Most of you know me today as a health freedom advocate. But before I was calling out Big Pharma, the FDA, and the global medical mafia… I was lacing up my gym shoes, chalking my hands, and hitting the weights as a competitive bodybuilder.
Here it is: my personal breakdown of the top 12 natural performance enhancers backed by actual scientific research, not sponsored studies funded by shady corporations that manufacture prescription drugs.
Let’s dive in.
Creatine – The King of Gains 👑
No surprise here. Creatine is one of the most extensively researched sports supplements available, and for good reason. It helps regenerate ATP (your cells’ main energy currency), boosts muscle strength, and improves high-intensity performance. I mix creatine into my pre-workout shakes. It’s cheap, naturally occurring, and extremely effective.
Beetroot – Nature’s Pre-Workout 🏃♂️
Beets are rich in dietary nitrates, which convert into nitric oxide—a molecule that improves blood flow, lowers blood pressure, and enhances endurance. Studies show that beet juice can significantly increase stamina during cardio exercises. Want to go longer without burning out? Drink a glass of beet juice an hour before your workout. I drink a glass every morning before my workout.
Citrulline Malate – Nitric Oxide Booster 🚴♀️
Citrulline helps widen blood vessels, improving circulation and muscle pumps. Malate (a form of malic acid) helps convert food into energy. Together, they’re a powerful combo. Studies show they can delay muscle fatigue and improve strength output during high-rep sets. This is another pre-workout drink for me each morning.
Cordyceps – The Fungus That Fuels the Fire 🍄
This weird little mushroom (traditionally used in Chinese medicine) boosts VO2 max and ATP production. Translation? Better oxygen efficiency, better endurance. I take this every day in my Mushroom Breakthrough supplement. Athletes in the 1993 Chinese national games shocked the world with record-breaking runs… and their secret was cordyceps. Coincidence? I doubt it.
Ashwagandha – Strength, Stamina & Stress Control 💥
Another staple of my daily nutritional regimen, this adaptogen isn’t just for anxiety or sleep. Research indicates that ashwagandha can help increase muscle mass, enhance recovery, and boost testosterone levels in men. It works by regulating cortisol—your body’s stress hormone—and when cortisol’s in check, everything from strength to libido to fat loss gets better.
Caffeine – The Classic Stim (but Use It Right) ☕
Caffeine isn’t just for waking you up; it boosts focus, energy, and fat-burning. But timing and dosage matter. Too much, and you’ll crash. Too late, and you won’t sleep. Best used strategically: 150–200mg 30 minutes before your workout. I prefer clean sources like organic coffee or green tea over synthetic caffeine anhydrous. Charlene and I have a cup of organic coffee every day.
Tart Cherry Juice – Recovery Supercharger 🍒
Tart cherries are rich in antioxidants and natural anti-inflammatory compounds. Research shows they reduce muscle soreness, improve sleep, and even help with joint pain. After a brutal leg day? I’ll take a shot of tart cherry and wake up way less sore. The anthocyanins in cherry juice also help with my slight arthritis in my left hand.
CoQ10 – Mitochondrial Mojo 🧬
This one’s all about energy production at the cellular level. CoQ10 fuels your mitochondria (the powerhouse of your cells), improves cardiovascular performance, and aids in recovery. It’s especially helpful if you’re over 40, since natural levels decline with age. We’ve been taking CoQ10 for years.
L-Carnitine – Fat-Fueled Energy ⚡
Carnitine helps shuttle fatty acids into your mitochondria to be burned as fuel. It’s been shown to improve endurance, reduce muscle damage, and support fat metabolism. Great if you’re doing fasted cardio or want to train longer without hitting the wall. It’s also part of my morning pre-workout drink.
BCAAs (Branched-Chain Amino Acids) – Your Muscles’ Best Friends 💪
Let’s talk about the triple threat: leucine, isoleucine, and valine—the three amino acids that make up BCAAs. These aren’t just fancy biochem terms—they’re essential nutrients your body can’t make on its own, and they play a huge role in muscle recovery and repair. BCAAs help reduce muscle soreness, prevent muscle breakdown (catabolism), and accelerate recovery after intense workouts. Some studies even suggest that sipping on BCAAs during training can help you push through longer sessions without hitting the wall. Another staple of my daily regimen.
Protein Powder (Egg White & Whey) 🥚🐄
Look—protein isn’t just about bulking up. It’s your body’s building block for muscle, immune health, hormones, and recovery. And after a workout, you need complete proteins to rebuild the tiny muscle tears that training causes. Whey protein is the gold standard for post-workout recovery. It’s fast-digesting, rich in BCAAs (especially leucine), and triggers muscle protein synthesis like nothing else. Think of it as the spark plug that gets your body rebuilding muscle right after you train. However, if you’re dairy-sensitive or simply want variety, or if you’re like me and prefer it over whey, egg white protein is a fantastic alternative. It’s lactose-free, bioavailable, and incredibly clean. I actually rotate between egg white and whey to keep my digestion on point and avoid burnout. Look for powders that are free from added sugars, artificial flavors, and questionable ingredients. You’re fueling your body—don’t pollute it.
Beta-Alanine – The Muscle Endurance Secret Weapon ⏱️
Ever felt that burning sensation during high-rep sets or sprints? That’s lactic acid building up in your muscles. Beta-alanine is the amino acid that helps neutralize that burn. It boosts levels of carnosine in your muscles, which acts like a buffer against acidity. The result? Less fatigue, longer performance, and better overall endurance—especially in workouts lasting 1 to 4 minutes like CrossFit-style circuits. For optimal results, take it daily to saturate your muscles and replenish your carnosine stores. I take it daily.
Last, but certainly not least…
Collagen – The Glue That Keeps You Together 🧬
You’ve probably heard collagen hyped up as a beauty booster for skin, hair, and nails—and sure, it does all that—but what most folks don’t realize is that collagen is also a performance enhancer, especially when it comes to joint health, recovery, and injury prevention. As a former bodybuilder who’s logged thousands of hours under a barbell, I can tell you: joints matter. Your muscles might be strong as steel, but if your tendons, ligaments, and cartilage can’t keep up, you’re sidelined—and frustrated. That’s where collagen comes in. It’s the most abundant protein in the body and a critical component of connective tissue. Supplementing with collagen can help support joint integrity, reduce pain, and even stimulate your body’s own collagen production. Here’s my favorite brand of collagen, which I take every day. Studies have shown collagen can also support lean muscle mass and improve recovery when combined with resistance training. And if you’re over 30 (like me), your natural collagen levels are already declining, so adding a scoop to your morning coffee or post-workout shake can be a game-changer. Look for collagen that contains vitamin C or take it with a food source of it—your body needs vitamin C to effectively synthesize collagen.
Final Thoughts: Nature Over Needles 🌿💉
Let’s get one thing straight: you don’t need to inject yourself with sketchy synthetic hormones or choke down mystery powders from some unregulated Chinese lab just to chase marginal gains. The truth is, God already perfected performance enhancement, and we just needed modern science to catch up and prove what ancient healers knew instinctively.
Whether you’re pushing through that last brutal set, summiting a mountain at dawn, or simply fighting to feel vibrantly alive in a world that wants you tired and complacent, these natural solutions offer something Big Pharma can’t: real results without compromising your health, your ethics, or your freedom.
This isn’t about finding shortcuts – it’s about rediscovering the fundamental tools your body was designed to thrive on. The edge you’ve been searching for wasn’t hidden in a patent application or a doping scandal. It was growing on trees, ripening in the sun, waiting for you to take what’s already yours.
To your strength, your stamina, and your freedom.
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