Coffee And Fitness: Can A Cup Of Joe Improve Your Workout?
/Can Coffee Provide A Workout Boost?
Whether people like to get their fix from a coffee shop, or enjoy going with the timeless Moka pot, coffee is one of the most popular beverages on the planet. There is an unbelievable amount of coffee consumed, and this number is only growing. There are dozens of different kinds and flavors of coffee, so there is something for everyone.
However, in addition to tasting good and providing us with a jolt of energy, there are many other benefits of coffee. It can help reduce the chance of developing several different kinds of disease, contains nutrients and several other positive things. There are even rumblings that having coffee before or during your workout can actually improve your exercise.
But is this the case? Can coffee actually contribute to an improved workout? With that in mind, this blog post is going to take a look a closer look at that idea.
Can Having Coffee Improve Your Workout?
As mentioned before, there are several outstanding benefits that come with coffee. However, can a cup of joe really improve your workout? Well, the short answer is yes, it can, but it can depend on factors such as what kind you are drinking, when you drink it and other things like that.
But in order to get the true story and all the facts, we need to dig a little deeper. It is not the coffee itself that can aid in improving your workout, it is the caffeine in the coffee. See, caffeine has undergone a lot of research over the years into its effectiveness when it comes to workout and fitness.
First, caffeine has been shown to help with endurance and allow people to exercise or play sports for longer, without it feeling like a lot more effort. Caffeine can also reduce muscle pain, allowing people to take fewer breaks and work out that little bit harder. It can also lead to more concentration to go along with the boost in athletic or strength performance.
Caffeine can also send signals to your cells to break down body fat, and can also increase our adrenaline, which makes it a popular pre-workout drink. So if consumed correctly, and in the right amount, coffee and the caffeine inside of it can help people have a more enjoyable and fruitful workout.
Things to Consider
Of course, there are some potential downsides that you need to know about as well. Some coffee is more like a sugary treat than a pure caffeine beverage, and may not be the best for performance, and could make you sluggish. Having too much can make you feel nauseous and get the jitters, which could actually negatively affect your workout or performance.
Also, be careful when you drink your coffee if you normally work out in the evening. Having too much coffee in the evening can potentially ruin your sleep, as well. Also everyone reacts differently, so if coffee and caffeine work for someone else, it won’t necessarily work for you.
In conclusion, coffee has the potential to improve your workout in some situations. However, it shouldn’t be relied on solely for that reason, and should always be enjoyed in moderation. Also, it will have a different effect for everyone, so be sure to try it for yourself to see if it has a positive effect.
Need help with whether or not to include coffee for workout benefits? Check out our Health & Wellness Coaching for personalized guidance.