The short version: If pre workouts wreck your stomach, the problem probably isn't you — it's the ingredient list. Artificial sweeteners, fillers, maltodextrin, and mega-dose caffeine are responsible for most pre workout GI distress, and they're in almost every product on the market. PurePump takes a radically different approach: 15 active ingredients in 7.6g, with zero artificial sweeteners, zero fillers, zero flavoring compounds. Every gram is active ingredient. For people whose stomachs have vetoed every pre workout they've tried, that distinction changes everything.
Why Your Pre Workout Is Making You Sick
You've probably tried pre workouts before. Maybe several. And the pattern is always the same: 20 minutes after drinking it, your stomach cramps. Bloating. Gas. Nausea. Maybe worse. So you blamed the pre workout category itself and gave up.
But here's what most people don't realize: the ingredients causing your GI distress often aren't the active performance ingredients at all. They're the other stuff — the sweeteners, fillers, flavoring compounds, and flow agents that make up a significant portion of most pre workout formulas.
Let's look at what's actually causing the problem.
The Real Causes of Pre Workout GI Distress
Artificial Sweeteners
Sucralose, Acesulfame-K, Aspartame — these are in virtually every flavored pre workout on the market. They make the product taste like a fruit smoothie instead of what it actually is (powder made from amino acids and plant extracts).
The GI cost: - Sucralose has been shown in research to alter gut microbiome composition, reduce beneficial gut bacteria, and promote GI inflammation in some individuals. Even at the doses found in a single serving of pre workout, people with sensitive stomachs frequently report bloating, gas, and cramping. - Acesulfame-K has limited long-term GI safety data and can trigger nausea in sensitive individuals. - Aspartame breaks down into phenylalanine and aspartic acid, which some people metabolize poorly, leading to headaches and GI upset.
If you've tried multiple pre workouts and they all bother your stomach, artificial sweeteners are the most likely common denominator. They're in almost everything.
Maltodextrin
A cheap carbohydrate filler used to bulk up serving sizes, improve mixability, and add a slight sweetness. Maltodextrin has a glycemic index higher than table sugar. For people with sensitive stomachs, it can cause: - Rapid blood sugar spikes followed by crashes - Bloating and water retention - Gas and cramping, especially in individuals with gut sensitivity or dysbiosis
Maltodextrin is particularly common in flavored pre workouts because it helps flavoring compounds dissolve and distribute evenly. It's a manufacturing convenience that ends up in your gut.
Magnesium Stearate
A flow agent used in manufacturing to prevent powder from sticking to machinery. It serves no performance purpose whatsoever — it exists to make production easier. In sensitive individuals, magnesium stearate can act as a mild laxative, causing loose stools and cramping. It also takes up space in the formula that could be active ingredient.
Artificial Flavoring Compounds
"Natural flavors" and "artificial flavors" are umbrella terms that can encompass dozens of individual chemical compounds. Each one is another variable your gut has to process. For someone with a sensitive stomach, IBS, or general GI reactivity, adding 20+ undisclosed flavoring chemicals on top of active ingredients is a gamble.
Mega-Dose Caffeine (300mg+)
Caffeine stimulates gastric acid secretion and accelerates gastric emptying. At moderate doses (100-200mg), this is usually tolerable. At the 300-400mg doses common in mainstream pre workouts, it can cause: - Stomach acid irritation - Nausea - Urgent bowel movements - Cramping, especially on an empty stomach
The form matters too. Synthetic caffeine anhydrous hits the stomach faster and harder than naturally sourced caffeine. High-dose synthetic caffeine on an empty stomach is one of the most common triggers for pre workout nausea.
Large Serving Sizes
Most mainstream pre workouts have a serving size of 12-15g or more. A significant portion of that weight is filler, flavoring, and sweeteners — not active ingredients. Your stomach doesn't care why 15 grams of powder is sitting in it. More volume means more work for your digestive system, more potential for irritation, and more opportunity for any of the ingredients above to cause problems.
What a Stomach-Friendly Pre Workout Looks Like
If you have a sensitive stomach, here's the checklist:
| Feature | Why It Matters |
|---|---|
| Zero artificial sweeteners | Eliminates the most common GI trigger in pre workouts |
| Zero fillers | No maltodextrin, silicon dioxide, or magnesium stearate irritating your gut |
| Zero flavoring compounds | No undisclosed chemicals for your stomach to process |
| Moderate caffeine (200mg or less) | Effective dose without the gastric acid spike of 300mg+ |
| Naturally sourced caffeine | Green tea caffeine is gentler on the stomach than synthetic caffeine anhydrous |
| Small serving size | Less total volume in your stomach before training |
| Full ingredient disclosure | No proprietary blends hiding mystery ingredients that could be triggers |
| Third-party tested | Assurance that what's on the label is what's in the product — no surprises |
Most pre workouts fail at least three of these. Many fail all of them.
PurePump: Built for This Exact Problem
We're going to be direct: PurePump® was not specifically designed as a "sensitive stomach" pre workout. It was designed as a clean, no-compromise performance supplement for ingredient-conscious athletes. But the same philosophy that makes it clean also makes it one of the most stomach-friendly pre workouts available.
