Pre-workout gummies offer a very easy (and delicious) way to boost your fitness game, with active ingredients known to provide the body with increases in energy, motivation, focus, muscle growth, muscle strength, and more. They can be made with any variety of these ingredients, including stimulants like caffeine, amino acids, herbs, and more, but what they all share in common with one another is that they deliver the boost you need to train more efficiently and gain more from every session.
Now, if you’re vegan, you may be wondering whether or not pre-workout gummies can be made with strictly vegan ingredients. The good news is that they can be, and we’re here to offer a comprehensive guide to vegan pre-workout gummies to help you get started on the right routine.
TO BUY VEGAN PRE-WORKOUT GUMMIES CLICK HERE
What are Pre-Workout Gummies?
Before we dive into vegan pre-workout gummies, we want to go over the basics of pre-workout gummies in general. Basically, they’re simply gummies that are infused with various active ingredients associated with exercise performance.
The active ingredient(s) used to achieve these results can vary between different brands, but overall, they can increase energy levels, stamina, motivation, muscle strength, muscle growth, hydration, and what have you, depending on the unique blend of ingredients in the product. There’s no set rule when it comes to which ingredients can and cannot be used – it’s up to the brand to come up with the active ingredients that make the most sense for them.
Of course, some pre-workout gummies are better than others when it comes to quality, safety, and efficacy. We do urge anyone who is going to be using pre-workout gummies to check the ingredients beforehand, as the fitness supplement market is notoriously unregulated. You always want to be sure you’re taking a product that’s safe, especially since some ingredients that are used by certain brands have the potential to stimulate the nervous system through less safe means than others, and so being cautious and mindful of these ingredients should be a priority.
Getting to Know Vegan Pre-Workout Gummies
Now, let’s talk about vegan pre-workout gummies, which we’re happy to see hitting shelves since more and more people are turning to a vegan lifestyle. When it comes to any gummy product, pre-workout or not, the first things that vegans need to look out for is whether or not the gummy contains gelatin.
Gelatin is the most common agent for creating the texture of gummies, and it comes from animal collagen. Thankfully, there are vegan alternatives to gelatin that are becoming more and more commonplace, with pectin – a fruit derivative – being the most popular.
Of course, you need to pay attention to all of the ingredients in a pre-workout gummy. A lot of pre-workout gummies contain vitamins, amino acids, and other nutrients, which may be derived from animal products or plant products, depending on how the brand chose to source these ingredients.
Thankfully, a company that does produce vegan pre-workout gummies will advertise that their gummies are vegan, and because of that, you don’t need to worry about tracking down every ingredient in a particular formula to figure out what it was sourced from.
What are the Benefits of Choosing Vegan Gummies?
There are some surprising benefits to vegan gummies. Obviously, the biggest one is that they can accommodate someone who maintains a vegan diet. But, arguably, vegan pre-workout gummies are more environmentally friendly, as the use of livestock as a source for manufacturing has contributed to excessive carbon levels in our atmosphere. Besides that, there’s reasonable evidence that a plant-based diet is better for our health.
What is in Vegan Pre-Workout Gummies?
We’ve talked about vegan pre-workout gummies in terms of what they can do for you and what makes certain formulas vegan. Now, let’s talk a bit more about the ingredients that you can find in both vegan and nonvegan pre-workout gummies, and how they’re sourced, so that vegans know what to look out for.
Caffeine
Many pre-workout gummies contain caffeine, sourced from a plant source (making it a vegan ingredient). Caffeine, of course, is a natural stimulant that can give the mind and body the boost it needs to push itself harder. Caffeine can increase energy levels by acting on the body’s central nervous system, while increasing alertness and focus, to help us stay dedicated to our fitness goals.
In general, the body tolerates caffeine just fine, and as an added bonus, it can support the body’s anabolic process, which serves the purpose of repairing broken muscle tissue – something that occurs when we exercise.
One thing we’ll say is that caffeine can increase cortisol levels – that’s the “stress hormone” – and because of that, you might want to watch your dosage if you’re stressed, prone to poor sleep, or have anxiety.
Creatine
Creatine is an incredibly popular addition for pre-workout gummies, and it’s one of the most highly rated supplements among avid fitness enthusiasts. Creatine plays a major role in the production of adenosine triphosphate, which is energy, and it boosts muscle recovery as well as muscle mass. It’s also an organic compound, and generally considered safe to take on a daily basis for prolonged periods of time.
It’s made in the liver, through a combination of amino acids interacting with one another. Many vegans fail to get enough creatine in their diets because it is so abundant in animal protein, but the good news is that vegan forms of creatine do exist, and thus, can be found in many gummy formulas.
Beta-Alanine
Then we have beta-alanine, which is a nonessential amino acid that is also made by the liver and are associated with all kinds of performance-related benefits. Beta-alanine plays a major role in reducing muscle fatigue, as well as the buildup of lactic acid, which can cause a person to feel excessive discomfort while exerting themselves. This means that beta-alanine can help the body do more in the gym.
