are gummy bears and pre workout gummies the same thing?

I bet you $10 that when you hear the word "pre workout gummies" the first thought in your head is probably the bear-shaped sweet that we used to melt in the sun.

Drop that thought from your head; pre workout gummies are not the same as gummy bears.

In this article, we will explain the difference between the two.

What is a pre workout gummy?

Shape

The shape varies from brand to brand. For example, Chewz are more like little rounded-shaped boxes, whilst others are shaped like smarties.

Ingredients

They are basically candies made to give extra energy. However, sugar is NOT the main ingredient, as you may think. The main ingredients are usually:

Caffeine
Creatine
Beta-alanine
L-arginine
Turmeric
Citrulline Malate
Sucralose
Beef gelatin
Maltodextrin
Beetroot powder

Let's look into these ingredients in more detail.

Caffeine

Most non-gymgoers associate caffeine with increased mental alertness. It also increases the metabolic rate, which improves endurance and reduces fatigue. It's a bit like putting coal into a steam engine.

Creatine

This is derived from amino acids, which fill one's muscles with bursts of energy. This is particularly useful when doing high-intensity interval training, think Arnold Schwarzenegger.

Creatine in gummies is often combined with malic acid, which helps absorb the creatine. Unfortunately, gummy bears do not have this benefit.

Beta-alanine

This nonessential amino acid avoids acid buildup in your muscles. In gym terms, this is like preventing grease from accumulating between your muscle joints and allowing for greater strength to be used.

And not only that beta-alanine increases muscle carnosine, which prevents the "burn" you feel when your muscles are pumped to full capacity.

One small side effect of beta-alanine: as you can delay muscle fatigue, you will probably experience a slight tingling sensation. But this is not at all harmful.

L-arginine

Generally, one finds these in nuts, wheat and fish. However, it is also produced in our bodies. Whilst it is not an essential ingredient to a healthy life, it is still ebeneficial to gym goers. It boosts protein synthesis. In layman's terms, it pumps up muscle growth and strength. Like a natural and non-negative steroid.

For those who want a toned, lean muscle mass (think Daniel Craig's James Bond), this should be on the top of your eating list.

Turmeric

For those Indian food lovers, this spice is instantly recognizable. Besides spicing up your food, turmeric contains curcumin (don't ask how to pronounce that).

Now curcumin is great at reducing inflammation and muscle soreness. And this translates into a faster recovery.

Citrulline malate

This is yet another amino acid, it's crazy just how much is packed into a little gummy.

One finds these naturally in watermelons and in our own bodies. It is believed to boost one's exercise performance.

Sucralose

Now, our pre-workout gummies do not use that common kitchen sugar. Instead, it contains sucralose. In short, a non-calorie-filled sweetener. Now sucralose is made from sugar.

But let's get one thing clear. It is NOT sugar! It has been altered to be calorie-free without losing its sweet taste. Many of our customers have commented that it is sweeter than real sugar. A big advantage of this is that it is safe for those with diabetes.

Beef gelatin

Let's get the nasty stuff out of the way first. This is made by boiling animal bones, skins and cartilage and looks like brown jelly. But lucky for us, it is tasteless and has no smell. It helps with digestion, joint support and healing wounds. But as it is made from beef, it makes it editable for vegans and vegetarians.

But fear not, Chewz vegan gummies are being cooked up as we speak.

Maltodextrin

This is a cheaper version of carbohydrate when compared to lactose and is made from wheat, rice and corn.

It provides two benefits:

To thicken gelatin (well, this is more of a benefit to the gummy)
It provides 4 calories for every 1g of maltodextrin powder. And as you know, calories = energy.

Citrulline Malate

Now some general knowledge for you: There are two types of citrulline.

L-citrulline (the purest form of citrulline) and the one that has no use for us gym fanatics
Citrulline malate (a blend between citrulline and malate). Malate is a type of protein. It is this that provides Chewz fans with energy production assistance.

Beetroot Powder

Finally, we get to beetroot powder. The natural nitrate content in this powder improves blood flow by dilating the blood vessels in layman's terms. In addition, it increases the size of blood vessels from a single-lane highway with congested traffic into a German Autobahnen. So your blood can race around your body. This also has the added benefit of increasing the oxygen levels flowing to one's muscles, thus relieving the muscle pump.

How many pre-workout gummies can you take

It depends on the amount of caffeine in each gummy. But between 3 to 10 depending on the type & duration of the workout. For more on this please check out this blog.

What is a gummy bear

Shape

Exactly as you remember it. Little bear-shaped sweets that come in different colours. In some places, they came in the shape of babies. But that doesn't stand well in the 21st-century gym scene.

Ingredients

Unlike pre-workout gummies, gummy bears are packed with unhealthy ingredients (unless you make your own at home and decide on what to throw into the mixture. This generally includes:

Cane sugar (occasionally beet sugar)
Gelatin
Corn syrup
Starch
Flavourings
Food colouring
Citric acid

There are sugar-free options that use Aspartame, an artificial sweetener.

Recommended for training

Some gym goers recommend taking gummy bears for fast-digesting carbs that replenish your glycogen levels.

They can be used for anaerobic exercises. These are gym workouts that don't involve the use of one's cardiovascular system. Such workouts decrease levels of adenosine triphosphate (ATP) and glucose.

Quick biology lesson: ATP is the energy your body uses to increase your breathing and heart rate to ingest more oxygen to restore cellular respiration levels. Glucose is burnt when you use your muscles in a process called glycolysis.

The gummy bears that you can buy in your store help to restore both ATP and glucose.

However, using gummy bears is like running your car on alcohol. It can be done. But why should you use a cheap hack on your body that you are trying so hard to improve