Stop Taking Supplements You Don't Understand
Most people choose a pre-workout based on the brand, the flavor, or how it makes them feel in the first 20 minutes. But if you don't know what's actually in your pre-workout and what each ingredient does, you can't evaluate whether it's actually working — or whether you're just riding a caffeine spike.
Here's a plain-English breakdown of the most important pre-workout ingredients and what they're actually doing in your body.
Caffeine
What it does: Blocks adenosine receptors in the brain, reducing the perception of fatigue and increasing alertness and motivation. It also stimulates the central nervous system, improving reaction time and power output.
Effective dose: 150–300mg. More isn't better — doses above 400mg increase the risk of jitteriness, anxiety, and cardiovascular stress without additional performance benefit.
Citrulline Malate
What it does: Converts to arginine in the kidneys, which then produces nitric oxide — a vasodilator that widens blood vessels and increases blood flow to working muscles. This drives better pumps, improved oxygen delivery, and enhanced endurance during high-rep or high-volume training.
Effective dose: 6–8g. Many pre-workouts underdose this significantly — look for products that list the actual amount.
Beta-Alanine
What it does: Increases muscle carnosine levels, which buffers lactic acid buildup during high-intensity efforts. This delays the "burn" that causes you to slow down or stop, allowing you to sustain peak output for longer.
The tingle: Beta-alanine causes a harmless tingling sensation (paresthesia) in some people. This is a normal neurological response, not an allergic reaction.
Effective dose: 3.2g daily. Benefits accumulate over time with consistent use.
L-Tyrosine
What it does: A precursor to dopamine, norepinephrine, and adrenaline — neurotransmitters involved in focus, motivation, and stress response. L-Tyrosine is particularly effective at maintaining cognitive performance under physical and mental stress, making it valuable for late-night training or high-pressure sessions.
Taurine
What it does: Supports hydration at the cellular level, reduces oxidative stress during exercise, and has a mild calming effect that balances the stimulating effects of caffeine. It also supports cardiovascular function during intense training.
Arginine AKG
What it does: A form of arginine that supports nitric oxide production and blood flow, working synergistically with Citrulline Malate to enhance pumps and nutrient delivery to working muscles.
Electrolytes
What they do: Sodium, potassium, and magnesium are lost through sweat during training. Electrolyte depletion impairs muscle contraction, increases cramping risk, and reduces endurance. Replacing them during training maintains performance and hydration.
B-Vitamin Complex
What it does: B-vitamins are essential cofactors in energy metabolism — they help your body convert carbohydrates, fats, and proteins into usable ATP. Without adequate B-vitamins, your body can't efficiently convert fuel into output, regardless of how much you eat.
Why PULSE MAX Uses All of These
PULSE MAX is built around all of these ingredients — 23 performance-driven nutrients working together to cover energy, focus, pumps, endurance, and hydration in a single formula. No single-ingredient caffeine bomb. No proprietary blends hiding underdosed ingredients. Just a complete pre-workout engineered to perform at $1.30 per serving.
Try it solo or save with the PULSE MAX 2x Bundle.
