You know what a cup of coffee or spot of tea can do for an afternoon slump. Not surprisingly, it does the exact same for your workout.
Caffeine kicks for gym enthusiasts
You know what a cup of coffee or spot of tea can do for an afternoon slump. Not surprisingly, it does the exact same for your workout.
Caffeine simply makes us feel better so that we can soldier on with our activities for longer before our productivity, concentration, or motivation wane. Drink coffee and your mental focus will also double, says Burke, giving you the self-discipline to hit the gym…and stay there. While caffeine can do wonders to improve your mood and alertness, it offers an even bigger benefit to your workout by making you last longer.
Not only will you be happier during a workout, you’ll also be stronger if you get your caffeine on before exercising. Recent research shows that using caffeine before a workout can help your muscles produce more force. Here’s how it works: Caffeine lowers your body’s levels of adenosine – a substance that builds up in your muscles during exercise and causes them to contract less forcibly. If you have less adenosine, you’ll have stronger muscle contractions and you’ll produce more force, whether you’re running, cycling, shooting hoops, or lifting weights. If you’ve ever tried to exercise after having not eaten in a while, you know the results can be disastrous. That’s because your body has no ready source of fuel to power working muscles. Yet you don’t have to slam a sandwich: Caffeine can also help give your body energy for a workout.
Coffee after a workout? Absolutely. A recent study found that athletes who washed down some caffeine with a food high in carbs – think a cup coffee with a bagel – after a workout were able to fuel their tired muscles better than those who just ate the carbs. Researchers say a post-workout jolt can help increase your body’s uptake of sugar, which is needed to refuel depleted muscles. And the effect is significant: Athletes in the study who combined caffeine with a meal after a workout had 66 percent more glycogen in their muscles four hours after exercising than those who just ate a meal.
So there you have it, fuel up on a piping cup of Joe, and get to the gym!