Ever feel like you’re a little too reliant on a morning coffee to get you into gear? Or maybe caffeine leaves you jittering like an overexcited kid that’s had one too many fizzy drinks.
Whatever your reason for wanting to find a caffeine-free alternative for your workouts, you’re in luck. THE Pump has landed and here’s how it’s going to fire up your routine.
What is THE Pump?
THE Pump is the ultimate pre-workout to drive you closer to your fitness goals. It’s been formulated with specially selected active ingredients to help you push through your limits and break barriers — without any added caffeine.
Delivering a huge range of benefits, such as reducing fatigue and aiding blood flow and oxygen transport,1,2,7THE Pump is a supplement that will make a real impact to your training progress.
It’s aptly named after that sought after ‘muscle pump’ that well-seasoned gym goers and fitness fanatics will be familiar with — which is basically when you feel your muscles swell during a workout from the increased blood flow going to them.
Coming in two different formats — a refreshing powder blend or super-convenient capsules — you can choose the option that’s best suited to you.
THE Pump powder blend
If a refreshing pre-workout drink is more your style, then THE Pump blend is the one for you. Coming in two tantalising flavours, Orange Mango and Rainbow Candy, it’s a tasty way to stay hydrated as you get that caffeine-free buzz.
Ingredient breakdown per serving:
6000mg L-citrulline — this non-essential amino acid is a popular pre-workout ingredient as studies have shown it helps to increase vasodilation and blood flow, which in turn improves muscle function.9,10, 11
3200mg beta alanine — another non-essential amino acid, beta alanine produces carnosine which is stored in your skeletal muscles and reduces the build-up of lactic acids in your muscles during exercise. Studies have shown that supplementing with beta alanine can therefore increase high-intensity exercise capacity and performance.12
1500mg taurine — this amino acid has been shown to protect cells from exercise-induced oxidative stress,13 making it a valuable support for your training progress.
1500mg vitamin B12 — an essential vitamin that supports the metabolism, nervous system, immune system, and helps to reduce tiredness and fatigue.14 Powerful stuff.
300mg VAS06™ — this is a patented ingredient that’s been clinically proven to increase blood flow,2 which in turn helps to increase oxygen transport in the body, improving the supply to your muscles. Studies have shown it to be a super-effective pre-workout ingredient, especially when compared to others. For example, the perhaps more well-known ingredient, arginine, only results in 5% vasodilation per 7g serving, whereas just 300mg of VAS06™ can result in up to 50% vasodilation.3,4
75mg vitamin C — an essential vitamin that helps to reduce fatigue, as well as supporting the immune system during and after intense physical exercise.6
50mg AstraGin® — sourced from natural plant extracts, AstraGin® has been shown to significantly increase the absorption of nutrients such as amino acids and vitamins,15 helping your body to make the most of this powerful workout blend.
THE Pump capsules
Don’t be fooled by their size, these capsules sure do pack a punch — and it couldn’t be easier for you to work them into your routine, all you have to do is take two 30 minutes before you train.
Ingredient breakdown per serving:
300mg VAS06™ — as previously mentioned, this patented ingredient is a super-powerful vasodilator, important for muscle performance, with clinical trials showing it to be 10 times more effective than arginine.3,4
250mg beetroot extract— you may be surprised to see this in a pre-workout supplement, however beetroot has gained popularity in sports nutrition due to its naturally high levels of nitrates. These nitrates can increase blood flow to the muscles, which helps to enhance their efficiency during exercise.5
80mg vitamin C — not only does this essential vitamin help to reduce tiredness and fatigue, but it supports the immune system during and after intense physical exercise, helping you feel on top form, session after session.6
6mg iron — this essential mineral plays a key role in oxygen transport within the body, while also helping to reduce tiredness and fatigue.7
5.5mg thiamine — thiamine is a B vitamin that helps to support normal heart function and also plays a part in energy-yielding metabolism.
Who is THE Pump for?
This hard-hitting pre-workout is an ideal fit for any training routine, regardless of your level or ability. Whether you’re into early morning spin classes, or late night lifting, THE Pump will help you push for a killer performance, without affecting your sleep pattern afterwards.
