CBUM Essential Performance: 6 Ingredient Stim-Free Pre-Workout

For the last year, RAW has been steadily dropping SKUs for its Essential line. This collection of supplements is intended to do exactly what it says: provide the essentials. See, in most formulas, it’s a few ingredients pulling the majority of the weight – this can be thought of as the supplement industry version of the 80/20 rule.

CBUM Essential Performance: 6 Ingredient Stim-Free Pre-Workout

CBUM Essential Performance is a no-fluff, 6-ingredient, stim-free pre-workout designed to boost performance and recovery. With key ingredients like citrulline, creatine, and beta alanine, it focuses on getting results without unnecessary extras.

Take a pre-workout, for example. You have some citrulline, beta alanine, and caffeine producing most of the results, but they’re accompanied by a dozen other ingredients that don’t make a huge difference. In other words, you’ve got fluff – fluff that costs you money. Even worse, sometimes you have some ingredients in there that produce a negative effect for you.

This is why CBUM Essential Pre was released. Made with just 6 active ingredients, it has everything you need to spark a killer workout, and none of the fluff.

The latest Essential product is called Essential Performance, and its focus is on – you guessed it – boosting performance metrics in the gym.

CBUM Essential Performance

CBUM Essential Performance has just five ingredients: citrulline, creatine, beta alanine, betaine, and tyrosine – no frills, no stims, just raw performance improvement. Overall, the formula is a worthy addition to the lineup that until now consisted of Essential Pre, Essential Charged, and Essential Pump.

We’re going to dive into how CBUM Essential Performance works, but first, let’s check PricePlow for good CBUM deals, and check out our video review of the new formula:

RAW Nutrition CBUM Essential Performance – Deals and Price Drop Alerts

Get Price Alerts

No spam, no scams.

Disclosure: PricePlow relies on pricing from stores with which we have a business relationship. We work hard to keep pricing current, but you may find a better offer.

Posts are sponsored in part by the retailers and/or brands listed on this page.

CBUM Essential Performance – How It Works

CBUM Essential Performance Ingredients

  • L-Citrulline (6g)

    Citrulline is a conditionally essential amino acid widely used in the supplement industry for boosting nitric oxide (NO) production,[1] which improves blood circulation and athletic performance. Although the body produces citrulline, supplementation can be beneficial, especially during physical stress, like intense exercise.

    Once ingested, citrulline converts into arginine, which then generates NO. Unlike arginine, citrulline is better absorbed by the body. Increased NO causes blood vessels to widen, enhancing blood flow, lowering heart rate, and improving the delivery of nutrients to cells, which supports muscle function and boosts recovery.[2-4] Research shows citrulline can enhance power output, endurance, and recovery while reducing muscle soreness.[5-10]

  • Creatine Monohydrate (5g)

    Creatine is a thoroughly-researched ingredient known to improve athletic and mental performance by boosting adenosine triphosphate (ATP) production. Creatine is crucial for supporting muscle contraction, energy production, and cognition, especially during intense exercise.[11-13]

    Beta Alanine Total Work Done

    Beta alanine leads to more work done,[14] which can lead to gains if you take advantage of them!

    Creatine supplementation has been widely studied and linked to increases in strength, endurance, and lean muscle mass, with performance improvements ranging from 5% to 15%.[15-22] It’s particularly beneficial for individuals who may not get enough creatine from dietary sources like red meat, which is common for the average American. In addition to its physical benefits, creatine has also shown promise in supporting cognitive function, particularly in individuals with low meat intake.[23,24]

  • Beta Alanine (3.2g)

    Beta-alanine is a well-established ergogenic aid commonly found in pre-workout supplements due to its ability to enhance athletic performance. It works by combining with the amino acid L-histidine to form carnosine, a dipeptide that helps reduce lactic acid buildup in muscles, delaying fatigue and improving endurance.[25] While carnosine itself is not efficiently absorbed, beta-alanine is bioavailable and acts as a limiting factor for carnosine production in the body,[26,27] making beta-alanine supplementation an effective strategy for increasing carnosine levels.

    Research supports beta-alanine’s role in boosting endurance during moderate to high-intensity exercise lasting between 30 seconds and 10 minutes. Meta-analyses of over 40 studies have consistently shown beta-alanine’s effectiveness in this regard.[25-33]

  • Betaine Anhydrous (2.5g)

    RAW Nutrition CBUM Essential Charged

    Betaine, also known as trimethylglycine (TMG), increases ATP production,[34] similar to creatine, but through a different mechanism—by donating methyl groups rather than phosphate groups. This methylation process is vital for many metabolic activities in the body.