We do want to point out that it’s surprisingly common for a person to feel itchy after taking it, not because of an allergic reaction, but because it interacts with receptors in the nervous system that are responsible for perceiving skin sensations.
Now, like creatine, beta-alanine is most easily sourced from animal protein. However, again, you can easily find vegan beta-alanine supplements, in which the amino acid is sourced from alternative means.
Nitrates
Nitrates are present in many of our favorite foods, like leafy green vegetables, and consist of nitrogen and oxygen molecules. Consuming nitrates enables us to produce nitric oxide, which improves circulation. The result of that is a lower heart rate, more muscle contractions, and improved breathing, all of which can support you while you exercise.
The most commonly used nitrates in pre-workout gummies are L-arginine and L-citrulline. Because beets are naturally high in nitrates, you’ll also find beetroot as a common ingredient in pre-workout gummies. Most nitrates are naturally sourced from plants, so again, vegans don’t have to worry.
Branch-Chain Amino Acids
Known as BCAAs, branched-chain amino acids consist of valine, isoleucine, and leucine, which are critical to increase muscle growth, boost energy, and reduce muscle fatigue mid-workout. These amino acids also improve immunity, and thus, can be derived from non-animal sources.
Electrolytes
You can find certain pre-workout supplements that contain electrolytes like magnesium, sodium, potassium, etc., which aim to restore hydration that’s lost during exercise, or through exposure to heat or humidity. Electrolytes are, thankfully, almost always sourced from plants, and can be a crucial addition to your pre-workout routine. Exerting ourselves physically can cause us to rapidly become dehydrated, and so supplementing with them either in the form of a gummy or elsewhere is essential.
Nootropics/Adaptogens
Nootropics and adaptogens (l-theanine, ashwagandha, etc.) are almost always plant-derived, and can do wonders for your workout game by improving your tolerance to physical and mental stress, improving cognitive functions, and boosting your mood, which in turn can make you feel more motivated to complete workouts to get to your fitness goals faster.
Beneficial Mushrooms/Herbs/Botanicals
Then, we have vegan pre-workout gummies that contain beneficial plants like mushrooms (cordyeps, lion’s mane, etc.), herbs, botanicals, and other plant-based ingredients known to offer various benefits that play a role in our performance, mood, metabolism, and more. These ingredients are commonly found in vegan gummies, and are ideally proven to be effective, not to mention safe.
When is the Best Time to Take Vegan Pre-Workout Gummies?
A majority of brands do recommend taking a pre-workout gummy 20-30 minutes before working out, as that should ensure that the active ingredients have reached the bloodstream by the time you begin your routine. Of course, follow the directions on the product to make sure that you’re taking the proper concentration as well, to get the desired results. Remember though, if caffeine is in the gummy, taking too much could cause side effects like jitteriness and anxiety, because caffeine is a stimulant.
How Long Do Vegan Pre-Workout Gummies Last in Terms of Effectiveness?
Vegan pre-workout gummies typically start to take effect within 15 to 45 minutes of consumption. The duration of their effectiveness can range from 1 to 4 hours, again depending on the specific formulation and your personal metabolism. As we cannot stress this part enough, always refer to the manufacturer's guidelines for specific timing and duration information related to the pre-workout gummy (or any supplement for that matter) you're using.
How Long Do Vegan Pre-Workout Gummies Last in Terms of Shelf Life?
Check the packaging for an expiration date, as that’s the main indicator in terms of accurate information. Generally, pre-workout gummies may have a shelf life ranging from several months to a couple of years when stored properly.
- Unopened: Generally, vegan pre-workout gummies in unopened packaging could last for 6-12 months or even longer. The packaging usually includes a "best by" or "use by" date that should be adhered to for maximum efficacy and safety.
- Opened: Once the package is opened, the gummies could last a few weeks to a few months depending on the specific storage conditions and the preservatives used in the formula.
There are also other variables, such as temperature, humidity, and exposure to light can also impact how long they last. Not to mention, if you notice any change in the color, smell, or texture of the pre-workout gummies, or if they're past their expiration date once again, it is then best to dispose of them.
Vegan Pre-Workout Gummies Have Arrived!
Pre-workout gummies can offer all kinds of valuable benefits to your fitness regimen and can even benefit you in other ways as well. And, while there are loads of different options out there, through various active ingredients, strengths, and more, those who are vegan will need to be on the lookout for ingredients that are derived from non-animal sources.
Bounce Nutrition has developed a collection of exclusively vegan pre-workout gummies that check all of the necessary boxes for efficacy, safety, quality, and potency. We offer a multitude of innovative, plant-based formulas that contain only proven-safe ingredients, relying on the best that mother nature has to offer. Explore our selection, as we have a distinctive formula for every fitness enthusiast out there.