As a long-time fan of supplements, functional foods, and performance, I’ve tried a variety of preworkout supplements over the years. But the one that truly changed the game for me was a recipe I created myself, using only a few simple ingredients.
Thinking of this era gives me goosebumps, and I could almost hear Coldplay’s The Scientist song playing in the background. It was 2002, I was in my second year of BSc Biology, absorbing as much knowledge as possible in all areas of Biological Sciences, particularly Biochemistry, Molecular Biology, Human Physiology and Plant Sciences from a phytochemical standpoint.
At my study in my room in Mauritius in 2002, aged 19.
The pre-preworkout era
At that time, the preworkout category hadn’t yet established itself. Preworkout energy boosting wasn’t something that people generally talked about.
For instance, I remember the visiting Mr. Indian Ocean at that time, Seychelles’ Joelain Valentin, recommending taking Calcium effervescent tabs before working out. Considering the importance of Calcium in muscle contraction, this advice made sense to me, although soon I found out that it didn’t necessarily mean that it must be consumed just before working out.
Those who sought a boost simply relied on coffee to get them through their workouts.
However, I was already noticing a trend towards stimulant-based products promoted for pre-exercise consumption in the international magazines that I was devouring.
My preworkout consisted of the following ingredients:
- A strong cup of coffee.
- 2 bags of green tea.
- Honey or sugar
- B-vitamin complex tablets.
I didn’t have a name for it yet but one day my mom, who always took a keen interest in whatever I was mixing (perhaps out of concern), asked me what it was called. I replied ” THE BOMB”.
My preworkout was born. THE BOMB was simple yet effective, and it became my go-to preworkout for years to come. I also used it to keep me alert for studies* and worked as a pre-cardio fat burning drink.
It worked wonders.
How did it taste, though?
All the constituents were mixed together into a single drink, including the tablets that would be crushed into a powder.
My main concern was ensuring that the active ingredients were present in the appropriate amounts to provide the desired effect. I paid little attention to the taste and flavor of the product. My focus was primarily on the health sciences/ efficacy angle of the products.
It is only much later that I began to focus more on the consumer sciences, innovation and food technology in the development of my nutritional products
Besides, at that time, there wasn’t as much consideration to taste and sensory experience in the supplement industry as there is today.
*Word of caution
Do not exceed 400mg of caffeine per fay from all sources. Higher amounts can lead to negative side effects. Therefore, it is important to be mindful of the caffeine content in any products you consume, including preworkouts and caffeinated beverages like energy drinks and coffee.
Individuals who are sensitive to caffeine or who have a medical condition that may be aggravated by caffeine, such as high blood pressure or anxiety, would do best to avoid caffeine altogether or to limit intake to small amounts.
I personally do not recommend caffeine to anyone under 18.
Other enhancements to my BOMB formula
Other enhancements I would bring about to the formula from time to time, although the original formula was already very solid.
- Panax Ginseng Vial
2. Sportenine from Boiron (France)
This is an interesting product introduced to me by my dad who was then the treasurer of the Mauritian professional soccer team ASPL2000. His players used to taken them before matches and training to fight cramps and maintain energy.
Sportenine was made by a French company named Boiron. It contained a lactic acid buffering ingredient called Sarcolactium as well as Zinc.
As a side note, I am well-versed in the European nutritional product market, particularly French products, as these products were easily available on the Mauritian market. My aunty also used to send me books and supplements from France so I was exposed to a lot of these products and studied them in detail.
In Europe, regulations for nutritional products are generally more strict than in the United States, resulting in a more limited range of ingredients being available for use and claims that can be made about these products. I will write about these differences in more detail in another article.
“Discovering” the Caffeine-Theanine Synergy
In making THE BOMB, I experimented with different supplements and ingredients. After a lot of experimentation I realized that the tea and coffee combination was what gave me the best results.
At the time, I had no idea that the combination of coffee and tea was due to the synergistic effects of caffeine and theanine.
Caffeine is a well-known stimulant that can help improve focus, energy, and performance. However, it can also lead to jitters and crashes if consumed in excess. Theanine, on the other hand, is an amino acid found in tea that has a calming effect on the body and can help reduce the negative side effects of caffeine.
Research has shown that combining caffeine and theanine can have a synergistic effect, improving cognitive performance and increasing focus and attention. This is likely what made THE BOMB so effective for me.
L-Theanine, an amino acid naturally found in tea leaves is increasingly being used in energy drinks to moderate the potential side effects of caffeine.
THE BOMB 2.0
These days, my preworkout recipe has gotten a bit fancier as I have access to newer ingredients like pure crystalline Caffeine, Taurine, Alpha-GPC and pure amino acids like Citrulline, Tyrosine, Carnitines, and more.
But I still use the foundation of THE BOMB to this day, which is the caffeine-theanine-B Vitamin combination, to which I add various other active ingredients, and of course with the best flavouring, natural colouring available for the best tasting experience.
It will always hold a special place in my heart as the preworkout recipe that changed my workouts forever.
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Medical disclaimer
The information presented on this website is intended for adults 18 or over. Its aim is purely educational and does not constitute medical advice. Please consult a medical or health professional before you begin any program related to exercise, nutrition, or supplementation especially if you have a medical condition. If you consume any product mentioned on our site, you do so on your own free will, and you knowingly and voluntarily accept the risks. © 2023. Supplementscientist.com
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