Here's why:
Zero Artificial Sweeteners
No sucralose. No acesulfame-K. No aspartame. No stevia extract. Nothing. The most common cause of pre workout GI distress is simply absent from the formula. This isn't a "naturally sweetened" alternative that swaps one sweetener for another — it's unsweetened. Period.
Zero Fillers
No maltodextrin. No silicon dioxide. No magnesium stearate. No flow agents. Nothing in PurePump exists for manufacturing convenience. Every ingredient is there because it contributes to performance.
Zero Flavoring Compounds
No artificial flavors. No natural flavors. No flavor-masking agents. PurePump is unflavored — which means it tastes like 15 raw active ingredients (bitter, earthy, not pleasant). But that bitterness is actually information: it tells you there's nothing in the formula designed to trick your taste buds while potentially irritating your gut.
7.6g Serving Size
Compare this to the 12-15g servings from most pre workouts. PurePump delivers 15 active ingredients in roughly half the volume. Less powder in your stomach means less to process, less to irritate, and less to go wrong.
To put this in perspective: if a competing pre workout has a 14g serving size and contains the same number of active ingredients at similar doses, the other 6-7g is filler, flavoring, and sweeteners. You're asking your stomach to process nearly double the volume for no additional performance benefit.
200mg Caffeine From Green Tea
Not 300mg. Not 400mg. And not from synthetic caffeine anhydrous that hits your stomach like an alarm clock.
PurePump's caffeine comes from green tea leaf extract, which naturally contains L-theanine and catechins. Green tea caffeine is absorbed more gradually and smoothly than synthetic alternatives. At 200mg per 2-scoop serving (or 100mg at 1 scoop), it's well within the range most sensitive stomachs can handle — especially from this source.
Full Ingredient Disclosure
No proprietary blends. Every ingredient and every dosage is printed on the label. If you're working with a gastroenterologist or dietitian to identify GI triggers, you can cross-reference every single ingredient in PurePump against your known sensitivities. Try doing that with a product that hides its formula behind a "proprietary blend."
The Full Formula (Per 2-Scoop Serving / 7.6g)
- Beta-Alanine (CarnoSyn): 2,000mg
- L-Citrulline (Kyowa Hakko): 2,000mg
- Creatine Monohydrate : 1,000mg
- L-Arginine (AjiPure): 500mg
- L-Carnitine L-Tartrate (Carnipure): 500mg
- L-Leucine (AjiPure): 500mg
- L-Isoleucine (AjiPure): 250mg
- L-Valine (AjiPure): 250mg
- Caffeine (Green Tea): 200mg
- Alpha Lipoic Acid (AliPure): 100mg
- Vitamin C (Quali-C): 60mg
- Niacin: 20mg
- Vitamin B6: 10mg
- Folate (Orgen-FA): 400mcg DFE
- Vitamin B12 (Methylcobalamin): 50mcg
15 active ingredients. Zero filler. Zero flavoring. Zero sweeteners. 25 calories.
Every ingredient uses a branded, verified source: Kyowa Hakko, AjiPure, CarnoSyn, Carnipure, Quali-C, AliPure, Orgen-FA. These aren't generic bulk powders — they're from manufacturers with their own quality testing and published research.
A note on creatine: PurePump provides 1,000mg of creatine monohydrate per serving, which is below the clinical 3-5g daily range for creatine. For a full creatine dose, we recommend supplementing with standalone creatine monohydrate alongside PurePump. Creatine monohydrate is generally well-tolerated even by sensitive stomachs — it's one of the most studied supplements in existence with an excellent safety profile.
Certifications: BSCG Certified Drug Free (every batch), GMP Certified, Vegan, Keto Certified, Certified Paleo
Price: $42.95 for 60 scoops (30 servings at 2-scoop dose = $1.43/serving)
Dosing Strategy for Sensitive Stomachs
If your stomach has rejected pre workouts before, don't start at full dose. Here's a sensible approach:
Week 1: Start With 1 Scoop
One scoop is 3.8g — half the full serving. You get half the dose of all 15 ingredients, including 100mg caffeine (roughly equivalent to a cup of green tea or small coffee). This is the gentlest possible introduction. If your stomach handles 3.8g of pure active ingredient without issue, you know the formula works for you.
Week 2: Move to Full Serving If Tolerated
If week one went well, move to 2 scoops (7.6g, 200mg caffeine). Most people with sensitive stomachs who tolerate 1 scoop have no issue stepping up to the full serving.
Timing Matters
Take PurePump 15-30 minutes before training. For sensitive stomachs, consider taking it with a small, easily digestible snack — a banana, a few crackers, or a small handful of dry cereal. This provides a buffer between the supplement and your empty stomach lining without adding significant gut load.
Alternatively, mix PurePump in 8-12 oz of water rather than taking it as a concentrated shot. More dilution means less concentrated contact with your stomach lining.
If You're Particularly Reactive
For people with diagnosed IBS, GERD, or other GI conditions, start with 1 scoop with food, and give it 3-4 sessions before deciding whether to increase. Your response to PurePump should be evaluated against your baseline — if you've been taking pre workouts loaded with sucralose and maltodextrin, the switch to a zero-filler formula may itself be a significant improvement.
