Every time you train or exercise you want to give your best, you want to push a little harder, you want to get the maximum results from every set. But there are times when you are just not able to find the energy to pull through these intense training sessions that take a toll on your body. However, if you want to achieve your fitness goals you need consistency in your workout and may need external support.
This is where intra-workout supplements come in. They are designed to enhance your training performance by providing you with energy. They are available in different forms and provide multiple benefits. Let's deep dive to understand the world of intra-workout supplements.

What are Intra-workout Supplements?

Intra-workout supplements are specially formulated products designed to be consumed during a workout or exercise session. These supplements typically contain a combination of key ingredients such as amino acids, carbohydrates, electrolytes, and vitamins to help enhance performance, improve endurance, and support muscle recovery during intense physical activity.

By providing the body with essential amino acids and replenishing electrolytes lost through sweat, intra-workout supplements can help maintain energy levels, delay fatigue, and optimize muscle function. These supplements are often available in tablets powder or liquid form and can be easily mixed with water or other beverages for convenient consumption during workouts.

It is important to note that while intra workout supplements can be beneficial for individuals engaging in high-intensity exercise, they should be used as part of a balanced diet and training regimen. As always, it is recommended to consult with a healthcare professional before incorporating any new supplements into your routine.

Types of Intra-workout Supplements

Amino acid supplements are the best intra-workout supplements. They help to stimulate muscle protein synthesis and work by creating new protein cells for muscle size, growth, and recovery. There are two major amino acid supplements BCAA supplements and EAA supplements.

• BCAA Supplements

BCAA supplements are intra-workout supplements which contain amino acids leucine, isoleucine and valine. These amino acids help support muscle growth, reduce exercise-induced fatigue, and aid in recovery. BCAA supplements are popular among athletes and fitness enthusiasts to enhance performance and preserve lean muscle during intense training.

• EAA Supplements

EAA (Essential Amino Acids) supplements contain all nine amino acids that the body cannot produce on its own, including leucine, isoleucine, and valine. They support muscle protein synthesis, improve recovery, and enhance endurance. EAA supplements are ideal for promoting muscle growth and overall performance during training or physical activity.

Benefits of Intra-workout Supplements

• Helps to Increase Muscle Growth

BCAA intra-workout drink is the most used for muscle synthesis. Protein synthesis is the key to muscle growth. Amino acids play an important role in repairing damaged muscle and building bigger, stronger muscles. Consuming amino acids supplements during the workout helps sustain the amino acid pool, which can decline during prolonged exercise, and in turn keep protein synthesis elevated.
Leucine is the most important amino acid which helps to activate a certain pathway in the body that stimulates muscle protein synthesis, which is the process of making muscle (1).

• Helps to Decrease Muscle Soreness

Intra-workout supplements like BCAA help to reduce muscle soreness. The muscle soreness after exercise is called delayed onset muscle soreness (DOMS). DOMS can happen 12 to 24 hours after exercise and can last up to 72 hours. BCAA supplements have been shown to reduce muscle soreness by preventing muscle breakdown and synthesising new muscles.

• Helps to Improve Endurance

Prolonged endurance capacity is another goal and advantage of using Intra-Workout Supplements. By having more fuel in your system, you'll be able to work out for longer periods without experiencing as much muscle fatigue. This will lead to better results in your fitness journey. Intra-workout supplements are effective in delaying muscle fatigue and providing additional energy.

These supplements often contain ingredients such as BCAAs which are nitrate-focused and help enhance oxygen delivery by releasing nitric oxide and widening blood vessels. Research has proven that improved oxygen and nutrient delivery can enhance endurance capacity, strength, and recovery.

• Helps to Prevent Muscle Breakdown

Intra-workout supplements can help to prevent muscle breakdown. During exercise muscles constantly gets broken down and synthesise. Muscle breakdown occurs when protein breakdown exceeds muscle protein synthesis. Amino acid supplements can help in muscle synthesis which helps to prevent muscle breakdown.