    Betaine also acts as an osmolyte, promoting cellular hydration, which strengthens cells, improves nutrient delivery, and enhances resilience to heat stress. Research has shown that betaine supplementation can improve strength, power, and body composition,[35-41] with one study demonstrating significant muscle gain and fat loss over a 1.5-month period with 2,500 mg daily.[35,36]

    Additionally, betaine’s role in methylation helps regulate homocysteine levels,[42] which is important for cardiovascular health, as high homocysteine is linked to arterial calcification and other cardiovascular issues.[43]

  • L-Tyrosine (2g)

    CBUM Essential Performance

    L-tyrosine is a valuable pre-workout ingredient for its support of thyroid function, neurotransmitter production, and its ability to enhance performance under sleep deprivation. As a precursor to the thyroid hormones T3 and T4,[44,45] tyrosine plays a crucial role in maintaining healthy thyroid function, which can be stressed by intense exercise and caloric restriction common among weightlifters and athletes. When workouts become more demanding and diets stricter, the thyroid may struggle, and supplementation with tyrosine can provide the necessary support to maintain optimal thyroid health.

    Additionally, L-tyrosine boosts the production of key neurotransmitters such as dopamine, adrenaline, and noradrenaline,[46-48] which improve focus, motivation, and fat burning during workouts.[49] This makes it especially beneficial for enhancing mental clarity and physical performance. Moreover, tyrosine has been shown to support alertness and cognitive function in sleep-deprived individuals.[50,51]

All CBUM Essential Performance Flavors

Check out our up-to-date list of CBUM Essential Performance below:

    A New Stimulant-Free Pre-Workout from Raw

    Raw Nutrition: Built From the Grould Up

    CBUM Essential Performance focuses strictly on boosting performance and recovery. You have citrulline for a good pump, creatine for recovery and strength (and many other things), beta alanine for endurance, betaine for cellular hydration, and tyrosine for neurotransmitter production and thyroid support. What more could you need?

    RAW Nutrition CBUM Essential Performance – Deals and Price Drop Alerts

    Get Price Alerts

    No spam, no scams.

    Disclosure: PricePlow relies on pricing from stores with which we have a business relationship. We work hard to keep pricing current, but you may find a better offer.

    Posts are sponsored in part by the retailers and/or brands listed on this page.

    About the Author: PricePlow Staff

    PricePlow Staff

    PricePlow is a team of supplement industry veterans that include medical students, competitive strength athletes, and scientific researchers who all became involved with dieting and supplements out of personal need.

    The team's collective experiences and research target athletic performance and body composition goals, relying on low-toxicity meat-based diets.

    No Comments | Posted in | Tagged , , , , , , , , .

