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We all know what it's like to have a day when we're just not feeling it; when we show up to the gym feeling sluggish, unfocused, or out of gas. Of course, there are a number of ways to better prepare yourself to get the most out of each personal fitness session, whether that's by getting a better night's sleep or eating the right foods to fuel your body.
Something else to consider? Taking nutritional supplements that are designed to enhance your workout experience. Enter Legion Pulse pre-workout. We reviewed this product to determine whether it really does what it claims to do with regard to improving your workout efficacy. Here's the ACTIVE Reviews Team's Legion Pulse Pre-Workout review.
What Is Legion Pulse?
SPECS
- Ingredients: L-Citrulline DL-Malate, Beta Alanine, Betaine, Erythritol, Flavour, Dextrose, Potassium Citrate, Green Tea Leaf Extract (40% L-Theanine), Anti-caking Agents, Sweetener (Stevia), Caffeine Anhydrous, Acidity Regulator (Sodium Citrate), Coloring Food (Beetroot Juice Powder)
- Dosage: 2 scoops (24g)
- Price: $2.00 per serving
- Flavors: 14
- Artificial Sweeteners: None noted, naturally sweetened with Stevia
Legion is a fitness supplement company based out of Virginia. The company's pre-workout product is designed to boost your energy levels, improve your focus, enhance your strength, and ramp up your stamina for a truly productive session at the gym. Legion Pulse was developed by Mike Matthews, an author, blogger, and fitness expert who became interested in creating his own supplement in response to the overall lack of effective, healthy pre-workout products he saw on the market.
What We Like
- Provides natural ingredients in reasonably high doses
- Plenty of flavors to choose from
- Contains electrolytes
- Allows you to enjoy the positive effects of caffeine without the jitteriness or the crash
- Available in a caffeine-free version
- Third-party tested
What We Don't Like
- Some reviewers weren't impressed with the flavors
- The caffeine content may disrupt your sleep cycle
- On the pricey side
What Are the Benefits of Using Legion Pulse?
There are a few benefits worth noting about Legion Pulse:
- A hefty dose of caffeine gives you the energy rush you need for optimal workout performance, yet the presence of L-theanine undercuts the caffeine content, preventing you from feeling jittery or from crashing when the caffeine's effects wear off.
- Legion Pulse encourages greater mental clarity, allowing you to focus more acutely on completing your workout without getting distracted. Again, you can chalk it up to the brain-boosting power of caffeine.
- The product also contains about 8 grams of citrulline malate, which helps nourish your muscles and provides you with the endurance you need for each exercise session. Caffeine further stimulates physical power, while beta-alanine keeps your lactic acid build-up in check.
How Legion Pulse Works
Legion Pulse provides a curated blend of research-backed ingredients designed to enhance the quality and effectiveness of your training. These ingredients work synergistically to improve your cognition, power output, and endurance.
Legion Pulse supplies ingredients in clinically effective doses to help you get the most out of your training sessions without the jitters and crashes that come with some pre-workouts. While not all gym-goers require a pre-workout, those who are serious about their training may benefit from one.
For best results, two scoops should be taken 15-30 minutes prior to exercise mixed with 10-12 ounces of water. If you are sensitive to caffeine or new to pre-workouts, the manufacturers recommend starting with one scoop and working your way up to two.
Legion Pulse Key Ingredients
While many pre-workouts include a slew of questionable artificial ingredients, Legion Pulse focuses on providing maximal performance and recovery benefits using 100% natural ingredients. Here are the key ingredients that make this unique pre-workout tick:
- Citrulline malate: A non-essential amino acid that can help promote nitric oxide production, a key regulator of blood flow to working muscles. Some research suggests it may increase muscular performance.(1,2)
- Betaine: Widely found in beetroot, this compound has some research to suggest it may improve maximal strength and power.(3)
- Beta-alanine: An amino acid that serves as the building block of carnosine, which may buffer acidity in your muscles. There's extensive research that shows a small improvement in high-intensity exercise when supplementing with it.(4)
- Caffeine: A central nervous system stimulant that can improve explosive exercise performance and muscular endurance. It is the most effective when taken 30-60 minutes before training.(5)
- L-theanine: An naturally occurring amino acid that can help ease stress and anxiety. It also pairs well with caffeine to reduce the jittery effects that many people experience.(6)
- Sodium and Potassium: These important electrolytes are included in this pre-workout formula to help keep you hydrated during even the toughest training sessions.
Why Trust Us?
The health and safety of ACTIVE's readers are of the utmost importance to us. To ensure your well-being when consuming nutritional supplements, the ACTIVE.com editorial team prioritizes products that are independently tested by a third party. We've also consulted with a team of nutritionists and dieticians to ensure the products we feature are of the highest standard. This helps us create the most accurate, authentic review content for our readers.
Disclaimer: Exercise caution when taking supplements. Always make sure to consult with your doctor before trying a new supplement or pill. Supplements are not a substitute for a balanced diet and regular exercise. Any supplements taken should be used in accordance with a healthy lifestyle.
FAQs About Legion Pulse Pre-Workout
Is Legion Pulse pre-workout healthy?
It's usually a smart idea to ask your doctor about adding any supplement to your regular diet or exercise regimen. With that said, Legion Pulse focuses on healthy ingredients, and even includes ingredients to mitigate some of the jittery side effects associated with caffeine. When taken according to the dosing instructions and paired with a healthy lifestyle, Legion Pulse should be a safe and effective option.
Is Legion Pulse pre-workout FDA approved?
The ingredients used in Legion Pulse are all FDA-approved, and the formula is developed in facilities that meet the standards of FDA compliance.
How long does Legion Pulse pre-workout last?
The duration of your Legion Pulse effects may vary a little bit depending on your metabolism, the nature of your workout, and other factors. For most people, Legion Pulse's effects last for a couple of hours, and in some cases may last for up to six hours.
Does Legion Pulse have caffeine?
Yes, caffeine is one of the primary active ingredients found in Legion Pulse, along with L-citrulline malate and beta-alanine. (There's a caffeine-free version that you can buy, but that's not the one we've reviewed here.)
These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.
References
- Gonzales, J. U., Raymond, A., Ashley, J., & Kim, Y. (2017). Does l-citrulline supplementation improve exercise blood flow in older adults?. Experimental physiology, 102(12), 1661–1671.
- Kerksick, C.M., Wilborn, C.D., Roberts, M.D. et al. ISSN exercise & sports nutrition review update: research & recommendations. J Int Soc Sports Nutr 15, 38 (2018).
- Ismaeel A. (2017). Effects of Betaine Supplementation on Muscle Strength and Power: A Systematic Review. Journal of strength and conditioning research, 31(8), 2338–2346.
- Saunders, B., Elliott-Sale, K., Artioli, G. G., Swinton, P. A., Dolan, E., Roschel, H., Sale, C., & Gualano, B. (2017). β-alanine supplementation to improve exercise capacity and performance: a systematic review and meta-analysis. British journal of sports medicine, 51(8), 658–669.
- Guest, N.S., VanDusseldorp, T.A., Nelson, M.T. et al. International society of sports nutrition position stand: caffeine and exercise performance. J Int Soc Sports Nutr 18, 1 (2021).
- Owen, G. N., Parnell, H., De Bruin, E. A., & Rycroft, J. A. (2008). The combined effects of L-theanine and caffeine on cognitive performance and mood. Nutritional neuroscience, 11(4), 193–198.