Interested in easily increasing and sustaining energy during your intense training session? An all natural, cold-pressed beverage might be the simple solution to get you to your peak performance. With dozens of available products, it’s hard to truly know which one is most beneficial and what ingredients should be prioritized when making your decision. Lucky for you, all of us here at MODe know that less is not always more and more is not always better. Based on years of product development and research from our food scientists, here are the most important aspects of our pre-workout beverage. Let’s go!

What is pre-workout and why should you care?

In general, a pre-workout product is used to increase and sustain energy over long periods of intense training. Given the name, it should be used as a way to prime your body with highly bioavailable fuel for intense exertion and to improve overall performance. Taking it doesn’t mean things get easier, but it can drastically increase the chances to improve performance output and the quality of your workouts. Preparing properly is an important first step that you shouldn't skip. Imagine planning a family road trip with the kids, dog, and all your luggage packed up, yet before leaving you didn’t fill up the car with gas. 

Fueling your body right before you head off into training, workout or competition is essential to achieve peak performance and making the most of the time you put in. 

Cold-pressed and spiced up: Hot Results

Our approach to developing a cold-pressed product that has natural, highly concentrated performance extracts added, is based on science. Research has shown that “cold-pressing” preserves the nutrients in their natural form, which otherwise are largely lost when heated, condensed, and processed multiple times before being put into its final product form. To get measurable and significant improvements on performance, you also need some nutrients at volumes you couldn’t eat from whole foods, which is why we add those in extract form to get you doses needed. As far as we know MODe is the only beverage to combine the benefits of cold-pressed whole foods packed with with the punch of natural, highly concentrated extracts. Primary extracts for effective nutrient delivery include Pomegranate Polyphenols, Curcumin, Panax Notoginseng and Astragalus Membranaceus extract. These extracts have been scientifically studied and proven to deliver results.

What about caffeine? For many athletes, consuming caffeine before working out or competing is a no brainer. But, better natural sources of booster nutrients can easily fill the gap for caffeine. According to WebMD, caffeine consumption is on the rise and for many it comes along with side effects that include "insomnia, tremors, nausea, vomiting, chest pains, and palpitations, among others”.

We are not against caffeine, but for some it comes with heavy downsides, therefore we suggest focusing on natural ingredients that will get you further in overall performance and supports long-term health without the negatives. So here are a few of our super weapons:

1. Beets: Nature’s Nitrates

Whether you are new to fitness and nutrition or a master of your sport, you have most likely heard the hype about beets. The good news is science supports several positive effects from beets. According to the Journal of Applied Physiology, beets showed in one study a 16% average performance increase when using beet juice. Imagine you currently run an 8:00/mile, but could run a 6:42/mile with a 16% boost. Several other sources such as the American Heart Association and American Journal of Physiology found beets a great natural source for nitrates. Nitrates convert naturally in the body to nitric oxide, which affects how the body cells use oxygen efficiently. When oxygen levels are more efficient, stamina and muscle power are increased by 13%, equalling longer time before fatigue sets in.  

Essentially, the power of beets let you take in that deep breath of O2.

2. Pomegranate Polyphenols:  AKA “Protectors”

Pomegranate Polyphenol compounds protect nitric oxide in the body ensuring it will last longer and be biologically available in the body. This effect supports endurance, strength and most importantly recovery. Ellagitannins from pomegranate extract help improve recovery of isometric strength 2-3 days after a damaging eccentric exercise. Pomegranate Polyphenols have also potent antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties which also aid in extending exertion time before fatigue.

Pairing Pomegranate Polyphenols with the power of beets allows you to open up your body to carry more nitric oxide, and protect the nitric oxide inside your body.

3. Curcumin: Absorption for the win

Curcumin is a bioactive substance in turmeric, known for its antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties offering health benefits in joint, heart, cognition and immune function. This turmeric root property is a door opener and helps with absorption of nutrients that are otherwise difficult to dissolve within the digestive system. Curcumin aides in removing metabolic waste like lactic acid more effectively and is responsible for delivering oxygen, nutrients and blood to muscles which makes it perfect helper for high intense workouts or competition.

Think of Curcumin as the hot water when brewing a cup of coffee. Without the hot water, the flavor of the grounds would be lost and unable to fully absorb into a fresh cup of coffee.

4. Panax Notoginseng and Astragalus Membranaceus Extract: “Don’t miss the train”

Panax Notoginseng and Astragalus Membranaceus extracts, when incorporated into foods and dietary supplements, can produce many positive benefits. It functions as a vasodilator, opening up blood vessels, and helps improve absorption, increased energy level, general well-being, blood sugar balance, and overall health. This extract pulls through the amino acids, glucose, and vitamins into the body by fostering a cellular environment to allow a greater amount of these nutrients to pass from the bloodstream into the cells.

The small intestine is the primary site for the absorption of fluids, electrolytes, macronutrients (proteins, carbohydrates, and fats), and micronutrients (vitamins, minerals, and trace elements), which is where Panax Notoginseng and Astragalus Membranaceus extracts serve as the “train” to transport crucial nutrients and proteins to the small intestine.

At the end of the day, what you get out of your training all depends on what you put in. And the right nutrition plays a crucial role in that equation. To give you an idea, we have compiled the nutritional facts and costs for some common “pre-workout” beverages shown per 8 ounces in each serving.

MODe v. Common Pre-Workout Formulas 

*Based on 8 oz serving size 

Often people think the best way to improve on performance is just getting better equipment or training more. While good equipment and training plays a fundamental role, having a good diet is often the quickest and most effective way to see major improvements in performance. Nutrition should never be an expense, but rather looked at as an investment into the most amazing and valuable engine there is. It’s an investment into performance and long-term health.

No doubt, with the information above we only scratch the surface of things we could talk about but if there are only a few important key points to take away, just remember this:

• Don't be fooled, not all all juices or beverages are made equal. Substantial amounts of the right nutrients coupled with maximized absorption makes all the difference and is key to achieve peak performance.

• The fresher and less processed the nutrients are, the better. Cold-pressed beverages, make it easy to consume an action-pack of nutrients.

• Investing in your body gets you the best ROI (return on investment), paid off in better performance and health

At MODe, we are committed to using latest science and research  to provide you with the best natural fuel to power your engine. Sustaining healthy bodies allow for high peak performance, so leave the headache and preparation to us while you get out and focus on kicking butt.