An amino acid that plays an important role in nitric oxide (NO) metabolism and regulation. L-Citrulline is converted to L-Arginine in the body, which leads to increases in both L-Arginine and nitric oxide. Increased production of nitric oxide promotes vascular dilation, which helps support normal oxygen and blood circulation. In “bro” terms, this is what the “PUMP” is all about! It turns out the “pump” has many other benefits beyond the purely aesthetic benefits. In fact, blood is the first step in our bodies’ healing process. We see this all the time with cuts and scrapes. When you get a cut, blood rushes to the injury and clots to create a scab to heal our skin. It works the same way inside the body. During exercise, when we put a lot of stress on a muscle or specific area of the body, blood rushes to the area and begins to aid in the healing/recovery process.

Our L-Citrulline Malate is from a plant based fermented source for optimal absorption.  The more optimal the absorption of L-Citrulline Malate, the better the blood and oxygen circulation, the better the pump, and the better the recovery and healing of the body!  

Is there anything this SUPERFOOD can’t do? This root is considered an adaptogen. Adaptogens typically grow in extreme environments which put a lot of stress on the plant. In return, the plant has to “adapt” and fight extra hard to stay alive. As a result, adaptogens produce loads of compounds like antioxidants and minerals. The beautiful part about consuming adaptogens is that we get to reap the wide variety of benefits from their fight to stay alive.Just a few examples include:Exercise Performance: Rhodiola has been clinically studied at a 200mg dose to help our bodies “adapt” to exercise induced stress. This means we’re able to overcome exercise fatigue easier and have better, longer exercise or athletic performance!

Fatigue Fighter: If you’re looking for a way to fight fatigue and get your energy levels back, rhodiola rosea powder just might do the trick! A double-blind study published in the journal of Phytomedicine suggested that a low-dose treatment of rhodiola rosea can reduce the symptoms associated with general fatigue.

Reduction in Stress and Anxiety: Rhodiola also helps our body adapt to general stress and anxiety by enhancing our adrenal system to better manage the hormonal (cortisol) response to stress. A 2008 pilot study at UCLA examined the effects of a daily dose of the herb on people with generalized anxiety disorder (GAD). The researchers found that rhodiola rosea was effective in reducing their anxious symptoms.

Whether you use KONO Pre before weightlifting, long-distance running or biking, or any other athletic activity, the Rhodiola Rosea Root is one of the main ingredients that helps you keep going farther, heavier, and longer without fatigue. The Rhodiola Rosea Root in our KONO Pre can even help your body respond more positively to the stresses and anxiety of work, school, and all areas of life beyond your workout!

This mushroom is one of the most impressive SUPERFOODS and adaptogens known on planet earth, and there’s science to back it. Lion’s Mane (gets its name because the shroom looks like a lion’s mane, clever right?) has been used in Chinese and Japanese medicine for centuries due to its benefits on cognitive health and mental focus.

Lions Mane significantly increases levels of nerve growth factor (NGF), ‍ a specific type of brain protein which plays an essential role in brain plasticity, learning and memory.

High levels of NGF are associated with optimal brain health, function, and resilience. NGF protects existing neurons and is also key to neurogenesis, or the regeneration of neural connections impaired by age, injury, or disease. Lions Mane can literally help form new neurons in our brain!!

Studies have also shown a significant enhancement of memory and brain function, reduction of anxiety and depression, and an overall prevention of dementia.

If you’ve noticed improved focus on the field, better mind-muscle connection in the weight-room, or a sharper mental state after taking KONO Pre, that’s the Lion’s Mane Mushroom hard at work! Lion’s Mane Mushroom is also a key ingredient behind the improved mood our KONO Family has reported experiencing after incorporating KONO Pre into their routine!

The clean energy behind our functional pre-workout comes from a synergistic blend of ingredients, but one of the stars of the show is an extract from the leaves of the guayusa plant, which grows in the upper Amazon. Guayusa is a caffeinated tea species that's related to yerba mate, but has higher levels of naturally occurring antioxidants and caffeine. 

This guayusa is sourced and farmed by indigenous farmers in Ecuador, using a completely sustainable supply chain. The guayusa is grown in ancient forest gardens called "chakras" that use similar growing techniques to agroforestry, regenerative agriculture, and permaculture. Chakra gardens mimic the natural composition of the forest, integrating up to 150 plant species per chakra, including trees, crops, and medicinal plants. Chakra gardening essentially means “to garden with intention” and it helps maintain soil health and biodiversity of the soil. It also ensures the guayusa as certified organic and Non-GMO Project Verified. 

