What Is The Best Stimulant Free Pre Workout – You Can Still Get Pumped
Whether you are Caffeine intolerant or just trying to limit your daily Caffeine dose, you will want to know, what is the best stimulant free pre workout. The majority of pre workout supplements are packed full of Caffeine based stimulants making it difficult to find a good one that doesn’t contain it.
Based on market research, my personal experience and reviews, I’m going to introduce some of the best Caffeine free alternatives. Great stimulant free pre workouts do exist, and I’m going to list them as well as the benefits and negatives of each.
I’ll also go over the zero Caffeine pre workout differences as well as what ingredients are substituted to give you that energy and enhanced performance.
Why Stimulant Free Pre Workout
The most popular pre workout supplements contain between 150-300mg of Caffeine per serving, with some of the highest up to 400mg. This is like drinking 2 to 7 cups of coffee at one time.
This amount can be enough to make a lot of us feel like we’re crawling out of our skin. Many of us just don’t care for the way that Caffeine makes us feel or it can make us sick.
Caffeine Addiction
Caffeine is the most addictive legal stimulant out there and is classified as a drug because of the way that it reacts with the central nervous system. The temporary energy boost and increased motivation come with a strong crash soon afterward.
Even worse, the addictive effects have you going back for more to avoid going through Caffeine detox. It can take more than a week for your body to sluggishly and painfully get over the lack of this stimulant.
Caffeine Tolerance
Another thing to consider about Caffeine is tolerance. This is a very real thing that happens when your body gets use to higher quantities of Caffeine. After a time, your body develops this tolerance to where Caffeine is not effective anymore.
This starts out by having to take more and more to produce the same effect and ends up that no amount of Caffeine will work. At this point, this can be quite unhealthy and it is best to take some time off from Caffeine all together.
Caffeine Allergies and Intolerance
Other reasons for avoiding Caffeine are blatantly obvious. Some people are Caffeine intolerant or even worse, a Caffeine allergy.
With intolerance, this is basically a sensitivity to this stimulant. It starts with the way their body metabolizes this chemical. A small amount of Caffeine will affect them as if they took a large amount. Intolerance to Caffeine can result in headaches, anxiety, and lack of sleep.
A Caffeine allergy is a little more serious and it is recommended to avoid Caffeine completely. This allergy usually comes from your genetic makeup. It causes some of the same reactions as intolerance but will also show rashes and red bumps, swelling of lips and tongue, itchy mouth and even hives.
Any other questions or comments about Caffeine? Leave them at the bottom of this page and I will respond.
What Takes The Place Of Caffeine
Until they come out with a stimulant free “magic bullet” you will never get quite the same effects from the ingredients in a zero Caffeine pre workout.
However, a pre workout powder is still a complete performance and strength building supplement without this stimulant. Certain Amino Acids such as Beta Alanine will help to increase your energy naturally.
Citrulline may be the most important Amino in a Caffeine free pre workout. This is what helps to manufacture more Nitric Oxide through a chain of events. Nitric Oxide is the key ingredient to get what is referred to as a muscle pump.
This is where your veins are vascularized to be able to carry more nutrients and oxygen to your muscles as well as keep them hydrated. When this happens, you will be able to have a more intense workout, longer endurance and less rest between exercises.
Stimulant free manufacturers have to be a little more creative with their ingredients. Because of this, they tend to use better and higher quantities of certain Amino Acids. The ingredients in Stimulant free pre workouts are designed to give you sustained and slow release energy to get you through to the end of a workout.
A few Caffeine free pre workouts include thermogenic ingredients. These promote weight loss while you are getting toned and building muscle. Thermogenics boost your metabolism giving you more energy and burning calories faster. A few ingredients to look for are Cayenne or Capsicum, CLA, L-Carnitine and green tea extract(which may contain small amounts of Caffeine).
Stim-Free Ingredients:
- Branched Chain Amino Acids (BCAA’s)
- Arginine Alpha-Ketoglutarate
- Citrulline Malate
- Beta Alanine
- Vitamin B’s
- Minerals (Electrolytes)
- Creatine Monohydrate
Try the best Creatine for Enhanced Muscle Growth
Benefits Of Going Stimulant Free
Stimulant free pre workout popularity is on the rise. You don’t have to go to the gym with that jittery, overly wired feeling or deal with that post workout crash. While you may not get the Caffeine energy with these supplements, it will still provide you with the muscle pump and increased strength.
It is the Amino Acids in a pre workout that provide you with the endurance and keep you from fatiguing. There will be less rest time between exercises and increased muscle performance.
A Caffeine free pre workout will actually give you a bigger pump and more endurance than one with Caffeine. The reason for this is that they are designed to work as a vasodilator to enlarge your veins to bring more oxygen and nutrients to your muscles. Caffeine is a vasoconstrictor which works to hamper these effects and reduces blood flow during exercise.
Another negative for Caffeine is its effect on Creatine. Because of this, Creatine is more effective for building muscle and increasing performance in a stimulant free pre workout. Caffeine will actually work against the positive effects that Creatine brings.
If you know of any other benefits of going stimulant free, please let me know more at the bottom of this page.
What Is The Best Stimulant Free Pre Workout
Product: N.O.-Xplode Caffeine Free Pre Workout
Price: $$
Where to purchase: Get the Best Price on N.O. Xplode
Container size: 30 servings
Rating: 4.2 out of 5
Manufacturer: Bio Engineered Supplements at gobsn.com
Guarantee: 30 day satisfaction guarantee
Designed to be a complete pre workout igniter. I’ve recommended the Caffeinated version of NO Xplode on this site several times, but the Caffeine free version gets excellent reviews as well. This formula helps to deliver increased energy, endurance, support mental focus, and more muscular strength.
