Weight management is one of the big concerns for many people in modern civilization, and there are several products and offers in the market, ranging from diet plans to workout programs and supplements, among other things. Although each offer may help you achieve a given goal, it is well acknowledged that proper diet and regular workouts rule weight management.
Without a proper balance of these two, it is almost impossible to effectively achieve any significant weight loss or weight gain, depending on your goals. This is why most products offered supposedly provide users with more energy for workouts, adrenaline, endurance, and improved moods. Phenylalanine pre-workout is one of the many supplements available in the market and has its unique benefits. Here is a brief look at what it provides, including its benefits and downsides.
What Is Phenylalanine?
Many companies today manufacture their own form of Phenylalanine and market it as a pre-workout supplement. Phenylalanine is an amino acid that is found in various foods, especially in meat, fish, cheese, eggs, and milk. It falls within a larger category of amino acids referred to as Large Neutral Amino Acids (LNAA). This group comprises tyrosine, leucin, tryptophan, and valine, among others.
Phenylalanine is the precursor to tyrosine, which is a precursor to the catecholamines like dopamine and epinephrine. Tyrosine is also a precursor to melanin and thyroid hormones, which explains why many Phenylalanine supplements are provided to improve thyroid function.
As a supplement, Phenylalanine pre-workout is associated with various benefits that arise from increased levels of tyrosine (dopamine, epinephrine, and norepinephrine), including motivation and desire, movement, memory, problem solving, and energy production.
Is It Needed?
There are numerous weight management products, and all of them are marketed for various goals. There are many options for someone who would like to lose weight and for those who want to remain fit, get bigger, or increase strength and endurance. Pre-workouts essentially target increased energy and motivation prior to workout.
Some may also improve your fat burning prospects. While there are many options, it is always an advantage to have more offers to choose from. Moreover, Phenylalanine is a naturally occurring amino acid whose traces can be found in other supplements.
Phenylalanine Pre-WorkOut Benefits
As aforementioned, Phenylalanine is provided mainly as a pre-workout to boost thyroid activity and also to enhance workout performance. It is a precursor to tyrosine, which precedes thyroid hormones. The thyroid hormone regulates metabolism and is a key player in weight management. In the same fashion, Phenylalanine leads to increased levels of dopamine and epinephrine in the brain, resulting in various benefits like energy production through lypolysis of glycolysis.
Dopamine and epinephrine are neurotransmitters associated with mood enhancement, desire, motivation, fight-or-flight responses, and heart rate. When the level of these neurotransmitters is increased just before a workout session, the end results can be incredible. Phenylalanine pre-workout supplements feature other ingredients that combine together to result in energy boost, improved moods, and desire to work out longer and harder.
The benefits are therefore both psychological and physical. Phenylalanine supplements can be used by those with many different goals, including those who want to shed some weight or those who want to build stronger muscles. Its association with thyroid and metabolism regulation means it can ease access to and metabolism of fatty tissues. It also spurs energy and concentration, allowing users to work out longer and achieve their goals.
Risks, Side Effects, And Disadvantages
Most supplements derived from naturally occurring compounds and amino acids are known to be safe for use and usually have little to no side effects. In fact, there are no known or verified side effects of using Phenylalanine pre-workout o supplements. The only known concern is its contraindication for individuals who have PKU (phenylketonuria). PKU is a genetic disease that prevents or restricts metabolism and conversion of phenylalanine to tyrosine.
When Phenylalanine is not converted to tyrosine, its benefits will hardly be of any significance. Other than that, there isn’t any side effect or risk of taking Phenylalanine pre-workout. However, it is important to seek professional recommendations before taking this amino acid, especially if you have an underlying medical condition associated with any mentioned chain or hormone (dopamine, epinephrine, thyroid, melanin, etc.).
Some very rare reports of loss of focus and confusion have been raised, and while these can be symptoms of other medical conditions, it is still advisable to see a doctor whenever any such symptoms occur.
Summary
It is worth noting that Phenylalanine is not commonly featured in most products, especially since manufacturers can simply replace its requirement with tyrosine. What’s more, it naturally occurs in food and other powder ingredients that contain protein. Oral supplementation of Phenylalanine is also rare, although some supplements contain a higher dosage of the amino acid compared to others.
These are generally referred to as Phenylalanine pre-workout supplements, and are designed to help prep your body and mind for a high performance workout session. Make sure you purchase from credible licensed and reputable manufacturers or retailers whose products are approved and known to provide the claimed benefits.
