Why is L theanine good in Pre Workouts?
If you’re a fitness freak, then you’ve probably already heard of pre workout supplements. Perhaps you even know that pre workouts are the best energy boosters for your exercise routines.
But, do you know what your pre-workout supplements are made of? There are a whole host of ingredients out there – everything from Caffeine Anhydrous to L-Carnitine. However, there are also a few pre workout supplements which use an ingredient called L-Theanine.
So, just what exactly is it? And why is L-Theanine a good to have in a pre workout? In this article, you’ll find out exactly that and more. Read on, and we’ll look into everything you need to know.
What are Pre Workouts?
A Pre Workout supplement is taken half an hour before you exercise (1). This is because the nutrients packed in the pre-workout supplement need to be absorbed by the body. If they are not, then there is no way for them to be used effectively.
Once taken, these nutrients are responsible for increasing your energy levels, burning unwanted fat, and building muscle while preventing injury during an exercise. The main reason they are taken right before you exercise is so that you can have energy throughout your workout without feeling fatigue (2).
Therefore, most bodybuilders and gym fanatics recommend a good pre-workout supplement combined with a nutritious diet and regular exercise.
Most pre workouts use the following as their main ingredients. Of course, that doesn’t mean that these are the best pre workout ingredients. We just see them being used a lot.
- Caffeine
- L-Tyrosine
- L-Theanine
- Choline
- Sodium
Each of these ingredients has their own benefits and drawbacks. However, the most important thing to factor in is that you need to pay attention to dosages of the ingredients.
Pay Attention to Dosages of Ingredients
Some manufacturers will throw out claims about their products left, right, and centre – suggesting their product is better than all of its competitors. But, without optimal dosages of ingredients, you run the risk of not getting the best value for your money.
Take caffeine for example – an ingredient which we here at Supplement Devil swear by when it comes to effective pre workout ingredients. It boosts your workouts effectively – if the dosage isn’t too high that is. If it happens to be too high, then you’re likely to suffer from jitters and/or energy crashes.
However, if you stick to a dosage of around 200mg or less per serving, then you will be able to avoid the aforementioned side effects while getting a boost of energy for your workout. Later in the article, we’ll look into how caffeine works well with L-Theanine.
What is L-Theanine?
L-Theanine is an amino acid which is naturally found in many species of edible mushrooms, as well as in green tea leaves. As an amino acid, L-Theanine is characterized as a nootropic amino acid because it has a sole effect on brain cells (3).
In the brain, L-Theanine is responsible for stimulating the relaxation centres of your body to make you feel less stressed or anxious. It also acts on the central nervous system to promote its activity. This is why many people feel calmer after having a cup of green tea. So then you might ask yourself, well why are relaxation promoters put in pre-workouts?
During a workout, L-Theanine is a major contributing factor to endurance. It also works on the brain to make it less anxious and more focused. This means that you won’t experience mental fatigue during a workout. This will, in turn, help you motivate yourself to go on for longer periods of time.
Therefore, it is common for most pre-workout supplements to have a high L-Theanine content.
Which Ingredients Work Well With L-Theanine?
While L-Theanine on its own is a useful ingredient to have within a pre workout supplement, it also works well in conjunction with other ingredients too. The ingredient which stands out the most is undoubtedly caffeine.
As we mentioned earlier, caffeine helps to provide a boost of energy – allowing you to go harder for longer in each of your workouts. Combined with L-Theanine, this can mean the following:
- A boost of energy to feel stimulated
- Feel relaxed and focused throughout your workouts
The benefits listed above are exactly what you can expect when you combine L-Theanine with caffeine. This is what is more commonly known within the fitness industry as smart caffeine.
Essentially, smart caffeine allows you to obtain maximum benefit from caffeine consumption while helping you to avoid unwanted side effects which occur when you consume too much caffeine per serving. This includes jitters and energy crashes – the exact opposite of what you want to occur when taking a pre workout supplement! It also helps you to avoid an energy crash after your workout too.
Excess caffeine consumption is something which you should definitely avoid. A good limit to stick to no more than 200mg of caffeine per serving. If you consume any more caffeine than this in any one sitting, then this could potentially do more harm than good. The last thing you want is to suffer from an energy crash while you’re trying to get those all-important gains, right?!
Conclusion – Why is L-Theanine good in Pre Workouts?
In combination with caffeine, which is a common ingredient of pre-workouts, L-Theanine increases feelings of happiness and increases focus and alertness.
For that reason, most pre-workout supplements have a combination of these two ingredients. This is because they let you last for a longer period of time during your workout and make you feel good about working out. This is before, during, and even after exercising. Additionally, L-Theanine is responsible for increased reflexes, meaning that you are able to work out better and faster.
It’s not a necessary ingredient, but it certainly makes the pre workout a lot more helpful. If you want to find a Pre Workout supplement that will work for you, then we suggest checking out our Top 5 Pre Workouts list which looks into the best pre workout supplements available on the market right now.