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Vega is a plant-based supplement brand co-founded by vegan triathlete Brendan Brazier; a firm believer in the power of plants who was frustrated by the lack of existing high-performance solutions, so he decided to make his own, and one of the formulas he created was the Sport Energizer.
Sport Energizer is a vegan pre-workout supplement that is meant to increase your energy levels and consequently elevate your focus so that you can push through a really intense workout.
Main Takeaways
- It contains a blend of caffeine (100mg), Eleuthero Root Extract, and Rhodiola Rosea Extract which work synergistically to boost energy levels and combat fatigue. Caffeine is known to improve performance and focus, while Rhodiola Rosea has demonstrated potential in reducing stress-induced fatigue. Eleuthero Root Extract is also included as an adaptogen, though scientific evidence regarding its efficacy is inconclusive.
- The supplement includes electrolytes to help maintain hydration and reduce fatigue due to dehydration, as well as Vitamin C, which can support the immune system and potentially reduce the duration of illnesses.
- Sport Energizer may be most effective for individuals who are not habitual caffeine consumers, as they are likely to experience a more noticeable energy boost. Those with a high caffeine tolerance might find the effects less stimulating due to the relatively low caffeine content.
- It is positioned as a mid-range product, priced at $31.99 for a box of 30 single packs or $39.99 for a tub with 35 servings.
What Are The Ingredients In Sport Energizer?
Sport Energizer has a variety of ingredients, including Coffee Berry Fruit Extract and Green Tea Leaf Extract which contain a combined 100 mg of caffeine, and you’ll also find unconventional herbs such as Eleuthero Root Extract and Rhodiola Rosea Extract, which are both considered adaptogens or plants that help your body respond to stress, anxiety, and fatigue, promoting overall well-being.
In addition to these plant-based ingredients, you have a variety of minerals, also referred to as electrolytes, which are intended to help you stay hydrated, reducing the amount of fatigue you might feel from dehydration. It turns out that as dehydration progresses, the body redirects blood to the working muscles and away from the skin, impairing your body’s ability to diffuse heat. The increase in internal heat then results in muscle cramps, light-headedness, and fatigue.
Vitamin C is also present in this formula and it supposedly supports your immune system, protecting you against diseases, and may even reduce time spent ill.
In this section of the article, we’re going to look closely at some of the ingredients in Sport Energizer and attempt to break down their marketing claims by analyzing the scientific literature available.
Caffeine (100 mg)
Caffeine is a stimulatory anti-sleep compound extracted from coffee beans, but most people will refer to caffeine as a central nervous system stimulant that has the ability to fight fatigue and increase energy levels. 1
This is because caffeine blocks the receptors of a neurotransmitter called adenosine, and this increases levels of other neurotransmitters in your brain that regulate your energy levels, namely dopamine. 2, 3
In a short study, participants’ subjective feelings of fatigue were significantly lowered and the time it took to reach exhaustion during a cycling exercise increased by 12% as a result of coffee consumption. 4
Similar findings from another study showed that ingesting caffeine before and during a round of golf enhanced performance boosted subjective energy levels, and decreased sensations of exhaustion. 5
With all this being said, no matter how much caffeine is consumed, many of the effects of caffeine, such as those that promote fat loss, increased strength, and euphoria, are sensitive to tolerance and may not materialize in caffeine-tolerant individuals.
So while caffeine does work in terms of increasing energy levels, it also depends on a person’s habits.
Eleuthero Root Extract
Eleutherococcus senticosus is an adaptogen and herb that may increase work capacity during strenuous aerobic activity, and some may also have anti-stress and potential immunity-boosting effects.
Eleutherococcus senticosus may enhance physical performance during periods of intense activity, according to preliminary research. 6, 7, 8
Unfortunately, the results from the trials are not very reliable as the studies that showed the most promise had low methodology quality, at least according to one review. 9
So while the results are indeed promising, it’s hard to see Eleuthero as an ingredient that effectively increases physical performance based on the lack of serious studies.
As far as anti-stress effects are concerned, there isn’t enough evidence that evaluates Eleuthero in isolation for us to be able to claim that it has anti-stress benefits.
Rhodiola Rosea Extract
Rhodiola Rosea is an herbal supplement with adaptogen properties that provides general resistance to stress.
Although it’s seen with some controversy, Rhodiola Rosea has an extensive track record of efficacy, particularly when it comes to its anti-fatigue agent and adaptogen compound. 10
One meta-analysis investigating fatigue in academic settings assessed a variety of studies using a product called Rhodaxon (Rhodiola Root Extract) and discovered that Rhodiola Rosea is, in fact, associated with improvements in cognitive fatigue, PWC exercise scores, neuro-motoric fitness (maze drawing), reductions in processing errors, sustained attention, reaction time, general well-being, and a reduction in pulse rate compared to placebo. 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16
Other trials also found that Rhodiola Rosea is effective in reducing perceived fatigue in otherwise healthy persons subject to stress, as well as in people with chronic fatigue (derived from stress). 17, 18, 19
Additionally, there are also studies that suggest Rhodiola may also act as an antidepressant, anti-inflammatory, and antioxidant. 20, 21, 22
So, as a cognitive enhancer, Rhodiola Rosea does seem to have powerful effects, and may actually play a supporting role in improving exercise performance and focus.
Does Sport Energizer Actually Work?
Frankly, if you’re someone who isn’t a habitual caffeine consumer, we believe that Sport Energizer may actually be a formula that increases your energy levels.
Although it has a low dose of caffeine, it’s still relatively high for someone who barely drinks coffee and thus is a good option for anyone that doesn’t usually consume coffee or anything else with caffeine.
We don’t recommend Sport Energizer for those who consistently consume a lot of caffeine because this formula is on the low spectrum of caffeine.
Caffeine is the only ingredient in this formula responsible for increasing energy levels, so if you’re someone that has a really high tolerance to caffeine, Sport Energizer will probably not have a stimulating effect due to having a relatively low dose of caffeine.
Rhodiola Rosea may also be quite effective at reducing perceived, as most studies suggest it’s effective at reducing fatigue in situations where people are subject to stress.
Therefore, as a supplement that is designed to help you push through intense exercise, this formula may be quite effective, but again, it depends on personal caffeine consumption.
How Much Does Sport Energizer Cost?
Sport Energizer is available in two different formats: a box with 30 single packs, which corresponds to 30 servings, or a larger tub with 35 servings, which is generally the most sought-after option.
According to Vega’s official website, a tub with 35 servings costs $39.99, whilst the box with 30 servings costs $31.99, which doesn’t make Sport Energizer an expensive supplement, but it also doesn’t make it affordable, so we could say it’s a mid-range pre-workout formula.
While we usually don’t like linking to Amazon (for ethical reasons), we still do anyway because Amazon often offers the best prices, which is something that most people are looking for. So, if you’re still interested in purchasing Sport Energizer, feel free to do so through Vega’s official website or iHerb.
Is Sport Energizer Safe?
Yes, Sport Energizer is completely safe, as it doesn’t contain any heavy metals, nor does it contain ingredients in very high doses, which means you’re less subject to side effects.
However, because it contains caffeine, it could lead to symptoms such as restlessness, insomnia, headaches, fast heart rate, and anxiety, particularly if you abuse it. For that reason, we also recommend against consuming more than one serving per day.
Other than that, Sport Energizer is totally safe, as Vega is careful enough to conduct third-party testing in order to avoid any potentially maleficient substances from being within their formula.
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.
References:
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