If you've been taking supplements for some time, then you'll realize how unhealthy the artificial stuff can be.
Even if you're new to supplements, you'll find way too many supplements with overly sweet sweeteners that can't be good for general health.
Here, we've collected the best naturally flavored pre-workouts without artificial sweeteners.
That means you won't find:
Instead, you'll find the naturally sweetened pre-workouts here without fake sugar.
If you want something for fat burning, then we recommend Lean by Transparent Labs but if you want something without caffeine, then check out Stim-Free.
There are lots of options though and you can find them below...
Jacked Factory is a company you can rely on for safe pre-workouts as well as effective formulas without putting your health at risk.
Lean is designed to support weight loss from multiple angles, including improving insulin sensitivity and glucose metabolism.
Going above and beyond, Pre Kaged Elite has one of the biggest servings we've seen in pre workouts.
With over 30g of premium ingredients, this is easily the best pre workout with caffeine.
Stim-free is naturally sweetened with Stevia while still using highly effective ingredients to boost mental and physical performance in the gym.
Kaged is a simple but effective formula with much-needed ingredients to improve performance and recovery for workouts.
Containing over 22g per serving, Bulk contains full doses of ergogenic aids and a range of nootropics as well as stimulants to help enhance energy.
These pre-workouts below are carefully reviewed and selected for having the following:
Below are the best naturally sweetened pre-workouts:
Lean is designed to support weight loss from multiple angles, including improving insulin sensitivity and glucose metabolism.
Many of us have trouble maintaining cravings and keeping them at bay.
Lean has got you covered.
It contains minerals and vitamins that won't only help with insulin production but also with glucose and fat metabolism.
This means you'll be less likely to crash your diet.
It also has lots of ergogenic aids consisting of citrulline, beta-alanine, betaine anhydrous, and caffeine.
For converting fat into energy, it has acetyl-l-carnitine, which will increase fat metabolism.
It's similar to Bulk but has more ingredients for weight loss support.
If you're sensitive to caffeine then Lean may be the best choice as it also has theanine, an ingredient that works in synergy with caffeine as it can smooth out the energizing effects of pre-workouts.
Lean is a naturally flavored thermogenic pre-workout hybrid that will enhance endurance and strength while also encouraging fat metabolism.
Jacked Factory is a company you can rely on for safe pre-workouts as well as effective formulas without putting your health at risk.
Altius looks like something of a simple formula, but it still uses effective doses of nootropics, muscle builders, and stimulants.
It doesn't contain any sucralose or artificial sweeteners as it uses stevia extract to be naturally sweet.
Citrulline will also help with pumps and help you appear bigger and fuller.
With a big 8g dose of citrulline malate, it has a bigger dose than most pre-workouts containing this one ingredient.
It also has betaine and creatine, which will both increase ATP production.
Alpha GPC will also provide long-lasting focus as it can increase acetylcholine production.
Kaged is a simple but effective formula with much-needed ingredients to improve performance and recovery for workouts.
Pre-Kaged is a smaller version of Kaged Elite.
If you want something cheaper than Elite but still effective, then Pre-Kaged is a great choice.
Pre-Kaged has a big dose of pure citrulline at 6.5g, along with 2.5g betaine to support strength training.
The dose here for beta-alanine is sort of low, but it can be an upside if you don't like the tingles as the dose here is half the clinical daily dose.
It also has BCAA's which will prevent muscle breakdown (catabolism) that can occur from hard training.
Pre-Kaged also supports hydration along with focus as it uses multiple ingredients to support this.
Containing over 22g per serving, Bulk contains full doses of ergogenic aids and a range of nootropics as well as stimulants to help enhance energy.
Bulk is a muscle-building pre-workout by Transparent Labs.
It doesn't use any artificial sweeteners or coloring so you can use it without worrying about your health.
It's also packed with useful ingredients to help you push at your best effort without overdoing it with caffeine.
With different forms of caffeine, it also has nootropics to help you stay focused for long periods of time.
Going above and beyond, Pre Kaged Elite has one of the biggest servings we've seen in pre workouts.
With over 30g of premium ingredients, this is easily the best pre workout with caffeine.
Kaged Elite is made for lifters who want to break their PR's and perform at their very best.
It's truly a pre-workout made for the 5%'ers.
Not only is it naturally flavored but it also has 10g citrulline, as well as 19 other premium ingredients along with patented extracts.
So yes it does come with premium pricing, but it's your pick if you want something strong for performing at your best while pushing beyond 100%.
Stim-free is naturally sweetened with Stevia while still using highly effective ingredients to boost mental and physical performance in the gym.
If you want to exercise late in the evening and still take a pre-workout while being able to sleep at night, then Stim-Free is your choice.
This pre-workout has stevia but it still promises not to have any artificial sweeteners at all.
It also uses a natural source for coloring (beetroot) and so overall this is a healthier pick than the sugar-packed pre-workouts you would typically see on the market.
If you're trying to train without caffeine, then Stim-Free is a great choice because it not only has creatine but it also has other ergogenic aids that support strength and hypertrophy training.
