How NOT to Take Pre-Workout

I'm not a fan of absolutes and "should"s. The world is often far more nuanced and grey than we give it credit for, but this.... this is an exception.

There's a growing trend of dry-scooping pre-workout powder and I'm here to tell you:

DON’T

You may think this trend would be limited to teens on the 'tok. Not only have I seen adults doing this, but other coaches on social media doing it!
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​Method: Take a scoop (or more) of pre-workout powder and consume it by putting it directly in your mouth, sometimes with the tiniest sip of water.
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​Why you shouldn't do it: The caffeine in pre-workout is often at higher doses than coffee or tea, and consuming it dry vs. over time in a drink really ramps up the effects of the caffeine, and fast. This can lead to jitters, GI upset, and unfortunately severe outcomes like rapid heartbeat, high blood pressure, and even heart attack. This isn't theoretical; people are being hospitalized for it.

Why else you shouldn't do it: Consuming large mouthfuls of super dry stuff (like saltines, cinnamon, and pre-workout powder) runs you the risk of aspiration; inhaling it into your lungs and causing irritation and sometimes pneumonia.

Bottom line: It's not worth it. If you like having caffeine and pre-workout as part of your exercise routine, that's cool! There are studies that have shown caffeine can be beneficial for performance. Just... stick to having it in the recommended doses, and in liquid.
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Friends don't let friends dry-scoop.