The link between caffeine and exercise has been particularly prominent in endurance sports like distance running and cycling, but the effect of caffeine on other physical activities like weight training or sports such as basketball or soccer has been less clear.
In 2011, researchers in England recruited 13 fit young men and asked them to undergo a standard weight training regimen on several occasions. An hour before one work-out, the participants were given a sugar-free energy drink that contained caffeine. An hour before another session, the men were given the same beverage without caffeine. The study found that exhaustion arrived much later when caffeine was consumed.
Caffeine is known to increase the amount of fatty acids circulating in the bloodstream, saving the body's limited store of carbohydrates until later. According to www.fitday.com caffeine reduces the amount of glycogen being consumed by muscles during a workout.
It is not clear however what the ideal amount of caffeine is needed for optimal performance. It is also not clear whether the effect of caffeine is the same for those who habitually consume caffeine. According to the fitday web site, if you are not habituated, two to three cups of coffee an hour before a workout seems to be the optimal dose.
My own personal experience seems to bear this out: A cup or two of coffee before a workout enhances my performance. As I tend to drink more tea at home, and coffee outside, the effect of coffee on my central nervous system and my heart provides a significant burst of energy, confirming the above-noted findings.
1 comment:
Wow, now finally I have got an interesting information about the link between exercising and drinking coffee. I often noticed that when I drink coffee I feel less tired during my workout.
Thank you for writing the post.
Regards,
Finn Felton
Kopi Luwak
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