The best pre-workouts for strength and endurance don't need to have artificial sweeteners.
You can still have a great workout by using some of the best available options.
If you want something with low caffeine, then check out Bulk or Lean by Transparent Labs.
For something very strong, Kaged Elite is a great choice.
But if you want something with a moderate amount of caffeine then Altius by Jacked Factory is a good pick.
These pre-workouts are naturally flavored and don't have artificial sweeteners so you can feel better about what you're putting into your health in the long-run.
There are a few common types of artificial sweeteners that are commonly used in powder-based supplements.
If you want to make the most of your health in the long run, then it's probably best to avoid these:
Saccharin:
Saccharin is known to be Sweet'N Low, which is said to be 300-400 times sweeter than sugar and was first made in 1879 and it was produced on a massive scale during the shortage of sugar in world war 1.
They are commonly used because they have a reputation for being the better option for diabetics and teeth health.
Saccharine is made in a lab by oxidizing o-toluene sulfonmide (or phtalic anhydride).
Although this is generally considered to be a safe artificial sweetener, it was linked to bladder cancer in rats in the 1970s.
Since recent studies are not able to replicate this effect, it's one of the reasons why many are cutting out this artificial sweetener.
Aspartame:
Aspartame is also known as Sunett, Sweet One, NutraSweet, or Equal.
Being 200 times sweeter than sugar, it was first created in 1965 and was approved by the FDA in 1981.
It's a low-calorie option and is used in diet drinks.
Aspartame is a synthetic sweetener made of two naturally occurring amino acids, phenylalanine, and aspartic acid.
Although our bodies turn this sweetener into methanol, it's toxic when in large amounts.
Methanol goes further and breaks down into formaldehyde, which is a toxic carcinogen but it isn't noticeable as we tend to consume small amounts of aspartame.
But studies on aspartame prove that it is concerning and it should be avoided.
Sucralose
First discovered in 1976, Sucralose is another zero-calorie artificial sweetener that is 200-400 times sweetener than sugar.
It's made by replacing the hydrogen and oxygen bonds in sugar with chlorine.
Today, it's consumed as Splenda, which is a mix of sucralose, glucose, and maltodextrin and it's commonly used in baked goods as well as beverages.
However, there are many concerns with sucralose as it's linked to many issues concerning health.
It also has side effects on gut bacteria which can affect digestion.
It's a sweetener to stay away from.
Stevia
Stevia is a tricky one as it's a natural sweetener but since it's heavily processed, it can have side effects.
In its plant and natural form, it's a much better alternative to artificial sweeteners.
But because it's bonded with sugar alcohols, it can have effects on the digestion system and it can have an impact on health for the long term.
Stevia still has the lowest risk for side effects so if you do go with a sugar-free pre-workout then stevia is still a solid choice.
Artificial sweeteners have a wide range of side effects on health in the short and long term.
Not only can it affect appetite but it can also disturb healthy gut bacteria and can potentially increase the risk for diabetes.
Anything that's as processed as artificial sweeteners surely won't have any benefit other than the sweetness it provides.
Although artificial sweeteners like sucralose are approved by the FDA, there are still reasons to avoid using this in pre-workouts as the long-term effects are still being studied and it's basically a fake sugar.
Mental Effects
There are studies that link aspartame to cognitive issues like headaches, moodiness, learning problems, and even seizures.
It can also inhibit neurotransmitters that make you feel good, like dopamine and serotonin.
Currently, these effects are not being linked to other artificial sweeteners but it's still a solid reason why to go with a naturally sweetened pre-workout and to avoid the ones using artificial sweeteners
Changes Appetite
Artificial sweeteners have the same effect as sugar when it comes to affecting our food reward pathway.
This means it can increase sugar cravings which can lead to weight gain.
Although this is still being researched, this along with the other possible side effects makes naturally sweetened pre-workouts much more appealing.
Oxidative Stress
Using artificial sweeteners can increase free radicals, leading to elevated oxidative stress.
While this hasn't been proven for humans, it's a solid reason to avoid artificial sweeteners.
With more free radicals building up in our bodies, our cells become more likely to be damaged.
This can eventually lead to an increased risk for degenerative and chronic diseases and can increase the body's rate of aging.
Naturally made sweeteners are a much safer option when it comes to supplements.
There are enough processed sweeteners in drinks to make us more conscious about what we consume even if it's in a health supplement like a pre-workout.
There are plenty of benefits to natural sweeteners such as:
Some of the pre-workouts in this list are ranked in the video below...
The best pre-workouts for strength and endurance don't need to have artificial sweeteners.
You can still have a great workout by using some of the best available options.
If you want something with low caffeine, then check out Bulk or Lean by Transparent Labs.
For something very strong, Kaged Elite is a great choice.
But if you want something with a moderate amount of caffeine then Altius by Jacked Factory is a good pick.
These pre-workouts are naturally flavored and don't have artificial sweeteners so you can feel better about what you're putting into your health in the long-run.
