Best 6 Energy Supplements You Should Consider Trying

Energy supplements are used on a regular basis by top achievers. Why do they do this? It’s because they know that giving their bodies the extra care it deserves is one of the smartest ways to give themselves an edge, to excel, experience wonderful relationships, and make a ton of money, in our hyper-competitive world. Even billionaires and millionaires say that keeping fit is one of their secrets.

And at the risk of stating the obvious, having high and consistent energy levels is one of the vital signs that you’re fit. This is why top athletes and top achievers devote a good chunk of their time to being physically fit and regularly boosting their energy levels. They know it’d accelerate their performance exponentially and take them to the peak. Some even suggest that we shouldn’t obsess about time management, rather we should focus on managing our energy levels.

Energy Supplements to the Rescue

But the reality is that most people are darn too busy, there’s just so much to do. Naturally, fatigue easily sets in. As you check off more items on your to-do lists, your energy level plummets. In fact, a lot of people complain that they have low energy levels. This is why energy supplements are awesome, seeing as they help reduce fatigue and help boost your energy. Fortunately, there is a plethora of them on the market. But, they are not created equal. So, how do you choose?

Not to worry, in this article, we have selected the best 6 energy supplements you should consider trying. But, first things first: It’s vital that you exercise regularly, get enough sleep, reduce stress, drink a lot of water, and eat an organic, balanced diet in addition to using the supplements. We also advise that you speak to your doctor before you commence the regular use of any new energy supplements. The ones we recommend here are safe, but you might already be using some medications, so get medical advice, first.

Our review will follow a simple structure. We’ll have a short overview of the supplement, how it works, the benefits, dosage, and we’ll wrap up by looking at the side effects.

So, let’s get started.

Ready? Set. Go…

Energy Boosters: The 6 Best Ones to Consider 

1. Creatine

The first energy supplement we’ll look at is Creatine. It’s one of the most effective, safest, and popular supplements available. And it’s affordable to boot. Some supplements are only for experienced athletes, but it is for everyone. It’s naturally found in our muscle cells, so this is not something dreamed up in a lab. Creatine can be found naturally in fish, poultry, and red meat.

How does it work?

It increases the body’s capacity to produce ATP (Adenosine Triphosphate), which is the body’s energy carrier and stores the energy. When ATP supplies energy, it loses a phosphate and becomes ADP ( Adenosine Diphosphate), Creatine comes to the body’s rescue by lending a phosphate to ADP and it morphs into ATP…energy is released as a consequence.

So, what are some of its benefits? It helps your cells to produce more energy and it aids your performance during intense exercises and heavy-lifting. It helps your muscles to grow faster. It’s also believed to be helpful in lowering the risk of neurological diseases and in reducing blood sugar levels.

Dosage

How should it be used? Take 5 grams four times each day, for a week or for a more scientific approach, consume 0.3 grams per body weight. After this, you could simply consume 3-5 grams daily.

Side Effects

They include kidney and liver damage, weight gain, bloating and dehydration.

Let’s look at the second energy supplement.

2. Citrulline

Citrulline is an amino acid that occurs naturally in the body and is found in popular foods such as squash, pumpkins, watermelon, bitter melon, cucumber, and gourds. The name is coined from a Latin word, Citrullus, which means Watermelon. This is because the fruit is very rich in Citrulline.

You know how valuable proteins are to our health, right? Let me remind you: Proteins do virtually all the work in our cells. They build and repair our muscles, for example. Well, amino acids are the building blocks of proteins and they play a crucial role in almost all processes that go on in our bodies. Most of our tissues, muscles, and cells are made up of amino acids. The protein in your body and the ones you ingest are ultimately broken down into amino acids. Are you beginning to glimpse how valuable Citrulline could be? Now, let’s look at how it does its job.

How does it work?

Citrulline is converted into another amino acid known as Arginine, which releases a gas, Nitric acid, this helps in dilating your blood vessels, so that blood can flow more easily. The conversion of Citrulline to Arginine is done by the Kidney, which releases the latter into the bloodstream so that it can be accessed by all parts of the body. So, how does this benefit the body?

With this release, there is a reduction in fatigue and muscle soreness. And it increases ATP, the reserves of energy in the body through the production of creatine phosphate, which we had explored a few paragraphs above. Naturally, it also increases your capacity to exercise longer, now that you higher ATP levels. Studies also show that Citrulline reduces blood pressure.

Dosage

So, what time do you take it and in what dosage? I’m glad you asked. It’s best you take it 20-40 minutes before you exercise. This is to give it time to work. 6-18 grams is the ideal dosage for a 24 hour period.

Side Effects

Its side effects include worsening of asthma, low blood pressure, abdominal pain, blood abnormalities and bloating.

The next energy supplement is the most popular stimulant in the world.

3. Caffeine

I bet you’re not surprised by the third supplement. You’re probably convinced of its effects already. The truth is that Caffeine has been known as a proven energy supplement for ages. It’s a natural drug that works as a stimulant on the central nervous system. It’s found in Kola nuts, coffee beans, and some tea leaves. Most people swear by it. In fact, it’s believed to be one of the “secret” ingredients of the best selling drink in the world: Coca-Cola. It’s also present in the preeminent energy drink: Red Bull. That says something, right?