    References

    1. Morita, Masahiko, et al; “Oral Supplementation with a Combination of L-Citrulline and L-Arginine Rapidly Increases Plasma L-Arginine Concentration and Enhances NO Bioavailability.”; Biochemical and Biophysical Research Communications; U.S. National Library of Medicine; 7 Nov. 2014; https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/25445598
    2. Orozco-Gutiérrez JJ, Castillo-Martínez L, Orea-Tejeda A, Vázquez-Díaz O, Valdespino-Trejo A, Narváez-David R, Keirns-Davis C, Carrasco-Ortiz O, Navarro-Navarro A, Sánchez-Santillán R. Effect of L-arginine or L-citrulline oral supplementation on blood pressure and right ventricular function in heart failure patients with preserved ejection fraction. Cardiol J. 2010;17(6):612-8. PMID: 21154265. https://journals.viamedica.pl/cardiology_journal
    3. Wong A, Alvarez-Alvarado S, Jaime SJ, Kinsey AW, Spicer MT, Madzima TA, Figueroa A. Combined whole-body vibration training and l-citrulline supplementation improves pressure wave reflection in obese postmenopausal women. Appl Physiol Nutr Metab. 2016 Mar;41(3):292-7. doi: 10.1139/apnm-2015-0465; https://cdnsciencepub.com/doi/10.1139/apnm-2015-0465
    4. Alsop P, Hauton D. Oral nitrate and citrulline decrease blood pressure and increase vascular conductance in young adults: a potential therapy for heart failure. Eur J Appl Physiol. 2016 Sep;116(9):1651-61. doi: 10.1007/s00421-016-3418-7; https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4983290/
    5. Bailey, Stephen J, et al; “l-Citrulline Supplementation Improves O2 Uptake Kinetics and High-Intensity Exercise Performance in Humans.”; Journal of Applied Physiology (Bethesda, Md. : 1985); U.S. National Library of Medicine; 15 Aug. 2015; https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/26023227
    6. Pérez-Guisado, Joaquín, and Philip M Jakeman; “Citrulline Malate Enhances Athletic Anaerobic Performance and Relieves Muscle Soreness.”; Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research; U.S. National Library of Medicine; May 2010; https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20386132
    7. Sureda A, Córdova A, Ferrer MD, Pérez G, Tur JA, Pons A. L-citrulline-malate influence over branched chain amino acid utilization during exercise. Eur J Appl Physiol. 2010 Sep;110(2):341-51. doi: 10.1007/s00421-010-1509-4; https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s00421-010-1509-4
    8. Breuillard C, Cynober L, Moinard C. Citrulline and nitrogen homeostasis: an overview. Amino Acids. 2015 Apr;47(4):685-91. doi: 10.1007/s00726-015-1932-2; https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s00726-015-1932-2
    9. Jourdan M, Nair KS, Carter RE, Schimke J, Ford GC, Marc J, Aussel C, Cynober L. Citrulline stimulates muscle protein synthesis in the post-absorptive state in healthy people fed a low-protein diet – A pilot study. Clin Nutr. 2015 Jun;34(3):449-56. doi: 10.1016/j.clnu.2014.04.019; https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4309748/
    10. Bahri S, Zerrouk N, Aussel C, Moinard C, Crenn P, Curis E, Chaumeil JC, Cynober L, Sfar S. Citrulline: from metabolism to therapeutic use. Nutrition. 2013 Mar;29(3):479-84. doi: 10.1016/j.nut.2012.07.002; https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0899900712002584
    11. Hultman, E., et al. “Breakdown and Resynthesis of Phosphorylcreatine and Adenosine Triphosphate in Connection with Muscular Work in Man.” Scandinavian Journal of Clinical and Laboratory Investigation, vol. 19, no. 1, Jan. 1967, pp. 56–66, 10.3109/00365516709093481; https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/6031321/
    12. Mujika, I., and S. Padilla. “Creatine Supplementation as an Ergogenic Aid for Sports Performance in Highly Trained Athletes: A Critical Review.” International Journal of Sports Medicine, vol. 18, no. 07, Oct. 1997, pp. 491–496, 10.1055/s-2007-972670; https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/9414070
    13. Gaitanos, G. C., et al. “Human Muscle Metabolism during Intermittent Maximal Exercise.” Journal of Applied Physiology (Bethesda, Md.: 1985), vol. 75, no. 2, 1 Aug. 1993, pp. 712–719, 10.1152/jappl.1993.75.2.712; https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/8226473/
    14. Hill, C. A., et al. “Influence of β-Alanine Supplementation on Skeletal Muscle Carnosine Concentrations and High Intensity Cycling Capacity.” Amino Acids, vol. 32, no. 2, 28 July 2006, pp. 225–233, doi:10.1007/s00726-006-0364-4. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/16868650/
    15. Kreider, Richard B. “Effects of Creatine Supplementation on Performance and Training Adaptations.” Molecular and Cellular Biochemistry, vol. 244, no. 1-2, 1 Feb. 2003, pp. 89–94; https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/12701815/
    16. Mujika, I, et al. “Creatine Supplementation and Sprint Performance in Soccer Players.” Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise, vol. 32, no. 2, Feb. 2000, p. 518, 10.1097/00005768-200002000-00039; https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/10694141/
