Supplement spotlight: STIMUL8 LOADED
Stimul8 Loaded is a next generation pre-workout that mechanistically targets several pathways acting on both the central and peripheral nervous system. Gone are the days of simply saturating the brain with caffeine… instead of acting on a single mechanism, Stimul8 Loaded combines 8 key ingredients to provide a multidimensional stimulation to eliminate fatigue, enhance endurance and maximise energy without the easy susceptibility to build tolerance (WARNING: do not carry over your double scooping habits from past pre-workouts).
The volition to lift originates in the brain. Caffeine is the most commonly used stimulant due to its ability to cross the blood-brain barrier enhancing catecholamine release (adrenaline and noradrenaline) while simultaneously blocking adenosine receptors. There is a tone of literature supporting caffeine’s beneficial responses on perception of muscle soreness, perceived exertion, and performance after maximal resistance exercise (1). But why stop at caffeine?
Chances are you probably already have a moderate – high caffeine intake and are somewhat desensitised to its beneficial effects. To overcome acclimatisation to caffeine, Stimulat8 Loaded uses TeaCrine. This naturally occurring compound is structurally similar to caffeine but has shown to independently exert neurophysiological effects including improvements in focus and concentration…with a bonus libido boost (2).
Stimul8 Loaded also contains synergistic cognitive enhancers that boost the presence of a key nootropic neurotransmitters (acetylcholine, noradrenaline and dopamine). The cause of exercise fatigue is still not clearly defined, but it is definitely influenced by the brain (termed ‘Central fatigue’). Stimul8 Loaded uses a threefold approach to combat central derived fatigue; Choline bitartrate to increase acetylcholine production, L-Theanine to promote dopamine and noradrenaline release (3) and Synephrine to inhibit enzymes that break down acetylcholine (4). Increasing the presence of brain neurotransmitter
It is likely that fatigue is due to a combination of both central (brain derived) and peripheral (muscle and systemic) factors. So, it is all good and well to enhance cognition, but to push past fatigue and smash a workout your muscles need attention. Stimul8 Loaded contains compounds that boost Nitric Oxide; both Nitrosigine and Citrulline Malate that have been shown to increase NO production and promote vasodilation and improvements in blood flow to enhance athletic anaerobic performance and relieve muscle soreness (5). In addition to increased anaerobic performance, Beta Alanine is incorporated to further improve lactic acid removal to prolong aerobic muscular endurance.
NO boosters are common ingredients in pre-workouts… So, Stimul8 Loaded decided to stand out, and offer something more to enhance #gains. In addition to well-known stimulants and nootropic compounds, Stimul8 contains exciting new compounds that are less mainstream (…for now). Hordenine, is a naturally occurring compound that has been shown to upregulate the expression of hypertrophic genes, showing a potential to increase muscle mass and function (6)…need I say more.
Overall, Stimul8 Loaded is a revolutionary pre-workout targeting both central and peripheral fatigue mechanisms with the potential to enhance muscle hypertrophy. It is suitable for any exercise, provided intensity and prevention of fatigue is the goal.
References:
1.) Hurley , C. The effect of caffeine ingestion on delayed onset muscle soreness. Journal of Strength & Conditioning Research [1064-8011] yr:2013 vol:27 iss:11 pg:310
2.) Tim N. A Two-Part Approach to Examine the Effects of Theacrine (TeaCrine®) Supplementation on Oxygen Consumption, Hemodynamic Responses, and Subjective Measures of Cognitive and Psychometric Parameters.
3.) Zhu G. Synaptic modification by L-theanine, a natural constituent in green tea, rescues the impairment of hippocampal long-term potentiation and memory in AD mice. Neuropharmacology. 2018
4.) Parham Taslimi. Synephrine and phenylephrine act as α‐amylase, α‐glycosidase, acetylcholinesterase, butyrylcholinesterase, and carbonic anhydrase enzymes inhibitors. Journal of biochemical and molecular toxicology. 2017
- Pérez-Guisado J. Citrulline malate enhances athletic anaerobic performance and relieves muscle soreness. J Strength Cond Res. 2010
- Chikazawa M1, Sato R1,2,Identification of Functional Food Factors as β2-Adrenergic Receptor Agonists and Their Potential Roles in Skeletal Muscle. J Nutr Sci Vitaminol. 2018
