The 5 Best Performance Supplements For A Fitness Lifestyle

Start on a fitness journey long enough and you’ll start to wonder if there are any optimizations you can make. For some, it’s making the investment in great running shoes, and for others, it’s finally buying that weightlifting belt. But supplements are important to help our workout sessions, too.

As a minimum, you likely wish for energy that lasts, focus so you’re not constantly scatter-brained, and recovery that lets you come back stronger the next session. Performance supplements can bridge that gap between where you are now and where you want to be, but the market is packed with products that promise everything and deliver nothing. How do you avoid such a trap, and how do you avoid falling for good marketing? After all, there are teams of people working right now, in every discipline they know how, to convince you to buy their product over another.

In this post, we’ll discuss the six supplements that have earned their reputation through solid science and real results from people who take their training seriously. Each brings something different to the table, so you can find the ones that match your needs and training style.

Best For Mental Performance: Mind Lab Pro by Performance Lab

Mind Lab Pro is quite unique in the supplement space because it helps to improve the mental side of fitness that most people ignore. Mind Lab Pro meets the brain’s complex needs with 11 nootropics working in 6 “bio-pathways” promised to help the mental side of human performance. Nootropics have long been accepted as a rich blend of vitamins and nutrients for your brain.

The connection between brain function and physical performance is huge, and Mind Lab Pro gets this right. Mind Lab Pro is a thorough nootropic supplement that focuses on memory, focus, and overall brain health, and it does this through a blend of scientifically researched ingredients.

This is a great supplement for any sport or fitness approach, because how it supports the mental aspects of training that often get overlooked. You get better mind-muscle connection during lifts, improved focus during long cardio sessions, and the mental clarity needed to stick with nutrition plans and training schedules too. Most team sports captains or players would no doubt like a little more agility in their thinking and how confident they feel in a strategic scenario. Moreover, the formula is stimulant-free, so it works by supporting your brain but it won’t give you the jitters.

Best For Pre-Workout Energy: Optimum Nutrition Gold Standard Pre-Workout

Sometimes you want more than a coffee before a heavy session, but you don’t want to be overly wired. That’s why Optimum Nutrition Gold Standard Pre-Workout has become a favorite. Fitness lovers suggest it’s a well-balanced supplement for those seeking increased muscle gain, reliable energy, and added performance, thanks to the inclusion of creatine, as well as explore more below.

The inclusion of creatine alongside caffeine and other performance-enhancing ingredients makes it a good option for people who want everything in one product. It’s also one of the most affordable pre-workouts on the market, which makes it accessible for people who want quality results. The brand is also very trusted after releasing whey isolates and protein powders that are considered the most popular on the market.

Best For Muscle Power: Thorne Creatine

Thorne Creatine is considered a gold standard for creatine supplementation, focusing on purity and effectiveness, and is popular among weightlifting circles. The best creatine supplements can boost your exercise performance and help you build stronger muscles faster from brands like Thorne, Onnit, and Gnarly. Thorne has built their reputation on third-party testing and pharmaceutical-grade manufacturing processes in a field where creatine can sometimes be questionable.

But what does creatine do? Well, it’s optional for most people, but in high-performance and weightlifting environments, it helps your muscles produce more energy and help with explosive movements. Creatine is one of the most researched supplements in the fitness world because of that, because the performance seems too good to be true, and it isn’t a steroid.

Thorne Creatine is also NSF Certified for Sport, which means it’s tested for banned substances and safe for competitive athletes too – so don’t worry if you have a competition coming up. That’s why it’s gained the most legitimacy.

Best For Wider Support: Athletic Greens AG1

Athletic Greens AG1 has become quite popular in recent years, as it approaches performance supplementation from a more basic wellness perspective, with nutritional support more focused on training capacity and recovery. While it’s not a traditional pre-workout or single-ingredient supplement, AG1 fills the nutritional gaps you may not have in your diet, that can limit performance and recovery in active individuals.

The formula includes 75 high-quality vitamins, minerals, and whole-food sourced ingredients that support energy production, immune function, and overall health. Think of it like a super-multivitamin. If you’re following an intensive training program, this can cover all the blind spots you may have.
Some examples of what it contains includes B-vitamins for energy metabolism, adaptogens for stress management, probiotics for gut health, and antioxidants to support recovery from training stress.

Best For Natural Energy: Four Sigmatic Lion’s Mane Coffee

Four Sigmatic Lion’s Mane Coffee has the obvious energy boost of coffee we’re all familiar with, but on top of that has the cognitive and neurological benefits of lion’s mane mushroom, creating a performance drink that supports mental wellbeing too. This blend has become more popular as of late, with some coffee shops offering their own version, but this is the most accessible and preferred by fitness lovers.

Lion’s mane mushroom has the potential to support nerve growth and cognitive capabilities too, making it helpful for activities requiring coordination, focus, and mind-muscle connection. In addition to the organic coffee it offers, there’s a smooth, sustained energy that works well for both training sessions and daily activities on top of that.

With this advice, you’ll be certain to find the best performance supplement for your own fitness needs. Just be sure to talk with your doctor before adding any new supplementation to your diet.