceeding your caffeine limit, green tea is an excellent choice. It has around a fourth of coffee’s caffeine, with each cup containing about 25 mg.
The polyphenols in green tea have even been shown to have an anti-inflammatory effect (goodbye, swollen joints).
Coffee
As long as you don’t drink more than 200 milligrams of caffeine in a single day, drinking coffee during pregnancy is safe and won’t affect your ability to have a healthy baby. Coffee is delicious and satisfying. It can make a long day feel much shorter; it helps lessen feelings of exhaustion and enhances energy levels.
Spirulina
It is a blue-green alga that has been shown to not only be safe for pregnant women but there is also evidence that it may be advantageous! It is a terrific approach to boost general health and nutrition while lowering inflammation because it contains various anti-inflammatory antioxidants and vitamin B.
Fresh Juice
An excellent alternative to a pre-workout pill is drinking freshly squeezed juice from fruit and vegetables. By blending these entire foods, you get a healthy source of energy, an increase in nutrition, and assistance with healing your muscles.
Training During Pregnancy (Considerations & Benefits)
Many pregnant women want to keep up with their exercise routines, and it is absolutely possible for them to do so.
There are a few things to take into consideration.
Stick with what you already know and are comfortable with instead of trying something new, like powerlifting. The two exceptions to this rule are swimming and walking, which are excellent kinds of exercise that may be added to your schedule.
Lifting weights is a great way to keep your muscles toned and strong while pumping your blood. This can make the pregnancy go more efficiently, minimize the risk of developing gestational diabetes, and even lessen the pain that you have in your back.
In addition, make sure that you are consuming a balanced diet that includes sufficient protein to promote your unborn child’s growth.
FAQ
Why should a pregnant woman seek advice from her doctor before taking a pre-workout supplement?
Many women would be worried if they used a pre-workout supplement before they knew they were pregnant. In the early stages, it is not unusual for a woman to have eaten or drunk something that is technically not good during pregnancy.
During a break at the gym, a woman grabs a pre-workout supplement.
Most of the time, there is no reason to worry if you take pre-workouts before you know you’re pregnant. There’s a decent chance that pre-workouts ingredients are safe for pregnant women, but we don’t have enough research data to be definitive.
The most important thing to do is stop taking the pre-workout if not all ingredients are safe for pregnancy. You should also inform your doctor about any supplements you have taken recently.
Can you take a pre-workout while trying to conceive?
Because of the possibility that it will affect male fertility, it’s probably not a good idea for men (depending on the supplement). It is a good idea for women to consult their physicians as well.
What should I do if I didn’t realise I was pregnant and was taking a pre-workout before I found out?
Regarding the consumption of supplements, this is one of the most frequently asked questions. As soon as you find out, you should stop taking the supplement and make an appointment with your primary care physician. They will be able to give you the correct direction on where to go from there.
I’m pregnant; is it safe for me to drink C4?
No, we do not recommend using brands such as C4 while a woman is pregnant. C4 contains too many chemicals and caffeine to be consumed safely during pregnancy.
Related Article: Probiotics Vs. Prebiotics — Which One is Better for My Gut Health?
Take Away
It is not inappropriate for you to consume pre-workout pills while you are pregnant. You merely need to consume one of the health supplements; before doing so, consult your primary care physician.
This guarantees the health and safety of both you and your unborn child and provides you with the essential supplements you need while excluding those you do not require. Before going to the gym, there are many “natural” ways to boost your energy, so you should investigate all available possibilities.
