Ep. 484 | Pre-Workout & Energy Drinks, Caffeine, and Nootropics. What You Need to Know with Alan Aragon

Jul 19

Get the scoop on pre-workout supplements and energy drinks from expert nutrition researcher Alan Aragon. In this episode, Alan breaks down the science behind these popular products, discussing the key active ingredients, safety considerations, and how to optimize your caffeine intake for performance without going overboard. You'll also learn about the current research on nootropics and cognitive enhancers, and why getting enough sleep might be the ultimate brain booster.

Discover:

The main active ingredient in most pre-workout supplements
How to calculate your total daily caffeine intake to stay within safe limits
Why energy drinks can be problematic for sleep-deprived adolescents and young adults
The potential therapeutic vs. ergogenic effects of nootropics
Alan's personal "pre-workout" recipe and supplement philosophy

ABOUT ALAN ARAGON

Alan Aragon is a nutrition researcher and educator with over 30 years of success in the field. He is known as one of the most influential figures in the fitness industry’s movement towards evidence-based information. His notable clients include Stone Cold Steve Austin, Derek Fisher, and Pete Sampras. Alan’s work has been published in popular magazines, and the peer-reviewed scientific literature (list of publications here).

He co-authored Nutrient Timing Revisited, the most-viewed article in the history of the Journal of the International Society of Sports Nutrition (JISSN). He also is the lead author of the ISSN Position Stand on Diets & Body Composition. Alan is the Chief Science Officer of the Nutritional Coaching Institute, and the founder and Editor-In-Chief of Alan Aragon’s Research Review (AARR), the original and longest-running research review publication in the fitness industry. Alan maintains a private practice designing programs for recreational & professional athletes — and of course regular people striving to be their best.

He co-authored Nutrient Timing Revisited, the most-viewed article in the history of the Journal of the International Society of Sports Nutrition (JISSN). He also is the lead author of the ISSN Position Stand on Diets & Body Composition. Alan is the Chief Science Officer of the Nutritional Coaching Institute, and the founder and Editor-In-Chief of Alan Aragon’s Research Review, the original and longest-running research review publication in the fitness industry. Alan maintains a private practice designing programs for recreational & professional athletes — and of course regular people striving to be their best.

ABOUT THE BLUEPRINT PODCAST

The Blueprint Podcast is for busy professionals and Household CEOs who care deeply about their families, career, and health. Host Dr. Erik Korem distills cutting edge-science, leadership, and life skills into simple tactics optimized for your busy lifestyle and goals. Dr. Korem interviews scientists, coaches, elite athletes, entrepreneurs, entertainers, and exceptional people to discuss science and practical skills you can implement to become the most healthy, resilient, and impactful version of yourself.

On a mission to equip people to pursue audacious goals, thrive in uncertainty, and live a healthy and fulfilled life, Dr. Erik Korem is a High-Performance pioneer. He introduced sports science and athlete-tracking technologies to collegiate and professional (NFL) football over a decade ago. He has worked with the National Football League, Power-5 NCAA programs, gold-medal Olympians, Nike, and the United States Department of Defense.

Erik is an expert in sleep and stress resilience. He is the Founder and CEO of AIM7, a health and fitness app that unlocks the power of wearables by providing you with daily personalized recommendations to enhance your mind, body, and recovery.