    17. Ostojic, Sergej M. “Creatine Supplementation in Young Soccer Players.” International Journal of Sport Nutrition and Exercise Metabolism, vol. 14, no. 1, Feb. 2004, pp. 95–103, 10.1123/ijsnem.14.1.95; https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/15129933/
    18. Theodorou, Apostolos S., et al. “The Effect of Longer-Term Creatine Supplementation on Elite Swimming Performance after an Acute Creatine Loading.” Journal of Sports Sciences, vol. 17, no. 11, Jan. 1999, pp. 853–859, 10.1080/026404199365416; https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/10585165/
    19. Vandenberghe, K., et al. “Long-Term Creatine Intake Is Beneficial to Muscle Performance during Resistance Training.” Journal of Applied Physiology, vol. 83, no. 6, Dec. 1997, pp. 2055–2063, 10.1152/jappl.1997.83.6.2055; https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/9390981/
    20. Preen, David, et al. “Effect of Creatine Loading on Long-Term Sprint Exercise Performance and Metabolism.” Medicine and Science in Sports and Exercise, May 2001, pp. 814–821, 10.1097/00005768-200105000-00022; https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/11323554/
    21. Kreider, Richard B., et al. “Effects of Creatine Supplementation on Body Composition, Strength, and Sprint Performance.” Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise, vol. 30, no. 1, Jan. 1998, pp. 73–82, 10.1097/00005768-199801000-00011; https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/9475647/
    22. Volek, Jeff S., et al. “Performance and Muscle Fiber Adaptations to Creatine Supplementation and Heavy Resistance Training.” Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise, vol. 31, no. 8, Aug. 1999, pp. 1147–1156, 10.1097/00005768-199908000-00011; https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/10449017/
    23. Roschel, Hamilton et al. “Creatine Supplementation and Brain Health.” Nutrients vol. 13,2 586. 10 Feb. 2021, doi:10.3390/nu13020586 https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7916590/
    24. Bakian, Amanda V et al. “Dietary creatine intake and depression risk among U.S. adults.” Translational psychiatry vol. 10,1 52. 3 Feb. 2020, doi:10.1038/s41398-020-0741-x https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7026167/
    25. Trexler, E.T., Smith-Ryan, A.E., Stout, J.R. et al.; “International society of sports nutrition position stand: Beta-Alanine.”; J Int Soc Sports Nutr 12, 30 (2015); https://jissn.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s12970-015-0090-y
    26. Harris, R. C., et al. “The Absorption of Orally Supplied β-Alanine and Its Effect on Muscle Carnosine Synthesis in Human Vastus Lateralis.” Amino Acids, vol. 30, no. 3, 24 Mar. 2006, pp. 279–289, 10.1007/s00726-006-0299-9; https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/16554972/
    27. Dunnett, M., and R. C. Harris. “Influence of Oral ß-Alanine and L-Histidine Supplementation on the Carnosine Content of Thegluteus Medius.” Equine Veterinary Journal, vol. 31, no. S30, July 1999, pp. 499–504, 10.1111/j.2042-3306.1999.tb05273.x; https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/10659307/
    28. Hobson, R M, et al; “Effects of β-Alanine Supplementation on Exercise Performance: a Meta-Analysis.”; Amino Acids; Springer Vienna; July 2012; https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3374095/
    29. Sale, Craig, et al; “Effect of β-Alanine plus Sodium Bicarbonate on High-Intensity Cycling Capacity.”; Medicine and Science in Sports and Exercise; U.S. National Library of Medicine; Oct. 2011; https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21407127
    30. Van, R, et al; “Beta-Alanine Improves Sprint Performance in Endurance Cycling.”; Current Neurology and Neuroscience Reports; U.S. National Library of Medicine; Apr. 2009; https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19276843
    31. Kern, Ben D, and Tracey L Robinson; “Effects of β-Alanine Supplementation on Performance and Body Composition in Collegiate Wrestlers and Football Players.”; Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research; U.S. National Library of Medicine; July 2011; https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21659893
    32. Saunders, Bryan, et al. “β-Alanine Supplementation to Improve Exercise Capacity and Performance: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.” British Journal of Sports Medicine, vol. 51, no. 8, 18 Oct. 2016, pp. 658–669; https://bjsm.bmj.com/content/51/8/658.long
    33. Dolan, Eimear, et al. “A Systematic Risk Assessment and Meta-Analysis on the Use of Oral β-Alanine Supplementation.” Advances in Nutrition, vol. 10, no. 3, 13 Apr. 2019, pp. 452–463, 10.1093/advances/nmy115; https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6520041/
