Is It Safe To Mix Pre-Workouts And Cardio?

Let’s start off by saying we don’t use pre workout, and you shouldn’t either.  No, we don’t use a pre-workout in the common sense of the word. The pre-workouts that you find on the shelves are overpriced hodgepodges of complicated scientific text that is only saying “this stuff will make your face all tingly, heart rate go up, and sweat.”

The Big 3

Now, if this question is a concern of yours, we can only assume you’ve just begun using pre-workouts of any kind. There are three compounds you should be familiar:

1. Beta-Alanine
2. Arginine or Citruline
3. Caffeine 

This complex is the foundation of every pre workout. Beta-Alanine will make you feel all tingly. Arginine is a vaso-dilator, meaning that it aids in opening up your blood vessels to pass more blood through - kind of like nitroglycerin tablets your grandparents have to take when they go to the doctor complaining about chest pains (heart attacks). Lastly caffeine is, well, something to wake you up and get your heart rate going.

Why Worry?

If this question is a concern of yours, we will guess that you’re feeling a combination of the beta-alanine and the caffeine.  It is easy to see (from experience)  that walking into the gym feeling all tingly, with a rapid heart beat, contemplating performing any exercises completely worried for your own safety - risking your heart from exploding through your chest. Well, as long as you stay within the suggested serving size (don’t be a 2 scoop hero), you should be fine. Of course this is assuming you don’t already have some sort of cardiovascular issue. If you’re going to the gym with a healthy heart and cardiovascular system, this should be fine.  The one compound that you really should monitor is the caffeine.  A lethal dose of caffeine is about 10 grams, and each pre-workout usually contains about 150 – 400mg.  So, while it’s not likely that you will overdose on caffeine, high concentrations can cause other issues which could lead to health complications.  Let’s just say if your body reaches the 1 gram range you’ll be feeling pretty crappy.

Make Your Own! 

Now, if you want to take a walk on the wild side and start making your own pre-workout, you may find it cheaper and more fun to put in your own ingredients that are tailored to meet your own needs! Check out this article: Easy Homemade Pre-Workout

So, all things considered, you should be fine. Obviously, listen to your body. If you feel shortness of breath, a tight chest, or any of these signs: Signs You Should Stop Exercising, then you should perhaps take a break for the day and maybe even cut down on the pre-workout.  Otherwise, if the pre-workout puts you in the right mind frame, keep on taking it; pre-workouts can’t hurt you unless you consume too much caffeine…then it could be fatal. :) 

Don’t be a 2 scoop hero.