We’re going to review a new NextGen pre-workout today, called Pre Lab Pro.
Released March 2021 into an already crowded market, what makes Pre Lab Pro different? What makes it better than those who came before?
We’re going to investigate…
About Pre Lab Pro
Pre Lab Pro is made by Opti-Nutra, the respected supplement manufacturer behind the popular Performance Lab line. Pre Lab Pro is the latest of a series of additional standalone products that complement one another. Other products include the nootropic Mind Lab Pro, the T-booster Testo Lab Pro, and the fat burner Burn Lab Pro. We rate all these supplements highly, so it bodes well for Pre Lab Pro.
SHORTCUT: For those of you who just want to know if we recommend Pre Lab Pro or not, here’s a spoiler: yes, we do. In fact, we think it’s the best stimulant pre-workout on the Australian market today.
The Pre Lab Pro Formula
Pre Lab Pro pledges to strengthen your stamina, endurance, speed, recovery, muscle-building and, well, strength!
It’s a stimulant pre-workout, which differentiates it from Opti-Nutra’s other non-stim pre-workout, Performance Lab Pre. It contains 80mg of caffeine – a modest dose that will give you a kick without sending you crashing later. Such a dose also means that you can choose to double your serving safely if you want a more intense buzz.
However, Pre Lab Pro doesn’t just rely on caffeine. It also boasts two of the best all-natural nitric oxide (NO) boosters or vasodilators around – red beets and citrulline. NO boosters can make a massive difference to your training routine, helping to provide more energy and fuel, tackle fatigue, and boost endurance. In short, helping you to do more muscle pumps or laps, and train harder for longer. Having two separate NO boosters in the same formula pretty much guarantees you a second wind.
As such, it avoids the biggest pitfalls of many stimulant pre-workouts on the market that cram their products full of caffeine to hide the fact that the other ingredients don’t work as hard. That’s not the case here.
The Ingredients in Pre Lab Pro
Let’s look closer at the ingredients in Pre Lab Pro. Opti-Nutra describe three key benefits of Pre Lab Pro, so we’ll examine the ingredients that contribute to those in order. The three benefits are:
- Bigger Nitric Oxide – for strength, endurance, stamina, and focus. Also aids with post-recovery.
- Smarter Stimulation – More energy and focus, without side effects.
- Stronger Homeostasis – Crucial nutrients to maintain hydration, plus anti-stress, and recovery.
So, what ingredients deliver each benefit? Let’s find out…
BIGGER NITRIC OXIDE
The NO boosters in this formula are:
Red Beet
A totally natural source of nitrate which helps to boost nitric oxide, red beet or beetroot as it is more commonly known, has been proven to help athletes push themselves to the limit. Ideal for all sorts of workouts – from HIIT to lifting to running – a lot of research has gone into the benefits of red beets. The form used in Pre Lab Pro is RedNite®, the world’s first research-backed standardised beetroot powder which also has added antioxidants to protect and aid muscle recovery. Nice to see that Pre Lab Pro is committed to using quality forms of its ingredients.
Setria Performance Blend: Citrulline and Glutathione
Another NO booster, citrulline is included here as part of the Setria Performance Blend. The blend also includes glutathione, a clever mix of three different compounds that focus on protection – helping to tackle exercise-related stress on the body and tackling damage at the DNA level. The result is an incredibly potent antioxidant.
Getting back to citrulline… the inclusion of two different NO boosters in Pre Lab Pro should ensure that users will have a second wind after the first NO boost begins to fade.
Together the two sources – red beet and citrulline – help to boost blood flow to the muscles. But it doesn’t just stop there – the improved circulation also reaches the heart and the brain, supporting both.
The two NO sources help to:
* Boost oxygen, nutrients, glucose, water, and hormone delivery to the muscles, heart, and brain. PLUS…
* Help the removal of lactic acid, waste by-products, carbon dioxide and ammonia… helping to prevent fatigue and more.
Dietary nitrate, therefore, has been proven to reduce the O2 cost of exercise, among other things, helping you to push through without feeling as fatigued.
SMARTER STIMULATION
Red beet and citrulline – a double NO whammy – make up the first benefit of Pre Lab Pro. Smart caffeine makes up the second.
Smart caffeine is a mix of caffeine and l-theanine. The 80mg of caffeine in Pre Lab Pro offers a physical and mental energy boost and is easily and safely doubled (two scoops rather than one) if preferred. It contributes to the ‘exercise like a beast’ mantra that Pre Lab Pro likes to shout about.