It contains DMAE which is a naturally found compound that positively affects mood and improves brain function. This helps with natural energy, motivation, and focus.
I really like that it contains a full 5 gram serving of Creatine. This is great for increased muscle mass and exercise performance. All of the vitamins and minerals provide hydration and natural energy. The Citrulline Malate and Arginine are two Amino Acids that will give you incredible muscle pumps.
N.O.-Xplode Positives
- 5 grams of Creatine Monohydrate
- Packed with minerals and vitamin B
- 2.9 grams of Beta Alanine
- 1 gram of Citrulline Malate blend
Potential Negatives
- Sweetened with Sucralose
- Contains milk products
- Proprietary blends
Product: Genius Brand Pre Workout Powder
Price: $$$
Where to purchase: Get the Best Price on Genius Pre
Container size: 20 servings
Rating: 4.5 out of 5
Manufacturer: The Genius Brand at thegeniusbrand.com
Guarantee: 30 day satisfaction guarantee
Focus without Caffeine and gets excellent ratings. Genius is a Caffeine free Nitric Oxide booster. This is what brings the muscles additional oxygen, nutrients, and hydration for longer endurance and faster recovery time. The 6 grams of Citrulline Malate is one of the highest quantities in a pre workout. Genius uses a synergistic matrix of proven nootropics to naturally boost energy levels.
Includes their signature, AlphaSize which delays fatigue and optimizes muscle energy. Genius pre workout has a great balance of the essential Amino Acids necessary for a great pre workout. An “all natural” pre workout which means no artificial ingredients.
Genius Brand Positives
- 6 grams of Citrulline Malate
- Great concentration of Aminos
- Contains an energy support blend
- Sweetened with Stevia
- No artificial ingredients
Potential Negatives
- Costs more than average
- Possible root extract sensitivity
Product: Legion Pulse Natural Pre Workout
Price: $$$
Where to purchase: Get the Best Price on Legion Pulse
Container size: 21 servings
Rating: 4.2 out of 5
Manufacturer: Legion Athletics at legionathletics.com
Guarantee: 30 day satisfaction guarantee
This is another great “all natural” Caffeine Free pre workout. There are no artificial flavors, colors or sugars. Legion Pulse is a complete Nitric Oxide booster for muscle pump and increased vascularity. This is 100% pure and backed by scientific evidence.
No extra filler ingredients. Legion Pulse comes with an incredible 8 grams of Citrulline Malate for muscle pump and vascularity. It contains Alpha GPC for fighting fatigue and improving mental awareness. I’m also a big fan of the Caffeinated version of Legion Pulse.
Legion Pulse Positives
- 8 grams of Citrulline Malate
- 3.6 grams of Beta Alanine
- An “all natural” pre workout
- Comes in several great flavors
- No proprietary blends
Possible negatives
- Doesn’t contain Creatine
- Price is more than average
Product: PumpSurge Pre Workout
Price: $
Where to purchase: Get the Best Price on PumpSurge
Container size: 30 servings
Rating: 4.6 out of 5
Manufacturer: Jacked Factory at shop.jackedfactory.com
Guarantee: 30 day satisfaction guarantee
Pumpsurge is a down and dirty inexpensive and to the point pre workout for pump and endurance. With a very simple ingredients matrix, it includes 5 grams of Citrulline and 150 mg of GPC. These are the Aminos provided for increased vascularization and to delay fatigue.
This pre workout promotes muscle growth and better performance. It includes ergogenic boosters and brain-enhancing nootropic ingredients. However, Pumpsurge doesn’t include all of the key Amino Acids.
Pumpsurge Positives
- 5 grams of Citrulline
- 150 mg of GPC
- Transparent Label
- No fillers
- Low price
Possible Negatives
- Contains artificial ingredients
- Lacks some Aminos
- No vitamins or minerals
Product: NO3 Ultimate Nitric Oxide Supplement
Price: $$$
Where to purchase: Get the Best Price on NO3 Ultimate
Container size: 20 servings
Rating: 4.3 out of 5
Manufacturer: Cellucor at cellucor.com
Guarantee: 30 day satisfaction guarantee
C4 is the biggest name in the supplement industry and they know what they’re doing. This is technically not called a pre workout, but a Nitric Oxide booster. However, this is primarily what a Caffeine free pre workout is.
It contains 4 grams of Citrulline to enhance the biggest pumps. Also, Nitrosigine, Arginine Alpha-Ketoglutarate, and NO3-T to help with muscle pump as well as keeping your workout at a high intensity. Although it has a small list of ingredients, each one is found to be effective to extend and enhance your workout.
NO3 Ultimate Positives
- 4 grams of Citrulline
- 500mg Arginine Nitrate(NO3-T)
- For extreme pumps
- Long lasting
Possible Negatives
- Contains artificial ingredients
- No Frills
Conclusion
The fact is that you may not get the same energy rush and motivation without Caffeine. However, there are many pre workout benefits that come with going without it. It’s the Amino Acids in a pre workout that really gives you the strength and endurance advantages.
Also, the effects of some of the important ingredients such as Citrulline and Creatine are actually hampered by Caffeine. If you are sensitive to Caffeine, you won’t have to worry about the jitters, anxiety or sleepless nights.
As far as, what is the best stimulant free pre workout, most of these provide additional Amino quantities to make up for the lack of Caffeine. Look for plenty of Citrulline for vascularization and Beta Alanine for added endurance. Some include Creatine which is excellent for muscle growth and performance.
Several of my recommendations are “all natural” which are perfect if you are trying to avoid artificial ingredients in your diet. You can get an effective pre workout without Caffeine.
If you have any comments or questions on what is the best stimulant free pre workout, please leave them below and I will respond.
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