It then goes through a patented extraction process to enhance the plant's naturally occurring compounds like chlorogenic acid and catechins. These are bioactive polyphenol compounds that are some of the most powerful antioxidants on the planet. These specific compounds are known to be anti-cancer, protect against DNA damage, protect against heart disease, activate the immune system, regulate blood pressure, and improve the metabolism. The guayusa in the KONO functional pre-workout is standardized to 30% chlorogenic acid to ensure maximum antioxidant activity! 

On top of all the other health benefits, the patented form of guayusa, AmaTea Max, has also been proven as a nootropic ingredient for the effects on brain power! Some studies suggest that it can produce a bright and focused energy without the unwanted side effects traditionally associated with caffeine, such as jitters. It has even been found that gamers who took AmaTea Max showed improvements in reaction time, cognitive performance, and reduced mental fatigue.

The health community has finally begun to appreciate the benefits of lemon and lime juice. In fact, there’s been a massive health trend of starting the morning with some fresh lemon juice water… because it works! These citrus fruits are packed with vitamin C, help the body fend off bloating, offer detoxifying benefits by flushing out unwanted toxins, they’re energizing, hydrating, and they boost the immune system. Our lemon and lime juice powders use the fruit, essential lemon oil (shoutout to our essential oil users), and naturally occurring citric acid from these bright citrus fruits that gives it that tart and refreshing taste!

Because we’re committed to ensuring every ingredient we use serves a purpose for your health, we don’t use any “natural flavors.”  While the other guys are using synthetic ingredients and beaver anus secretion, we believe in flavoring our KONO Pre with ingredients that taste great and are great for you. It’s tough to beat nature. The lemon and lime juice we use provides that great taste, but it also energizes, flushes toxins, helps with the immune system, and more.

This sweet red fruit is known for its antioxidant properties due to its high content of anthocyanins and ellagic acid that give them that deep red color. Our strawberry fruit powder is 100% strawberry powder that possesses all the natural taste and nutrition!

Just like our lemon lime Pre, we don’t use any synthetic ingredients to create our strawberry flavor. By using Organic Strawberry Fruit Powder, we’re able to create that great strawberry flavor, all while providing the additional antioxidant and other health benefits nature has built into strawberries.

This sweet fruit is originally called Luo Han Guo but was made popular by Buddhist Monks. Hence the name, Monk Fruit. It has zero calories, zero effect on blood sugar, and is several dozen times sweeter than sugar. The best part, it’s a real food and contains an abundance of antioxidants. The Monk’s used it for a variety of health benefits, even in tea to reduce coughing and fight off colds.

KONO uses Monk Fruit as a sweetener because we believe that, like any ingredient, a sweetener should never be just a sweetener. Every ingredient should serve a purpose for your health. In addition to helping us create the great strawberry and lemon lime flavors we offer, Monk Fruit provides antioxidant benefits and does it all at zero calories and zero impact on blood sugar!

Most of the stevia on the market isn’t 100% stevia. Many are cut with sugar alcohols like erythritol which is why many people experience bloating and upset stomach with some sweeteners, including stevia. Our stevia leaf helps us create the sweetness in our KONO Pre flavors, but it has also been shown to help control blood sugar and insulin sensitivity, improve cholesterol levels, and lower blood pressure!

We’re not going to beat around the bush on this one, powders get clumpy. Especially in hot and humid climates. Most companies will use something called “silicon dioxide” as what they call an anti-caking agent (AKA stops powders from absorbing moisture and getting clumpy). Silicon Dioxide is typically man-made in a lab and is a synthetic version of Silica, which is a natural mineral found in the earth’s surface and in some foods. KONO uses bamboo stems, which is nature’s highest source of organic silica, containing up to 80%. This isn’t just any anti-caking agent though, bamboo extract has been shown to help build strong hair, skin, and nails and is becoming a popular supplement in the beauty industry due to these effects. Bamboo has been used as medicine in China, India, and Tibet for many years to restore elasticity to the tissues of the body.

Once again, KONO is committed to only using ingredients that serve a purpose for your health. While other major names in the supplement industry are using the cheapest and most expedient synthetic ingredients to help prevent powder clumping, we use Bamboo stem because it has been shown to actually improve the health of your hair, skin, joints, and nails (in addition to accomplishing the same anti-clumping effects of the synthetic ingredients used by other companies)!