Here’s the nice touch: the negative effects of caffeine are offset by the inclusion of the nootropic l-theanine, which is anti-anxiety. Allowing you to enjoy more energy, intensity and focus without the jitters, nerves or crash that often comes with using caffeine alone.
So, using Pre Lab Pro’s analogy, you can train like a beast and then be a human again for the rest of the day and evening.
The caffeine and L-theanine are backed up by B-vitamins, an ideal addition as these tend to be depleted during caffeine intake – a lack of these crucial vitamins directly contributes towards the crash you can otherwise feel after coffee. The B2, B6, B9 and B12 included in Pre Lab Pro, therefore, helps to maintain energy levels and prevent a crash.
STRONGER HOMEOSTASIS
The B-vitamins mentioned above also contribute to improved homeostasis or the body’s optimal functioning. As well as maintaining energy levels, they help to support healthy homocysteine levels, preventing brain fog and more, and help the body to handle stress.
Other useful nutrients for optimal homeostasis included in Pre Lab Pro are: .
L-Tyrosine: a nootropic that helps the body deal with stress, such as after exercise, or lack of sleep. Improves performance in situations of stress, boosting motivation.
Vitamin D: For strong bones.
Himalayan Pink Salt: This unprocessed form of salt helps to boost hydration and contains some useful trace elements.
Potassium: a key electrolyte for hydration. Also helps to avoid muscle cramping and balance ions in the muscles.
Iron: Supplementation of iron can prevent deficiency – you lose iron when you sweat – and maintain energy levels. Without enough iron, you’ll fatigue much quicker.
It’s worth noting that the minerals and vitamins in Pre Lab Pro are made using a state-of-the-art processing procedure called NutriGenesis. In a nut shell, NutriGenesis is the art of growing nutrients in a lab that exactly replicate those found in nature, with the same co-factors. Why is that important? Because it allows the body to recognise and absorb them easily. Making them more bio-available.
The Pros
- Pre Lab Pro boasts not one, but two separate nitric acid boosters.
- Its smart caffeine ensures you gain the stimulation without the crash.
- A modest caffeine dose allows you to stick with the gentle buzz or double scoop it for a heavier kick.
- We love the emphasis that Pre Lab Pro places on safety – a great many ingredients are included to ensure there are no side effects from any ingredients. It’s a refreshing and welcome approach.
- It also boasts an incredibly clean formula. It is free from allergens, GMO, synthetic additives, artificial colourings, is non-irradiated, and is vegan friendly.
- All ingredients are also chosen because they work well in synergy. This is an example of a manufacturer who knows their stuff.
- Opti-Nutra is a respected and proven manufacturer, with excellent customer service.
- Pre Lab Pro should help to improve your focus and motivation, as well as your energy, endurance, muscle pumps, and more.
- As a bonus, it also supports healthy cardiovascular and cognitive function.
- All ingredients and dosages are given up-front.
- Offers free shipping in Australia for orders over $237.
The Cons
- Only available from the manufacturer’s website, but this does allow them to offer discounts. At the time of writing, you can buy 3 and get 1 free.
How to Take It
You’re advised to take one scoop of Pre Lab Pro half an hour before exercising. You can double scoop safely if you prefer a more potent energy boost, but don’t exceed two scoops in 24 hours.
Safety/ Side Effects
Most people will not experience any side effects with Pre Lab Pro as it includes only natural ingredients made with a clean manufacturing process. Caffeine is the one obvious risk, if you’re sensitive to it, but the quantity isn’t massive. Plus, they include l-theanine, l-tyrosine and the B-vitamins to offset that. Anyone taking prescription medication should ask a doctor’s opinion first.
Who Takes It?
Pre Lab Pro is suitable for anyone doing any exercise, from long-distance running to HIIT to strength training. Bear in mind it does contain some caffeine.
Final Word on Pre Lab Pro
Here’s what we know about Pre Lab Pro after examining the ingredients and the literature – it’s one of the cleanest pre-workouts around, and it’s effective without compromising your safety.
The latter point is so important. So many products cram stimulants and other buzz-worthy but often dangerous ingredients into their products with little care about how it may affect you in the long term. Or, often, in the short term either.
We like knowing that Pre Lab Pro gives you what to need to smash it in the gym or during training but doesn’t leave you jacked up for the rest of the day. Like the manufacturers claim, Pre Lab Pro helps you ‘train like a beast’ but be a human afterwards.
We’re happy to recommend it.