What are pump boosters?
Pre-workout boosters are nutritional supplements designed for intensive training sessions. Pump boosters belong to the category of pre-workout boosters, but differ in their effects on focus and the central nervous system. While most pre-workout boosters are designed to increase focus, alertness, and concentration, pump boosters work exclusively on muscular and physical performance without "wake-up" effects. They therefore primarily contain pumping agents such as L-citrulline and arginine. The well-known pump effect is based on the effective combination of L-citrulline and arginine. Taken individually, the amino acids L-citrulline and arginine noticeably stimulate the body's own nitric oxide (NO) production, which leads to the relaxation of blood vessels and a significant improvement in blood flow.
What is the benefit of a pump booster?
Pump boosters offer you the opportunity to increase your performance, and (of course) ensure a better pump during training. In bodybuilding, the pump effect refers to the feeling when the target muscles enlarge and expand due to a sharp increase in blood flow. This full and voluminous feeling is called the "pump." This state has several advantages, primarily, of course, the fun factor and the feeling of having "more visible muscles." However, it also has other benefits, such as optimized nutrient absorption by delivering more nutrients to the target muscles, better recovery, and increased performance during training. The pump is extremely important for many bodybuilders, as Arnold Schwarzenegger once said in his prime: "The greatest feeling you can get in a gym or the most satisfying feeling you can get in the gym is the pump."
Building muscle is a major obstacle for many. It turns out to be harder than expected, and even after rapid progress in the first few weeks and months, even beginners will encounter their first plateaus. While the pump effect does provide a boost in motivation and performance during training, it's not directly related to muscle building.
The big advantage of a pump booster is the ability to take it 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. They're a better alternative, especially for shift workers or people with unusual workout schedules (at night), if you want to maintain an uninterrupted sleep rhythm.
What is included in the Pump Booster?
Typical ingredients found in a pump booster:
- L-Citrulline: Also known as citrulline, it can be found in various forms, such as L-Citrulline Malate, in various pump boosters. It is a precursor to arginine, which requires a longer time to break down and convert, but provides a longer-lasting release of nitric oxide. Citrulline usually forms the basis of an active ingredient composition and should be consumed in high doses (from 5-6g per dose) for full effect.
- L-Arginine: The ultimate nitric oxide substance. L-Arginine is converted into nitric oxide in the body, is a component of our diet, and is one of the essential amino acids in protein. It is available in numerous forms, with arginine ketoglutarate (AAKG) being one of the most effective.
- Beta Alanine: Beta alanine is also an amino acid known for its tingling properties. It is especially helpful against muscle acidification.
- Beetroot extract: Beetroot is usually only known from the vegetable section, but beetroot contains a lot of nitrates and complements most nitric oxide enhancers such as citrulline and arginine excellently.
- Creatine: Creatine draws water into the muscle cells and thus ensures a stronger muscle pump
- Agmatine Sulfate: Agmatine is a particularly powerful active ingredient in terms of nitric oxide levels. It belongs to the arginine nitrate family and is primarily found in hardcore boosters.
- Ornithine: a byproduct when citrulline is converted to arginine.
- Glycerol - Hydromax: Particularly known for the powerful pumps that glycerol induces. It draws water into the muscle cells, making the muscles not only fuller but also more powerful. Glycerol also has the secondary property of drawing water into powder form and causing powder to clump. Therefore, when purchasing a pump booster, you should pay attention to whether it contains glycerol.
- Vaso6: a patented substance derived from green tea extract that has been proven to expand vascularity by up to 80%.
- Nitrosigine: A patented source of arginine inositol silicate. Increases blood flow through improved conversion to nitric oxide while relaxing blood vessels.
Should you take a pump booster in powder or capsule form?
Pump boosters are available in various forms, the most popular being powder and capsule form. Both forms have their advantages and disadvantages. Pump boosters are generally most effective in powder form, as the dosages of scientifically validated active ingredients like L-citrulline (5-8g) and arginine (4-6g and more) are too high to be dosed in ingestible capsule form. You would need to take at least 8-10 large capsules for these two active ingredients alone. For comprehensive, performance-oriented training, pump boosters make more sense, but even here, there are active ingredients such as HydroPump/Glycerol (usually standardized to 65% glycerol), which tends to clump in powder form. This means that the active ingredient, by its very nature, attracts water or moisture, causing the entire booster to clump. While this doesn't affect the intake or effectiveness, it does affect the dosage (you'll need to use slightly more powder per serving).
Taking pump boosters - when can they be taken
Pump boosters are nutritional supplements specifically developed to improve blood flow and physical performance during exercise. They can be taken at different times, depending on the results you want to achieve. Those looking to enhance their evening workout can achieve this with a pump booster. A conventional booster containing caffeine and other stimulants can cause sleeplessness, especially late in the evening.
It is recommended to take the supplement approximately 15 to 30 minutes before training to allow sufficient time for the ingredients to be absorbed by the body. It is important to follow the manufacturer's dosage recommendations for optimal results.
A great advantage of pump boosters is that they can be taken around the clock without negatively affecting your sleep cycle. Some pump boosters don't contain stimulants that could disrupt sleep. However, it's important to drink plenty of fluids while taking them to keep your body hydrated.
Do pump boosters help build muscle?
Pump boosters are designed to increase muscle pump during your workout. They differ from conventional boosters primarily in that they contain no stimulants and can be taken at any time of day. Pump boosters don't directly help build muscle, but rather indirectly and subliminally. A pump booster can offer several benefits:
- Better blood circulation to the muscles
- More energy during training
- More strength and performance in training
- Increasing training intensity
- More motivation in training
- Better nutrient supply through dilated blood vessels, so that the muscles are better supplied and thus receive better regeneration, which in turn promotes muscle growth.
When should you take Pump Booster?
Take Pump Booster approximately 20-45 minutes before your workout. Mix the powder (the serving size varies depending on the booster) with at least 300-400 ml of water and drink it to get an improved pump right from the start of your workout.
How do pump boosters work compared to other boosters?
A pure pump booster differs primarily in its composition, as boosters always contain a mix of stimulants and pumping substances. Regular boosters also contain ingredients for the pump. Pump boosters have higher and optimized dosages of pumping substances. Stimulant boosters are often suboptimally dosed or underdosed. This limits their performance potential. Stimulant boosters stimulate the central nervous system but fall short of the optimal effect at the muscle level. Pump boosters can be taken at any time.