Credits: Social Media
Personal trainer says natural pre-workout with honey ‘won’t revolutionize’ your workouts
People on TikTok are making their own natural pre-workout to drink before the gym, but a personal trainer says there’s limited evidence to prove its effectiveness.
Pre-workout supplements are consumed around 30 minutes before exercise to give energy and increase performance, with the main ingredient usually being caffeine.
TikTok users make natural pre-workout
“I don’t trust any of the pre-workout stuff,” one TikTok user Abi Butcher said in a video that’s had more than 1.3 million views.
She then mixed together salt, cinnamon, honey and water to create her own natural version, which she said is “all you need”.
The TikTok user claimed the honey will give you energy, cinnamon will prevent you from having a sugar crash and salt will give you electrolytes.
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“Stop putting overpriced, overhyped, marketed sports products into your body. Literally go natural. It’s the exact same thing and it’s so much cheaper.”
She is one of many drinking a honey concoction before going to the gym, while others are squeezing a dollop of honey and salt onto their hand.
Personal trainer says ‘not enough evidence’
Certified personal trainer Mike Julom told The Focus that using honey, salt, and cinnamon as a pre-workout might give you a bit of energy, but it’s not going to “revolutionize” your workouts – and there’s not enough research on it.
“The combination of honey, salt, and cinnamon being used as a natural pre-workout supplement stems from the individual properties of these ingredients that could potentially support exercise performance,” he said.
Honey gives you a quick energy boost since it’s full of simple sugars, salt helps regain the minerals and electrolytes you lose when you sweat, and cinnamon could help manage blood sugar levels, giving you a more stable energy supply.
However, Julom said there is “limited scientific evidence” supporting this specific concoction as an effective pre-workout drink.
“There’s no solid science that says this trio is the magic bullet for workout prep. It might help a bit, especially for light to moderate exercise, but it’s not going to revolutionize your gym time,” the personal trainer explained.
Foods to eat before the gym
If you don’t want to consume any supplements, fitness experts at Gymshark recommend eating a small snack 30 minutes before your workout, which will provide immediate glycogen (energy), replenish any loss in energy stores, and can help prime the metabolism.
It should be high in carbohydrates, to provide energy and protein, which will help your muscles. Here are some great options:
- Oats
- Fresh fruits; banana, apple, orange, etc.
- Whole grains, such as bread or bagels
- Smoothie
- Trail mix
- Low-fat yogurt with toppings
- Nut butter
- Protein shake
