Soccer is an extremely competitive sport that requires demonstrating speed, strength, and stamina are essential to outscore your opponents on the pitch.
But your body won’t be able to keep up with these demands without adequate fuel daily.
This is where a healthy, varied, and balanced diet comes into play.
Feeding your body with quality nutrients is vital to acquiring sufficient energy and facilitating the repair and building after physical training and competition.
However, while diet and lifestyle changes are effective ways to enhance sports performance, you can’t expect to feel at your best all the time.
Fortunately, a quality pre-workout formula can give you the extra boost you need to start and get the most out of your training sessions.
Read the selection of pre-workout supplements we compiled to help step up your next soccer game.
Caffeine
Caffeine provides a high level of energy for your workout. In addition, it has antioxidant properties, which delay fatigue for a prolonged period.
This means you can go on high-intensity soccer training without getting tired quickly. But physical readiness isn’t enough to improve performance in soccer.
You also have to prepare mentally.
As a stimulant, caffeine can give you this physical and mental advantage. It boosts the production of dopamine, a neurotransmitter that helps enhance concentration.
This can help you maintain your focus and make the right decisions during your soccer game.
Creatine
It’s hard to provide what your body needs to build muscle between training, practice, and competition. Plus, your body can go into a catabolic state due to extensive training and physical work in games.
It breaks down a large mass of muscles and fats for energy, resulting in extreme fatigue and muscle pain.
But supplementing with creatine gives you extra energy without feeling lethargic even after rigorous training. It allows your body to work harder and maintain intensity for extended periods.
Beta-Alanine
Beta-alanine is a non-essential amino acid naturally produced in the body.
It helps increase the production of carnosine, which plays an essential role in muscle endurance during high-intensity training. The carnosine compound buffers the effects of lactic acid released after you make a sprint.
Note that lactic acid decreases your ability to make sprints at top speed.
You can find beta-alanine in foods. However, maintaining the amount your body needs for physical training may not be enough with diet alone.
That’s where beta-alanine supplements come into action.
Branched-Amino Acids
Your body continuously burns down energy fuels while playing soccer, causing your muscular strength to deteriorate.
But since branched-amino acids (BCAAs) help increase new muscle tissue synthesis, they can help you prevent the breakdown of muscle protein content during the soccer game.
If you’re looking for essential vitamins for women and men playing soccer, supplementing with BCAAs would be a great option. They will help keep you energized even well into the second half of the soccer game.
Because they’re oxidized in the muscles for use as energy, you can get the power you need to start and end the game on a good note.
A Few Considerations Before Using A Pre-workout Supplement
Despite the benefits you can get from a pre-workout supplement, here are a few considerations you need to remember before using one:
Don’t Replace Your Diet
Supplements can’t replicate all the nutrients and benefits you can get from whole foods.
So don’t make the mistake of replacing your diet with them. Also, note that all the supplements won’t help your performance if you don’t take a balanced diet.
Proper nutrition is still the key, and you can’t rely all of it on supplementation.
Watch Out For Proprietary Blends
When searching for a pre-workout supplement, avoid products that contain proprietary blends.
This label doesn’t disclose how much of the specific ingredient the product contains. Instead, they only list the total amount of all active ingredients used in the blend.
It’s often a way for manufacturers to mix fillers in the product.
Consider The Timing and Amount
The timing of your pre-workout intake is also essential. The rule of thumb is to take it 30 minutes before your soccer training and game.
This will give the supplement enough time to start taking effect before the kick-off. It’s also crucial not to take more than the recommended daily use.
Always check the dosage and find out what works best for you.
Be Familiar With Anti-Doping Regulations
Doping is prohibited in sports like soccer.
Your body should not come into contact with any substance or method prohibited by the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency (USADA). While they don’t ban the use of supplements, some may contain prohibited substances.
That’s why it’s always critical to check the ingredients of any supplements before using them.
In addition, the USADA always recommends only using supplements certified by a third-party program that tests for substances prohibited in sports.
Take Your Game To The Next Level
Supplements are a great tool to take your game to the next level.
However, they are not magic pills that can instantly enhance your performance. Hard work, discipline, and proper nutrition are still your best weapons to step up your game.
These supplements can help but only with proper use and caution.
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