    34. Lee I. Betaine is a positive regulator of mitochondrial respiration. Biochem Biophys Res Commun. 2015 Jan 9;456(2):621-5. doi: 10.1016/j.bbrc.2014.12.005; https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/25498545/
    35. Cholewa, Jason M et al. “Effects of betaine on body composition, performance, and homocysteine thiolactone.” Journal of the International Society of Sports Nutrition vol. 10,1 39. 22 Aug. 2013, doi:10.1186/1550-2783-10-39; https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3844502/
    36. Jason Michael Cholewa, et al; “The Effects of Chronic Betaine Supplementation on Body Composition and Performance in Collegiate Females: a Double-Blind, Randomized, Placebo Controlled Trial”; Journal of the International Society of Sports Nutrition; BioMed Central; 31 July 2018; https://jissn.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s12970-018-0243-x
    37. Roti, M; “Homocysteine, Lipid and Glucose Responses to Betaine Supplementation During Running in the Heat”; Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise: May 2003 – Volume 35 – Issue 5 – p S271; https://journals.lww.com/acsm-msse/Fulltext/2003/05001/HOMOCYSTEINE,_LIPID_AND_GLUCOSE_RESPONSES_TO.1501.aspx
    38. Armstrong, Lawrence E, et al. “Influence of Betaine Consumption on Strenuous Running and Sprinting in a Hot Environment.” Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research, vol. 22, no. 3, May 2008, pp. 851–860, 10.1519/jsc.0b013e31816a6efb; https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/18438230
    39. Lee, Elaine C, et al. “Ergogenic Effects of Betaine Supplementation on Strength and Power Performance.” Journal of the International Society of Sports Nutrition, vol. 7, no. 1, 2010, p. 27, 10.1186/1550-2783-7-27; https://jissn.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/1550-2783-7-27
    40. Trepanowski, John F, et al. “The Effects of Chronic Betaine Supplementation on Exercise Performance, Skeletal Muscle Oxygen Saturation and Associated Biochemical Parameters in Resistance Trained Men.” Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research, vol. 25, no. 12, Dec. 2011, pp. 3461–3471, 10.1519/jsc.0b013e318217d48d; https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/22080324/
    41. Pryor, J Luke, et al. “Effect of Betaine Supplementation on Cycling Sprint Performance.” Journal of the International Society of Sports Nutrition, vol. 9, no. 1, 3 Apr. 2012, 10.1186/1550-2783-9-12; https://jissn.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/1550-2783-9-12
    42. Olthof, M. R., & Verhoef, P. (2005). Effects of betaine intake on plasma homocysteine concentrations and consequences for health. Current drug metabolism, 6(1), 15-22; https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/15720203
    43. Ganguly, Paul, and Sreyoshi Fatima Alam. “Role of homocysteine in the development of cardiovascular disease.” Nutrition journal vol. 14 6. 10 Jan. 2015, doi:10.1186/1475-2891-14-6; https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4326479/
    44. Mullur, Rashmi et al. “Thyroid hormone regulation of metabolism.” Physiological reviews vol. 94,2 (2014): 355-82. doi:10.1152/physrev.00030.2013; https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4044302/
    45. Rousset, Bernard. “Chapter 2 Thyroid Hormone Synthesis And Secretion.” Endotext. U.S. National Library of Medicine, 2 Sept. 2015; https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK285550/
    46. Mishra, Akanksha, et al. “Physiological and Functional Basis of Dopamine Receptors and Their Role in Neurogenesis: Possible Implication for Parkinson’s Disease.” Journal of Experimental Neuroscience, vol. 12, Jan. 2018, p. 117906951877982, 10.1177/1179069518779829. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5985548/
    47. Rajeev Dalal, and Dejan Grujic. “Epinephrine.” Nih.gov, StatPearls Publishing, 2 Apr. 2019. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK482160/
    48. Smith, Matthew D, and Christopher V Maani. “Norepinephrine.” Nih.gov, StatPearls Publishing, 23 July 2019. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK537259/
    49. Ans, Armghan H, et al. “Neurohormonal Regulation of Appetite and Its Relationship with Stress: A Mini Literature Review.” Cureus, 23 July 2018, 10.7759/cureus.3032. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6150743/
    50. Attipoe, Selasi, et al. “Tyrosine for Mitigating Stress and Enhancing Performance in Healthy Adult Humans, a Rapid Evidence Assessment of the Literature.” Military Medicine, vol. 180, no. 7, July 2015, pp. 754–765, 10.7205/milmed-d-14-00594; https://academic.oup.com/milmed/article/180/7/754/4160625
    51. Pomeroy, Diane E., et al. “A Systematic Review of the Effect of Dietary Supplements on Cognitive Performance in Healthy Young Adults and Military Personnel.” Nutrients, vol. 12, no. 2, 20 Feb. 2020, p. 545, 10.3390/nu12020545; https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7071459/

    Comments and Discussion (Powered by the PricePlow Forum)