Finding a vegan-friendly beverage to consume before you exercise can be extremely tricky. Animal products always seem to sneak into these kinds of products, and that is seriously disappointing for those who want to avoid animal exploitation but still want the rush a pre-workout can give them.
Sadly, you should strike Bucked Up off your list of potential pre-workouts for boosting your exercise routine. Although it doesn’t contain any obviously animal-based products, it hasn’t been certified for vegans, and may therefore depend upon animals for its creation. You might not want to consume it if you avoid animal products.
In this article, we’ll find out more about Bucked Up, what it contains that stops it from being vegan-friendly, and why you should avoid it. We’ll also briefly cover a few alternatives that you might want to try.
Is This Pre-Workout Okay For Vegans To Consume?
Although there are no obvious animal products in the ingredients, this product is not advertised as vegan, and therefore it’s likely that vegans shouldn’t be able to consume it. There’s a high chance that one or more of its ingredients have been derived from animal sources.
Many supplements rely on animal-based products, and those that don’t tend to get certified as vegan-friendly so that they can tap into this market. Which product (or products) make it unsuitable isn’t clear, but you can find the ingredients below:
- Vitamin B12
- Taurine
- Alpha GPC
- Beta-alanine
- Caffeine Anhydrous
- Citric Acid
- Natural Flavors
- Artificial Flavors
- Calcium Silicate
- Silicon Dioxide
- Beet Root Powder
- Sucralose
- Himalayan Rock Salt
- Citrulline Malate 2:1
Most of those look suitable for vegans, but it’s likely that at least one is either tested on animals or has been made from animal sources as the brand itself doesn’t seem to shy away from using animal products when it can. This means it would be safest to avoid Bucked Up or contact the manufacturer directly for more information about their product and the manufacturing process.
Is There Deer Antler In Bucked Up Pre-Workout?
Some of the products from this manufacturer have become famous (and infamous) for using the velvet of deer antlers. Given that the logo depicts a stag’s head and the drink’s name is“bucked up,” you might be wondering whether this is among the products with this ingredient in it; it would make sense if it was.
This extract is supposed to aid swift recovery after a workout, but it’s an ingredient that is decidedly not okay for vegans.
Perhaps surprisingly, Bucked Up Pre-Workout does not appear to contain this extract. This does not appear in the ingredients list and is not advertised among the product’s properties, meaning that this is one aspect of the product you don’t need to worry about.
It should be noted that although deer can shed their antlers naturally, the extract is still certainly derived from an animal, and therefore is not suitable for most vegans. You should always check products from this company to make sure this ingredient is absent from them before you consume them.
It’s also worth being aware that some sources do list deer antler velvet extract in this drink’s ingredients, but it doesn’t appear on the container’s ingredients list – so it shouldn’t be in the formula. However, it’s always worth double-checking before you use a product.
Are There Any Great Vegan Pre-Workout Drinks?
Finding a pre-workout that you enjoy the taste of can be challenging, especially if you’re searching for a vegan one – but there are some great ones that you should try if you’re struggling. You don’t have to condone animal suffering to set yourself up for success with your exercise routine.
First, consider Gorilla Mode Pre-Workout. It’s a good alternative to Bucked Up, and it contains things like Betaine, as well as Agmatine. It does contain a lot of stimulants but has a surprisingly low jitter effect, which encourages many people to try it out.
If you don’t want your pre-workout to be loaded with caffeine, you might want to try Nitrosurge. It’s one of the few vegan options that isn’t packed with caffeine. Instead, it uses a small quantity of caffeine and enhances it with L-theanine. It’s not the most powerful energy drink out there, but it will help.
For those who are ditching sugar, Vega Sport Sugar-Free Energizer is an excellent option, although you may find it’s most effective for short workouts that aren’t too intense. For longer workouts, pick one of the others from this list.
Conclusion
Bucked Up doesn’t claim to be vegan, and you should therefore avoid this product if you’re following a plant-based diet. Some sources suggest it contains an extract from deer antler velvet, which may further deter you, even though this doesn’t appear to be on the ingredients list. Fortunately, there are plenty of other pre-workout options that are vegan-friendly.
We also have an article where we’ve compiled a list of the best vegan pre-workouts, and we’ve only included options that we would purchase ourselves, of course.
Editor’s note: The content on this website is meant to be informative, but it should not be taken as medical advice. The content of our articles is not intended for use in the diagnosis, prevention, and/or treatment of health problems. It’s always best to speak with your doctor or a certified medical professional before making any changes to your lifestyle, diet, exercise routine, or trying a new supplement.