How does it work?

Adenosine is one of the neurotransmitters (chemicals in the brain) that Caffeine works on. known. It’s the chemical that signals that you’re fatigued and that you need rest or sleep. Caffeine inhibits the full effect of Adenosine. It blocks the latter! So that instead of feeling tired, you feel awake, heightened and energetic.

What are its benefits? It’s already hinted at in the paragraph above. Caffeine offers quick energy boosts. That’s why many start their days with it. And, it fuels many sleepless nights, too, because it staves off fatigue, it makes you feel awake and excited. When consumed you’d notice an increased ability to concentrate and it enhances athletic performance.

Dosage

But, you can actually take too much of it. So, it’s better you take it on and off. Take it for a few days and then stay off. Rinse and repeat. Its potency may reduce if your body gets used to it.

Side Effects

They include insomnia, anxiety, addiction, and rapid heart rate.

Let’s take things up a notch, by adding another effective supplement to our list.

4. CoQ10

Interestingly, the supplements we’ve been looking at starts with the letter C. Co Q10 is an enzyme that’s responsible for many vital processes in the body. In fact, it’s present in all parts of our body (located in the mitochondria). This is why it is also called ubiquinone. It is known to provide energy to cells by helping with the production of ATP. Even though the body produces it, its level decreases as we age, that why it’s smart to use supplements.

It’s also known to improve performance during exercises. How? CoQ10 helps the mitochondria to work better and it reduces oxidative stress. With oxidative stress reduced, the muscles work better, fatigue is reduced and performance is enhanced.

Dosage

It’s well-tolerated in the body, as such an ideal dosage range from 90 mg to 200 mg daily.

Side Effects

It may lower blood pressure and blood sugar levels. The liver enzyme may also be affected by doses of more than 300 gms.

Our next supplement is an essential amino acid. What’s meant by essential, here? You’d see in the next paragraph.

5. Branched Chain Amino Acids (BCAAs)

Branched amino acids are essential nutrients that your muscle “burns” to release energy. They are termed essential because the body does not produce them. You have to get them from food. Earlier, we examined how vital amino acids are, these are of equal value.

How does it work?

In fact, they make up about 35% of our muscle protein. BCAAs are leucine, Isoleucine, and Valine. Leucine is regarded as the most potent of the three. You might be wondering what’s with the “branched”? Not to worry, that relates to their chemical structure. BCAAs can be found naturally in cashew nuts, almonds, peanuts, brown rice, dairy, grains, and mushroom. And in fish, red meat, eggs, chicken, and soy.

So, what are the benefits? Essentially, BCAAs preserve the level of glycogen you have. Glycogen is the fuel that muscles use for energy production. In effect, you’d be able to go on training, exercising for much longer, because you’d have more energy to tap into. They also help your muscles recover after an intense workout.

Dosage

How much should you take each day? If you’re not working out intensely and you’re female, 3-5 grams daily is ideal. For men, 15-20 grams a day is recommended. But, if you are working out vigorously, females can take up to 12 grams per day (4-5 times). While men can take up to 5 grams 6-8 times a day.

Side Effects

Nausea and loss of coordination are the potential side effects.

The next energy supplement is the last we’d be looking at in this article. It’s called Tryptophan.

6. Tryptophan

Tryptophan is also an essential amino acid. The word essential here means that it has to be sourced from our diet or supplements because the body does not produce it. It’s found in animal and plant protein and is converted by the body into serotonin, melatonin, vitamin B6 and 5 HTP after it’s been absorbed from food.

How does it work?

Serotonin is a neurotransmitter that alters our mood. The feeling of calmness, relaxation, and sleepiness you experience is due to it. And the lower it is the lower one’s energy levels. Foods rich in serotonin include salmon, poultry, spinach, eggs, nuts, milk, and soy products. Vitamin B6 helps with energy metabolism while Melatonin is also responsible for sleep.

It’s advisable to eat carbohydrates with your protein to release a greater degree of Tryptophan. How? When we consume carbs, insulin is produced. It sends other amino acids to our muscles but it does not affect Tryptophan. Since other amino acids are otherwise engaged in the bloodstream, Tryptophan impacts the brain better, leaving us calmer and sleepier. Naturally, the post-sleep, post-relaxation phase is one where fatigue has been decimated and energy level reinvigorated.

Dosage

What’s the ideal dosage? 1-2 gm taken 30-45 minutes before sleep.

Side Effects

They include anxiety, heart problems, and shivering.

Conclusion

We checked out 6 energy boosters that could help you excel. We glimpsed how they work, their benefits to the body, dosage and the potential side effects. The supplements are Creatine, Caffeine, Citrulline, CoQ10, Branched Amino Acids, and Tryptophan. Of course, this review does not constitute medical advice, so even though we’ve taken painstaking steps to recommend safe supplements, we advise to talk to a medical practitioner before you start taking any of the energy supplements. These energy boosters can be found in the form of tablets, powder, bars, liquid, herbs, and gels.

We’re sure you’d soon level up once you start using these energy supplements.

Go. Go get’em!

Michael Newman