Protea Nutrition was built upon the foundation of creating naturally based supplements that help improve the customer’s health on a cellular level. We never want our supplements to negatively impact our customer’s health by filling them with artificial ingredients and fillers. It’s important to educate oneself and exercise caution with ingredients when deciding to supplement to avoid potential long term negative health consequences.*
There are many popular pre-workouts and energy drinks available on the shelves today that contain artificial colors/dyes, artificial sweeteners and other ingredients that may do more harm than good. *
Some common reactions associated with consumption of artificial dyes:
– Sleep problems
– headaches / digestive issues
– Mood swings
– Hyperactivity
– Irritability / anger
– Digestive issues
Food dyes to look out for in your supplements:
– Red 40
– Yellow 5
– Yellow 6
– Blue 1
– Blue 2
– Red 3
– Green 3
Some studies show a link between artificial dyes and increased ADHD or hyperactivity in children. A study out of Australia found 75% of parents noticed an improvement in behavior and attention once the dyes were eliminated. In this study, they identified 27 clinical trials of children exposed to synthetic food dyes in this review, of which 25 were challenge studies. All studies used a cross-over design and most were double blinded and the cross-over design was randomized. Sixteen (64%) out of 25 challenge studies identified some evidence of a positive association, and in 13 (52%) the association was statistically significant. These studies support a relationship between food dye exposure and adverse behavioral outcomes in children. (1) *
Currently, the U.S. doesn’t ban any artificial food dyes. (Red Dye 3 was under a partial ban for a short time in 1990). But some countries say there’s enough evidence to justify banning them.
Caffeine is also important to assess when selecting energy supplements. Caffeine is safe to consume when ingested in low to moderate amounts. It works by blocking the effects of adenosine, a brain chemical that makes you feel tired. At the same time, it triggers the release of adrenaline, the “fight-or-flight” hormone associated with increased energy. (2) However, at higher doses, these effects may become more pronounced, leading to anxiety and nervousness. *
Caffeine-induced anxiety disorder is one of four caffeine-related syndromes listed in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM), which is published by the American Psychiatric Association.
Many top brand pre-workouts and energy drinks contain excessive amounts of caffeine, an upwards of 405mg to be exact. Add on top of that any other caffeinated beverages that are consumed in the day .. it’s easy to surpass the daily allotment for caffeine.
Consuming too much caffeine may have a negative impact on your adrenal health, digestive health and can impact sleep quality as well as how the body handles and responds to stress. Caffeine can be highly addictive and hard on the adrenal glands and endocrine system. The body easily adapts to it meaning that with consistent consumption your body may require more of it to feel the same effects.
Our suggestion? Switch to naturally based supplements with a healthy level of caffeine to help you get through your workout and your day, without all of the negative side effects. We formulated Vitality+ as a naturally based pre-workout that is gentle on the adrenals. We also developed Ignite+ for our Men’s line to help with sustained energy throughout the day. Both Vitality+ and Ignite+ can be taken by both men and women. *
We created our energy supplements specifically with our customer’s cellular health in mind. You will never find anything artificial in our supplements and the caffeine amount is at a healthy level that will not have a negative impact on your health. *
Always consult your doctor before starting any supplements.
*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.