Beta-Alanine Tingling: It's Not a GI Issue
Let's address this directly because it causes confusion: beta-alanine causes paresthesia — a tingling or prickling sensation, usually in the face, hands, and arms. It typically starts 15-20 minutes after ingestion and lasts 30-60 minutes.
This is not a GI reaction. It is not an allergic response. It is not a side effect in the negative sense.
Paresthesia is a well-documented, harmless nerve response caused by beta-alanine activating sensory neurons. It has nothing to do with your stomach, your gut, or your digestion. The sensation does not correlate with GI distress, and it subsides on its own.
If you're sensitive to paresthesia: - Start with 1 scoop (1,000mg beta-alanine) — paresthesia is dose-dependent - Take with food to slow absorption - Know that most people experience reduced paresthesia over time with consistent use as carnosine levels build up
The tingling means the beta-alanine is doing its job. It's not a reason to stop taking it, and it's definitely not a stomach issue.
What About "Gentle" or "Sensitive Stomach" Pre Workouts?
Some brands market specific products as "gentle formula" or "sensitive stomach friendly." Look at these carefully. Ask two questions:
1. Do they still contain artificial sweeteners? Many "gentle" pre workouts reduce caffeine but keep sucralose and acesulfame-K. If artificial sweeteners are the primary cause of your GI distress (and for many people, they are), reducing caffeine while keeping sweeteners doesn't solve the problem.
2. Did they remove active ingredients to make room for flavoring? Some "gentle" formulas achieve a smaller active ingredient profile by removing effective ingredients — but they keep the flavoring system. You end up with fewer performance ingredients and the same GI-irritating fillers and sweeteners. That's the opposite of what you want.
The cleanest approach isn't a "gentle" version of a bad formula. It's a formula that never had the problematic ingredients in the first place.
What Real Customers Say
"My husband and I both love this product. We are allergic to coffee and this is the only product we've found that does not contain coffee yet still gives us the energy to power through our workouts." — Joanna M., Verified Buyer
"Mixes extremely well, gives a great boost of energy with no jitters." — Pano Z., Verified Buyer
"This is the best, hands down. Perfect balance of ingredients." — Brian H., Verified Buyer
FAQ
Will PurePump upset my stomach?
PurePump has zero artificial sweeteners, zero fillers, zero flavoring compounds, and a 7.6g serving size — eliminating the most common causes of pre workout GI distress. That said, every individual is different. Start with 1 scoop (3.8g) to assess tolerance. Most people who experience GI issues from conventional pre workouts find that PurePump is a fundamentally different experience because the ingredients causing their problems aren't in the formula.
I have IBS — can I take a pre workout?
Having IBS doesn't automatically disqualify you from pre workout supplementation, but it does mean you need to be more selective. Avoid products with artificial sweeteners (especially sucralose, which has been shown to affect gut bacteria), maltodextrin, and large serving sizes. PurePump's clean formula and small serving size make it a reasonable option to discuss with your gastroenterologist. Start with 1 scoop with a small amount of food. As always, consult your healthcare provider for personalized guidance.
Is the nausea I feel from pre workout caused by caffeine?
Possibly, especially if you're taking 300mg+ on an empty stomach. PurePump contains 200mg from green tea extract at full dose (100mg at 1 scoop), which is moderate and from a gentler source than synthetic caffeine anhydrous. However, pre workout nausea is more commonly caused by artificial sweeteners, maltodextrin, and large serving sizes than by caffeine alone. If you've only tried pre workouts loaded with these additives, you may be blaming caffeine for a problem caused by fillers.
Why does PurePump taste bad if there are no fillers?
Because there's nothing in it except active ingredients. Amino acids, vitamins, and plant extracts taste bitter and earthy in their raw form. Every flavored pre workout uses artificial sweeteners, natural flavors, and other compounds to mask that reality. PurePump skips all of it. The result is a product that doesn't win taste tests but doesn't irritate your stomach with compounds that serve no performance purpose. Mix it as a shot (2-3 oz of water) with a squeeze of lemon or lime, or blend it into a small glass of tart juice.
Can I take PurePump with food?
Yes, and for sensitive stomachs, we recommend it. A small, easily digestible snack — a banana, toast, a few crackers — provides a buffer without adding significant gut load. The goal is a small amount of food to line your stomach, not a full meal that competes with the supplement for absorption.
Is PurePump safe for people with food allergies?
PurePump contains no common allergens: no dairy, no soy, no gluten, no nuts, no eggs, no shellfish. It's Certified Vegan, Certified Paleo, and Keto Certified. All amino acids are AjiPure pharmaceutical-grade (fermentation-derived, not animal-sourced). The full ingredient list with exact dosages is disclosed — no proprietary blends hiding potential allergens. Every batch is BSCG Certified Drug Free, verifying the product contains only what's listed on the label. If you have specific allergies, consult your healthcare provider and review the full ingredient list.
These statements have not been evaluated by the FDA. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.
