What is GHOST Pre-Workout?
GHOST has quickly become a lifestyle sports nutrition powerhouse, capturing attention with its iconic logo and irresistible flavors. Launched in Las Vegas, GHOST offers many products, including protein powders, energy drinks, BCAA’s, and the popular GHOST Legend Pre-Workout. They’ve also captured an audience through their authentic flavor collabs, including:
- Sour Patch Kids
- Welch’s
- Sonic
- Warheads
- Oreo
- Chips Ahoy
- Nutter Butter
- Cinnabon
- FaZe
Concerns for Athletes?
I’ve always been an avid customer of GHOST and love their loyalty program, but as a college athlete I was warned about the side effects of energy drinks/supplements. If you’ve ever tried to read the label of any pre-workout or energy drink, chances are you weren’t able to pronounce all of the ingredients. People use this as a general rule of thumb when assessing safety and nutritional content, and usually assume negative things about supplements like this as a result.
However, as a leading brand, GHOST prides itself on transparency, particularly with their Legend Pre-Workout. Unlike many supplements where ingredient labels are difficult to decipher, GHOST ensures full disclosure of all active ingredients. This is crucial for athletes, especially those under NCAA regulations, who need to be cautious about what they consume
In this article, we’re going over the ingredients in GHOST’s Legend Pre-Workout: what they are, what they do, and how much it has. We will break it down so you know what you’re consuming and how it affects your body. We’ll also take a look into the NCAA Banned Substance Rules to determine if GHOST is in violation of any.
What is GHOST Legend Pre-Workout?
GHOST’s line of standard pre-workout offers 30 scoops of premium pump ingredients that combine an energy and focus formula. It combines several key ingredients to boost performance, focus, and energy.
GHOST Legend Pre-Workout Ingredients:
L-Citrulline: non-essential amino acid and a precursor to making nitric oxide, a blood flow enhancing compound that expands blood vessels through vasodilation
Beta-Alanine: non-essential amino acid responsible for the synthesis of carnosine, a molecule that counteracts the acidic effects of lactic acid in skeletal muscle
Nitrosigine: a specific formula composition of more bioavailable arginine, a precursor to making nitric oxide, a blood flow enhancing compound that expands blood vessels through vasodilation
VitaCholine: a form of choline, a nootropic nutrient and precursor to making acetylcholine, a neurotransmitter that plays a role in focus, cognition, and skeletal muscle contraction
Natural Caffeine: a central nervous system stimulant that blocks binding of adenosine, therefore enhancing release of acetylcholine, a neurotransmitter that plays a role in focus, cognition, and skeletal muscle contraction
Theobromine: an organic compound found in chocolate that is essentially a weaker form of caffeine, resulting in bronchodilation and relaxation of vascular smooth muscle
NeuroFactor Coffee Fruit Extract: a natural ingredient harvested from the same coffee plant as caffeine, but from the whole fruit, raising levels of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), a protein that protects brain cells and improves brain function
AstraGin: patented combination of purified, pharmaceutical-grade Panax notoginseng and Astragalus membranaceus from NuLiv Science, Inc. that helps optimize nutrient absorption, protein synthesis, immune function, and gut health
Dosage and Effects
GHOST ensures that all ingredients are included in safe, effective dosages. The moderate caffeine content (250 mg) avoids excessive jitters while still providing the energy and focus athletes need. Pump-enhancing ingredients like L-Citrulline and Nitrosigine deliver improved blood flow and muscle performance. NeuroFactor and VitaCholine work to enhance cognitive function. AstraGin supports overall nutrient absorption and gut health, which is unique and definitely a plus when it comes to sports supplements.
Safety for NCAA Athletes?
It’s no secret that the NCAA is known for its strict regulations on supplements and substances. But the problem is that there’s not actually a comprehensive list of every single substance and ingredient that goes against their guidelines. “Stimulants” is a category listed, so it begs the question: is pre-workout safe? After all, Celsius was specifically banned by the NCAA due to their caffeine content.
Although the NCAA lists caffeine, it specifically cites caffeine from the guarana plant, not the coffee plant. Guarana seeds contain 2–8% caffeine, while coffee beans contain 1–3% caffeine. The caffeine from coffee beans is permissible, unlike the higher caffeine concentrations found in some other products and plants. Nonetheless, athletes should always consume supplements responsibly and stay updated on regulatory changes.
None of the other ingredients in the GHOST Legend Pre-Workout fall into the other categories that the NCAA bans:
- Anabolic agents
- Alcohol
- Beta blockers
- Diuretics
- Narcotics
- Cannabinoids
- Peptide hormones
- Growth factors
- Beta-2 agonists
- Hormone and metabolic modulators
The NCAA also does seem to have a ceiling dosage for caffeine, and “does not consider an athlete to test positive for caffeine if consumed responsibly.” Celsius has claimed that because of their own serving recommendations, an individual who does not drink more than two 12-ounce cans of Celsius daily would “test under the NCAA’s caffeine limits for most athletes.”
Therefore, if you were to consume only the recommended dose of GHOST Legend Pre-Workout, you should technically be safe. However, the NCAA is constantly changing and no supplement company is regulated by the FDA (including GHOST). We cannot draw a clear line here. Use of these products is at your discretion, so you must do your own research and make choices that align with you and your goals.
Additional Benefits
- Vegan Friendly
- Soy Free
- Gluten Free
- Sugar Free
In conclusion, GHOST Legend Pre-Workout provides a balanced, transparent, and effective solution for those seeking to enhance their workout performance without compromising on ingredient quality or regulatory compliance.
Ingredient List
- L-Citrulline
- Beta-Alanine
- Nitrosigine
- VitaCholine
- Natural Caffeine from Coffee Bean
- Theobromine
- NeuroFactor Coffee Fruit Extract
- AstraGin
Key Takeaways of GHOST Pre-Workout Ingredients
- All ingredients fall into the recommended dosages to ensure proper effects without possible side effects
- There’s a moderate caffeine amount with additional ingredients to promote vasodilation, providing a better pump without caffeine side effects
- Additional ingredients are included to help with brain function and focus, as well as gut health and digestion
- The NCAA does not list caffeine from coffee plants on the banned substance list
For those interested in the benefits of GHOST Pre-Workout Ingredients, GHOST Legend offers a comprehensive, safe, and effective option. Its carefully selected ingredients and commitment to transparency make it a top choice for athletes and fitness enthusiasts alike.