• Helps in Faster Recovery

It is crucial to maintain muscle mass by inhibiting muscle mass breakdown for performance and recovery. Essential amino acids present in intra workout drinks help to improve the process of muscle protein synthesis by reducing the rate of catabolism or muscle breakdown. This helps to improve recovery times and provides more fuel for your body to replenish key amino acids when your body is in a deficit. It is crucial to maintain a positive amino acid balance, particularly when engaging in long-lasting endurance activities like running, cycling, and CrossFit. Doing so helps in preserving muscle mass and minimizing muscle soreness.

Who Should Use Intra-Workout Supplements?

1. Endurance Athletes

Long-duration exercises such as running, cycling, or swimming can deplete energy stores. Intra-workout supplements provide a steady source of carbohydrates and electrolytes to maintain energy and prevent fatigue.

2. Strength Athletes

Weightlifters and bodybuilders who engage in intense and prolonged lifting sessions may benefit from ingredients like branched-chain amino acids (BCAAs) and electrolytes to improve muscle endurance, reduce muscle breakdown, and enhance recovery during workouts.

3. High-Intensity Interval Training (HIIT) Enthusiasts

Those doing HIIT workouts can experience rapid fatigue due to the explosive nature of their exercise. Supplements can help replenish energy stores quickly and provide amino acids to prevent muscle catabolism.

4. Athletes in Competitive Sports

Competitive athletes in sports such as football, basketball, or martial arts may benefit from intra-workout supplements to maintain high performance levels during training sessions or matches.

5. Individuals on Low-Carbohydrate Diets

People following a low-carb or ketogenic diet may experience reduced energy during workouts. Intra-workout supplements can offer easily digestible carbohydrates and electrolytes to boost performance without disrupting their dietary goals.

6. Those Recovering from Injury

Intra-workout supplements, especially those rich in BCAAs and glutamine, can support muscle recovery and help prevent further injury during rehabilitation exercises.

7. People with Specific Performance Goals

If you're trying to build muscle, improve endurance, or increase strength, the right intra-workout supplements can help optimize performance and speed up recovery.

Why Choose Fast&Up Intra-Workout Supplements?

At Fast&Up we understand the importance of intra-workout supplements. Fast&Up intra workout supplements like Fast&Up BCAA are made with best-in-class Ultra Granulation Technology offering Ultra Instantized BCAA. This helps in faster absorption in the bloodstream.

Fast&Up BCAA supplement offers more than just BCAA, it also contains muscle activation complex. The muscle activation complex includes ingredients like L-Glutamine for Muscle Recovery, L-Arginine for Reducing Muscle Fatigue, L-Citrulline for Nitric Oxide (NO) boost and Taurine for Energy, along with an essential mix of electrolytes and vitamins for a performance-driven phase of intra-workout.

Fast&Up BCAA is Informed Sports Certified which means it is banned substance tested and WADA Compliant.

Fast&Up EAA is a unique combination of amino acid blend, electrolytes blend and vitamin blend that is sure to help you elevate your exercise and training performance.

Our intra-workout supplements are specifically designed to address different challenges that you face during the workout. They are high quality, banned substance free, have No side effects, and are 100% vegetarian.

FAQs

1. Which is the best intra-workout supplement?

BCAA supplement is the best intra-workout supplement. BCAA are branched-chain amino acids which are leucine, isoleucine, and valine. BCAA helps to provide muscle strength, supporting muscle recovery, and reducing muscle breakdown.

2. Do you need an intra-workout supplement?

While shorter workouts may not require an intra-workout supplement, longer or more intense workouts may require you to consume an intra-workout supplement. Intra-workout supplements help you to provide energy to your body, improve your muscle strength, improve your blood flow, and delay fatigue. So, if you want to improve your workout performance you may need intra-workout supplements.

3. Are intra-workout supplements required during weight gain?

The intra-workout supplement helps to enhance your workout performance by providing energy to your body. Intra-workout supplements do not help in weight gain as they are not high in protein or carbohydrates.

4. What are the benefits of pre-workout and intra-workout supplements?

Pre-workout supplements help to boost energy levels and enhance mental focus, enhance blood flow and provide muscle pump, improve strength and performance, and help in muscle development. The intra-workout supplement helps to repair the muscle tissues quickly, avoid fatigue and prevent your muscle mass from burning down while working out.

5. Are electrolytes good intra-workout supplements?

Yes, electrolytes supplements can be good intra-workout supplements. They help to provide instant energy and hydration that can help you enhance your exercise performance.