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Power Up Your Pump: Top Energy Drinks for Weightlifting

Power Up Your Pump: Top Energy Drinks for Weightlifting

If you’re looking for an energy drink that can help you lift heavier weights and perform better at the gym, you should look for something with less caffeine.

To build muscular strength, you have to engage your muscles for an extended period, and you must also be aware of the basic principles that can help you improve your performance during training.

It makes you wonder, what sort of energy drink should you choose to motivate and give you the strength to lift weights? What essential ingredients should you be looking for? 

This article will cover all the information you must know about the best energy drinks for weightlifters.

Read on to find out!

Essential Ingredients in Energy Drinks for Weightlifters

Energy drinks have various components that serve a specific purpose, but if your goal is to pump iron, it is vital to take note of ingredients that increase muscle endurance.

Caffeine

Caffeine is in many of our favorite foods and drinks, the most famous of which is coffee. It is a central nervous system stimulant that enhances efficiency and overall performance, aside from being a good source of energy.

Caffeine can be extracted from many sources.

There’s natural caffeine that comes from plants, and there is synthetic caffeine that is chemically synthesized.

Synthetic caffeine is absorbed quicker by our system than natural caffeine, resulting in an immediate boost in energy, but can also cause high-speed crashes. Natural caffeine metabolizes differently than synthetic ones.

Caffeine from green tea binds to the antioxidants from the same source, which slows down the body’s absorption of caffeine —giving you a more sustained energy boost.

I should also point out that caffeine can cause dehydration. I’m sure you wouldn’t want that to happen.

So, if you’re going to have caffeinated drinks before your session, you may want to drink lots of water or look for energy drinks that also contain electrolytes to aid in hydration.

As a rule of thumb, caffeinated energy drinks should only include about 3 to 6 mg of caffeine per kilogram of your body weight. If you’re really conscious about your caffeine intake, you may need to do a little bit of math. I’m sure you can manage.

Lastly, caffeine is not recommended for individuals with heart complications. For others that are perfectly healthy, you still need to control your intake to avoid caffeine overdose.

Sugar

You must also keep a closer eye on your sugar consumption, especially if you like carbonated energy drinks. It is so easy to overlook, but numerous energy drink brands contain large amounts of sugar. 

High sugar content will do you no favor if you’re aiming to achieve washboard abs and chiseled arms. Also, energy drinks with excessive sugar are harmful, for they often trigger a sugar crash, which wouldn’t be very helpful if it happens halfway through your training, right?

The video below discusses the recommended daily sugar intake and why it’s important to abide by this!

How much is too much sugar?

That’s why some energy drinks utilize artificial sweeteners instead of sugar. Mainly, they are Erythritol and Stevia, which are derived from natural sources.

Erythritol contains just 6% of the calories of the regular sugar but has the 70% of its sweetness. Also, it does not raise blood sugar or insulin levels, making it an excellent sugar alternative for people with diabetes.

Stevia, on the other hand, is also an adequate organic sugar replacement. Stevia is 200 times sweeter than sugar, and it contains no calories. According to research, Stevia may even be used to treat obesity, diabetes, and hypertension.

Nutrients

Here are some nutrients you can usually find in energy drinks that can also be significant for your training!

Citrulline malate 

Citrulline malate is an amino acid that increases your blood flow, blood supply, and muscle oxygenation, all of which are necessary for delivering the nutrients and energy needed to enhance fitness levels. 

When weight training, a dosage of 6 to 8 grams is citrulline supplement is suggested.

Taurine

Taurine is also beneficial for exercise training, according to certain studies. It has been shown in tests to stimulate the muscular system to function harder and for longer durations, as well as to improve the muscles’ capacity to contract and generate force.

Beta-alanine

Another amino acid that also promotes active core muscles is beta-alanine. It is an excellent pre-training component since it works directly on muscle fibers and regulates acidity during activity.

The International Society of Sports Nutrition recommends 5 to 6 grams of Beta-alanine daily to improve exercise performance.

BCAAs

In my opinion, the most essential amino acid for muscle development is the branched-chain amino acids, or BCAAs for short. These amino acids exist in various forms, but water-soluble powders or liquids are the best for your training since your body can absorb them easily throughout your workout.      

Price

Truth be told, the cost of the energy drink should also be considered. It is generally preferable to spend less, especially if you’re planning to include them in your daily routine.

The value of an energy drink is determined mostly by the brands and the number of drinks you purchase. If bought separately, most energy drinks will cost between $1.00 and $3.00 per serving.

This does not imply that the lower the price, the lower the quality of the energy drink you’ll get. I understand that as a consumer, you don’t want to be taken advantage of, and you want to get the most bang for your buck when it comes to finding alternative sources of the energy you need.

Just keep reading; in the end, I’ve got just the right energy drink for you.