Take Home Message
THE Pump is an ideal way to maximise your performance without having to worry about feeling the jitters for hours after you train. It’s the perfect pre-workout option for late night sessions, if you’re trying out caffeine cycling, or simply want to cut down on the amount of caffeine you rely on to fuel your day.
Enjoyed this article? Read these next:
- EFSA Panel on Dietetic Products, Nutrition and Allergies (NDA). (2010). Scientific Opinion on the substantiation of health claims related to vitamin C and reduction of tiredness and fatigue (ID 139, 2622), contribution to normal psychological functions (ID 140), regeneration of the reduced form of vitamin E (ID 202), contribution to normal energy‐yielding metabolism (ID 2334, 3196), maintenance of the normal function of the immune system (ID 4321) and protection of DNA, proteins and lipids from oxidative damage(ID 3331) pursuant to Article 13 (1) of Regulation (EC) No 1924 …. EFSA Journal, 8(10), 1815.
- Kim, J. A., Formoso, G., Li, Y., Potenza, M. A., Marasciulo, F. L., Montagnani, M., & Quon, M. J. (2007). Epigallocatechin gallate, a green tea polyphenol, mediates NO-dependent vasodilation using signaling pathways in vascular endothelium requiring reactive oxygen species and Fyn.Journal of Biological Chemistry, 282(18), 13736-13745.
- SCHLAICH, M. P., JACOBI, J., Stefan, J. O. H. N., DELLES, C., FLEISCHMANN, I., & SCHMIEDER, R. E. (2000). Is l-arginine infusion an adequate tool to assess endothelium-dependent vasodilation of the human renal vasculature?. Clinical Science, 99(4), 293-302.
- Fitzpatrick, D. F. (2004). S. Patent No. 6,706,756.Washington, DC: U.S. Patent and Trademark Office.
- Murphy, M., Eliot, K., Heuertz, R. M., & Weiss, E. (2012). Whole beetroot consumption acutely improves running performance. Journal of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, 112(4), 548-552.
- Vitamin C contributes to the maintenance of the immune system during and after intense physical exercise and contributes to the reduction of tiredness and fatigue.
- Iron contributes to normal oxygen transport in the body, and to the reduction of tiredness and fatigue.
- Thiamine contributes to normal function of the heart and normal energy-yielding metabolism.
- Goubel F, Vanhoutte C, Allaf O et al. (1997). Citrulline malate limits increase in muscle fatigue induced by bacterial endotoxins. Can J Physiol Pharmacol;75:205–7.
- Gibala MJ, Young ME, Taegtmeyer H. (2000). Anaplerosis of the citric acid cycle: role in energy metabolism of heart and skeletal muscle. Acta Physiol Scand;168:657–65.
- Gibala MJ, Young ME, Taegtmeyer H. (2000). Anaplerosis of the citric acid cycle: role in energy metabolism of heart and skeletal muscle. Acta Physiol Scand;168(4):657–665.
- Sale, C., Saunders, B., & Harris, R. C. (2010). Effect of beta-alanine supplementation on muscle carnosine concentrations and exercise performance. Amino acids, 39(2), 321-333.
- Zhang, M., Izumi, I., Kagamimori, S., Sokejima, S., Yamagami, T., Liu, Z., & Qi, B. (2004). Role of taurine supplementation to prevent exercise-induced oxidative stress in healthy young men. Amino acids, 26(2), 203-207.
- Vitamin B12 contributes to normal energy-yielding metabolism, normal function of the nervous system, normal function of the immune system, and contributes to the reduction of tiredness and fatigue.
- AstraGin; NuLivScience; “Clinically Demonstrated to Significantly Increase the Absorption of Amino Acids, Peptides, Vitamins, and Other Nutrients in Intestinal Cells to enhance the Nutritional Value of Targeted functional Foods and Supplements
Lauren is an English Literature graduate originally from the South. She’s always loved swimming, has discovered the power of weight training over the past few years, and has lots of room for improvement in her weekly hot yoga class.
On the weekends she’s usually cooking or eating some kind of brunch, and she enjoys trying out new recipes with her housemates – especially since shaking off student habits, like mainly surviving off pasta. Above all, she’s a firm believer in keeping a balance between the gym and gin.
Find out more about Lauren’s experience here.
