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

The BluePrint with Dr. Erik Korem

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

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Quotable moments:

"The main player in that ensemble [of pre-workout ingredients] is going to be caffeine." - Alan Aragon

"I enjoy being able to crack jokes about the third scoop. You know, you can tell when someone's on the third scoop, they're like sort of methed out." - Alan Aragon

"I think [nootropics] might better apply to people who have some degree of cognitive decline, rather than giving healthy people superhuman cognitive and neurological powers." - Alan Aragon

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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.

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