Do Energy Drinks Actually Help In Weightlifting? 

They actually do! In fact, energy drinks don’t just help you in your weightlifting training, but their effects still stay even after your workout.

Caffeinated beverages, such as energy drinks, stimulate your muscular system functions, increasing your core strength and stamina. This muscle activation will provide you with a great release of energy to keep you active and meet your tasks, sets, and reps.

Not just your physical but also your mental performance will improve from utilizing energy drinks. Yes, I know you won’t be taking some science and math tests in the gym, but it will give you focus inside and outside the gym.

Whereas caffeine may be advantageous, it must be used in moderation since too much caffeine can have damaging consequences.

Effects of Energy Drinks on Lifting Weights

Here are some of the benefits of energy drinks that may help you break your weightlifting record.

  • Caffeine activates your neurological system and increases your maximum mental capacity throughout your sessions.
  • Taking energy drinks as a refreshment while training may increase muscular stamina and help you finish your training regimen before becoming worn out.
  • Energy drinks may also help decrease the muscular pain that you may experience the following days.
  • Nutrients including beta-alanine boost muscle metabolism during strenuous exercise and endurance sessions.

Caffeine consumption before an exercise has been proven in studies to enhance cardio exercises, resistance training, and durability for weightlifting.

Best Energy Drink for Lifting Weights

Now for the most interesting part! Weightlifters may pass through any of their local markets or get some through online shops before going into their fitness gyms, and these are the best go-to you must consider.

ENERGY DRINKSCaffeine LevelsSugar ContentsCaloriesPrice
BangHigh (300 mg)0 g0 cal$2.20
Red BullLow (80 mg)27 g160 cal$2
MonsterModerate (160 mg)54 g110 cal$3
REIZELow (50 mg)0 g11 cal$1
Best Energy Drinks for Lifting Weights

Bang 

The 300 mg of caffeine in one can of Bang Energy is designed just for heavy lifters!

Bang energy drink contains BCAAs in trace amounts, and it is calorie and sugar-free. It also provides a fantastic energy boost for resistance training.

For an average healthy adult, the maximum caffeine intake is 400mg in a day. Just one single serving of Bang brings you dangerously close to that threshold, so strictly limit yourself to one per day.

Red Bull 

The regular Red Bull has less sugar than most energy drinks, but it has the most calories.

It is also less expensive than the ones listed in the table, although several more inexpensive options are available. Red Bull is also accessible in a lot of local shops where you can have them conveniently.

If you’ve been wanting to eliminate a few extra pounds off your weight, I do not recommend it mainly because of its high sugar and calorie contents. Nevertheless, Red Bull could be a good source for your energy boost occasionally.

Monster

Monster absolutely keeps you going and brings you the additional boost you need together with its high amounts of essential ingredients.

It is basically high in sugar and calorie contents, which is good for people looking for that high boost! Its 54 g of sugar and 110 cal for a 16 fl. oz is something you would like to have in a challenging situation, but not much alone straight before a heavy activity

Its high sugar and calorie content may not be for everyone, but for people looking for a great boost in energy, a Monster is a great option. Its 54g of sugar and 110 cal for every 16 fl. oz can is something you would like to have in challenging situations like weight lifting and snow skiing.

However, this energy drink is known to cause crashes for caffeine-sensitive people, but if you’re not caffeine intolerant, you must still take Monster in moderate amounts.

REIZE (10 out of 10)       

Because of the tremendous energy boost it provides, despite having low caffeine levels, REIZE Energy has to be the perfect energy drink for weight lifting.

The moderate 50mg of caffeine, and the addition of taurine, ginseng, and B vitamins ensure a long-lasting energy boost with no crashing.  It has no sugar and just 11 calories per drink, thus best suited for weightlifters.

Another amazing feature of REIZE is that it is in powdered form and packed in handy 4g sachets. You may combine it with whatever plain drinks you prefer, and it may be hot or iced. You can even mix it with your favorite carbonated soda.

This may be the most cost-effective energy drink on the list, costing about $1 per drink. You don’t have to break the bank just to smash the gym.

Indeed, REIZE is an excellent on-the-go energy drink for your training sessions. Try REIZE here!  

A pack and a glass of REIZE Energy Drink
No doubt, the best energy drink for weight lifting.

Here are other energy drinks that you can try:

Final Thoughts

Energy drinks are just one of the many ingenious ways of maximizing your time in the gym. There are a lot of choices to choose from, so if possible, try everything first before selecting one that you will incorporate in your weightlifting sessions. Just consider all of the factors I included in this article, and you’ll surely make the right decision.

But don’t be sucked in by the hip labels and fancy ingredients of these overrated energy drinks. Instead, put your efforts into finding an energy drink that can keep you going throughout the day without breaking the bank.

Happy hunting (and lifting)!

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