Best Nootropic Pre-Workout Supplements 2024

There’s a supplement for everything, but some of the most popular are workout supplements. Giving your body the proper nutrition before and after a workout is the key to optimizing your performance, maximizing gains, and speeding recovery. 

A pre-workout supplement is taken before the workout. They’re designed to provide energy to fuel your workout and help you increase performance. Some pre-workout supplements provide additional benefits like burning fat – these are thermogenic supplements that accelerate the body’s metabolic function^[1] to increase calorie burn. 

Another type of pre-workout supplement you might consider is a nootropic supplement. A nootropic pre-workout supplement can help boost cognitive function to increase energy levels and motivation.

Best Nootropic Pre-Workout In 2024

What Is Nootropic Pre-Workout?

Also known as “smart drugs,” nootropics are substances that have the potential to boost brain performance. Natural and synthetic supplements are available, and nootropic ingredients can be added to other supplements like pre-workout supplements. 

Nootropic supplements can help improve mental performance in areas such as memory, focus, and concentration. They can be particularly beneficial when taken before a workout. With improved mental clarity, you may be able to concentrate on your workout more intensely to maximize your performance and enhance your results. 

Many pre-workouts made with nootropics contain stimulants like caffeine to provide the added benefit of increased energy.

How To Choose The Best Nootropic Pre-Workouts

Pre-workout supplements can benefit both men and women who want to maximize performance during a workout and speed recovery afterward. 

While most pre-workouts are designed to work on the body, nootropics work on the brain. While these supplements won’t help reduce fatigue or improve muscle gains, the best nootropics can enhance your workout in other ways. A nootropics pre-workout can boost concentration and deliver energy to the brain so you can get the most out of exercise. 

Every formula is different, but if you’re looking for an effective pre-workout nootropic supplement, there are three things to look for. 

Safety 

Whether it’s a pre-workout or any other supplement, you must make sure a product is safe before putting it in your body. Look for nootropic pre-workout supplements that are made in the United States in an FDA-registered facility. The FDA doesn’t regulate supplements to the same degree as prescription drugs, but some rules are still in place. 

It’s wise to choose a supplement that has been tested by a third party instead of just taking the brand’s word for it. Make sure the website and the product label list all of the ingredients and their dosages. If the product contains a proprietary ingredient, be aware that it may contain other ingredients than the active ingredients listed.

Ingredients 

The efficacy of a pre-workout comes down to the ingredients and their quantities. If you’re concerned about synthetic ingredients, look for an all-natural nootropic supplement. When evaluating the list of ingredients, be sure to check the inactive ingredients as well as the active ones. Here you might find things like added sugar or artificial sweeteners. It’s also wise to avoid products made with too many artificial colors, flavors, and preservatives.

Customer Reviews

Before buying pre-workout supplements, it’s wise to find out what customers think about them. You can only glean so much information from the product label or the brand’s website. Once you’ve discerned the safety of a product and its formulation, take a look at customer reviews (ideally from third-party websites) to see whether it delivers the benefits it says it does.

Important Nootropic Pre-Workout Ingredients

Pre-workouts are a dime a dozen, but if you want to see results, it’s essential to find a formula that contains all the right ingredients. Here’s what you need to know about the top seven nootropic ingredients to look for.

Alpha-GPC

A natural chemical produced in the body, alpha-GPC can also be made synthetically. While it is used as a prescription medication for conditions like Alzheimer’s and dementia throughout Europe, it’s more commonly used as a supplement in the United States. 

Alpha-GPC helps increase the production of acetylcholine in the brain – a chemical that plays an essential role in memory and learning. In addition to improving blood flow to the brain, some evidence suggests alpha-GPC may positively impact certain aspects of athletic performance. Some research^[5] shows that it may increase vertical jump power and peak bench press performance. 

Lion’s Mane

Also known as yamabushitake or hou tou gu, Lion’s Mane is a type of mushroom. Limited research supports Lion’s Mane’s potential benefits in reducing anxiety and depression, but its primary benefit is enhancing brain power. Scientific support for this is somewhat lacking, but Buddhist monks have been using Lion’s Mane tea for thousands of years to heighten their ability to focus. 

Some studies suggest that Lion’s Mane may increase nerve growth factor (NGF) synthesis in the nerve cells. NGF plays an important role in the maintenance and regeneration of neurons. This may be how Lion’s Mane provides its anxiolytic benefits. It has been called the “smart mushroom” for its potential to improve memory and overall cognitive function.

Caffeine

Many pre-workouts serve primarily to increase energy levels. Higher energy levels mean you can work harder and longer during a workout, thus improving your results. Caffeine is a stimulant^[6] that can improve both energy and focus. This ingredient may also help delay fatigue, so you can concentrate on your workout longer. 

L-theanine

While caffeine can certainly boost energy and focus, too much caffeine can make you jittery. L-Theanine is an amino acid that has mild sedative effects – it can help take the edge off the effects of caffeine in pre-workouts. It’s important to find the right ratio, however. Research^[7] suggests a 1:2 ratio of caffeine to L-theanine is best. 

In natural nootropics, you can usually find it in the form of green tea or black tea. In addition to mitigating the negative effects of caffeine, L-theanine may also help support mental recovery following an intense workout. This supplement has been shown^[8] to improve sleep duration and sleep efficiency, which can help with both mental and physical recovery. 

L-tyrosine

Taking high doses of caffeine and other stimulants can hurt your mood. L-tyrosine, another amino acid, can help even out your mood. L-tyrosine aids in the production of dopamine and noradrenaline, which can become reduced^[9] in stressful situations. In this way, L-tyrosine may act as a cognitive booster in pre-workouts.

Rhodiola Rosea

An herb commonly found in natural nootropics, Rhodiola rosea has been used as a folk remedy for poor memory and concentration. There has been a significant degree of research^[10] conducted on its benefits for treating fatigue, depression, and anxiety. Like L-theanine, Rhodiola rosea improves the brain’s response to stress which can help keep you calm during an intense workout – especially if you’re also using stimulants.

Creatine

Improved focus is important for a workout, but so is logical reasoning.^[11] In addition to improving short-term memory and reasoning skills as a nootropic, creatine helps boost energy production as a pre-workout. Creatine helps boost your body’s stores of energy which then improves the production of adenosine triphosphate (ATP), which provides the energy your muscles need to keep moving. 

Final Thought

Pre-workouts are great if you want to maximize performance during a workout, but it’s important to consider both the physical and mental aspects of exercise. Pre-workout nutrition makes a difference when it comes to maximizing performance and improving gains, but you won’t get those benefits unless your brain is up to the task. 

The best pre-workout is one that supports you in all aspects of your fitness journey. With nootropic supplements, you can be your best self in the gym to realize your goals and make your health and wellness goals a reality. 

Frequently Asked Questions

---