Pre JYM Pre Workout Powder
If you want energy and focus, look no further than “Pre-JYM”. JYM Supplements’ pre-workout contains 13 ingredients that claim to “fuel your most intense workouts and help you reach your loftiest fitness goals.”
Some of the 13 ingredients are familiar, including alpha GPC, beta-alanine, betaine anhydrous, and citrulline malate. If you’re wondering about the stimulant, Pre-JYM contains 300 milligrams of caffeine per scoop to help you focus, pay attention, and perform better during your workout.
That is precisely what happened to Jacob Penner, a Level 2 USA Weightlifting Coach and GGR expert panel member. “I’ve taken this at least half a dozen times, and I’ve always felt really clear and super stimulated for my workouts,” says Jacob, the owner of Endless Strength Weightlifting. “This has turned out to be the team’s favorite pre-workout of all time, and these guys have used over 50. For the past few months, this has been the one they have reached for and enjoyed the most, both in terms of taste and effects.”
| Caffeine Content | 300 mg per 1 scoop serving |
| Other Important Ingredients | Creatine-HCI (2 g), Beta-alanine (2 g), Taurine (1 g), Alpha-GPC (150 mg), Huperzine A (50 mcg) |
| Flavor Option(s) | Black Cherry, Cherry Limeade, Grape Candy, Orange Mango, Pineapple Strawberry, Pink Lemonade, Rainbow Sherbert, Raspberry Lemonade, Strawberry Kiwi, Tangerine |
| Cost | $54.99/30 servings = $1.83/serving |
Unlike the other strong pre-workouts on our list, Pre-JYM contains 6 grams of branched-chain amino acids in a 2:1:1 ratio (as found in the best BCAAs) to promote muscle growth and improve athletic performance and recovery.
Pre-JYM also contains creatine HCl, which helps you gain strength and perform better in the gym. According to research, creatine HCl is 41 times more soluble than creatine monohydrate and has a positive effect on body composition.
Beetroot extract added prior to JYM may improve nitric oxide, blood flow, and athletic performance. It also contains Huperzine A, which reduces inflammation and improves cognition, as well as BioPerine Black Pepper Extract, which aids in the absorption of nutrients such as calcium, sodium, and potassium.
Depending on the flavor, the pre-workout may contain color additives such as Blue #1, Red #40, and Yellow #5. While the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) claims that these color additives are primarily safe and have few side effects, allergic and other adverse reactions can still occur.
You’ll also get 4 grams of beta-alanine per two scoops, which according to research is effective for delaying neuromuscular fatigue and improving exercise performance when taken in quantities of 4-6 grams. However, if you experience paresthesia—that tingling sensation after taking pre-workout—the International Society of Sports Nutrition1 recommends dividing beta-alanine into lower doses of 1.6 grams.
El Jefe also contains choline, which improves endurance performance in activities that reduce circulating choline levels below normal. It also contains Nitrosigine, or L-arginine stabilized with inositol. According to research, 1,500 milligrams of Nitrosigine—the amount El Jefe provides in two scoops—helps increase pre-workout energy and post-workout muscle pump while reducing muscle damage.
It also contains Huperzine A, a derivative of a traditional Chinese herb that may reduce inflammation and improve cognition, as well as black pepper extract, which aids nutrient absorption.
And, as a cherry on top, El Jefe provides a “Jefe Stim Matrix,” which is essentially a proprietary blend of nootropics, stimulants, and plant extracts such as theobromine and Eria Jarensis (N-phenyl dimethylamine). We should also note that Eria Jarensis is a banned substance in Australia, and there has been little research into its benefits and risks.
Aside from the active ingredients, all four flavors, including Tigers Blood and Orange Creamsicle, contain artificial flavors, sweeteners, and colorings. There are also no third-party certifications, making it difficult to determine whether the strong pre-workout goes through rigorous testing to ensure it contains what it claims.