The Best Intra-Workout Supplements | Myprotein Us

We all know that what we consume pre and post workout is beneficial to our success in the gym. There are many different ways to go about pre and post workout nutrition. The main thing to consider is what is going to work for you personally.  This article is not about pre and post workout nutrition, but about intra-workout nutrition.

We'll look at a specific blend of supplements that will help when it comes to progressing in the gym.  What I am going to share with you is the background of how intra workout supplementation came to be and also what I would consider an optimal blend of ingredients to be included in said nutrition.  Keep in mind though the same principle applies, everyone is different and prefers different ingredients based off of their own results.

What Is Intra Workout Supplementation?

The main goal of intra workout supplementation is to accelerate progress and to boost recovery.  This form of supplementation has evolved over the years into a collection of marketed products with blends of ingredients, but it started out as just plain H2O.  Hydration from water is absolutely essential for high performance.

We lose fluids all day, so replenishment is crucial for many different reasons, including nutrient delivery, motor function, digestion and recovery rate.  Water, in my opinion, is a macronutrient and the most important thing that we can possibly give our bodies.

Scientists began to understand the role of carbohydrates in exercise and they began to research their effects when added to several concentrations of water.  What they looked at specifically was how the body metabolized these carbohydrates and how well it could absorb them into the bloodstream in order to be used as energy.  The result was that the addition of carbohydrates in specific ratios to avoid digestive issues was more effective than drinking water alone.

It took a while for sports nutrition to really take off. Due to this, intra-workout supplementation was very simplified. With the baseline knowledge that our bodies most efficient fuel source is stored carbohydrates and sugars coming in the form of muscle and liver glycogen and then glucose, many athletes and coaches simply relied on carbohydrates.  I think everyone has heard of the Florida Gators football team and their invention of Gatorade.  Well, for anyone that doesn’t know, Gatorade was invented for just that, carbohydrate replenishment.

It also contains an electrolyte blend to replenish key minerals lost through sweat.  The invention of Gatorade was groundbreaking and is still popular as an intra workout beverage today.  Now, although Gatorade is great, it does lack some key factors that are important to be noted when it comes to intra workout nutrition.  Carbohydrates can be great for performance and recovery but they may not be optimal for everyone.

What Intra Workout Supplements Should You Take?

Let’s take at what should be considered in your intra workout supplementation. Hydration is key.  You must drink water and stay hydrated.  Performance can suffer even if just a small percentage of your body’s water weight is lost, sometimes by as little as 2-3%.  Our muscles and brain are made up of roughly 60% water.  So to keep neural activation strong and to keep the muscle functioning optimally, stay hydrated.

There are other ingredients that can be added to this water, aside from carbohydrates, that also have benefits when it comes to intra workout nutrition: