Should you be drinking coffee before a workout? Had that idea ever crossed your mind as an option? With all the recommendations for water and the various types of sports and energy drinks on the shelves, most of us wouldn’t think of regular coffee as an option.
That said, if you watch closely enough, you may have noticed many bodybuilders and athletes consuming coffee prior to a workout. There is an ongoing debate in the fitness world regarding whether or not this is beneficial. So, is coffee before a workout a good idea?
Benefits of Coffee Before a Workout
Among the reasons there is such a debate over whether or not you should drink coffee before a workout is that there are many benefits to the beverage but also many misunderstandings. For instance, among the benefits are:
- A pre-workout energy boost
- Workout endurance
- Thermogenesis for potential faster fat burning
That said, many people are concerned about the caffeine content in coffee before a workout. The reason is that there is an extremely common misunderstanding about caffeine as there is a belief that it is a diuretic. A diuretic is a substance that can cause fluids to be flushed out of the body’s tissues. When taking a diuretic, it can become easier for you to experience dehydration and the related risks of that condition.
However, caffeine is not actually a diuretic. It doesn’t lead to dehydration. While water is a great option for hydration, drinking coffee before a workout won’t increase your risk of experiencing dehydration.
Therefore, take a closer look at the benefits you may experience if you drink coffee before you head to the gym or start your exercises. Remember that these benefits are best enjoyed when drinking black coffee or adding black coffee to a smoothie. Adding milk, sugar or other similar condiments may reduce or offset the advantages you’d otherwise experience.
Caffeine as a Pre-Workout Energy Boost
Caffeine is often used as a pre-workout supplement. About 45 minutes prior to going to the gym, people consume coffee. This gives them more energy as the caffeine in coffee works as a stimulant. However, consuming coffee before a workout does not always prove beneficial. This is because it increases your heart rate. The heart is already under stress during the exercise regimen, so the extra stimulation from caffeine can lead to cardiac problems. Consuming stimulants will cause your heart to work harder than it needs to.
Workout Endurance
On the other hand, the caffeine in coffee can increase your workout endurance. When you exercise, you often feel a burning sensation in the muscles. This is actually from the buildup of lactic acid in your muscles and tells you when your muscles have had enough exercise. However, consuming coffee before a workout eliminates this feeling. You will be able to exercise for longer without feeling tired. Caffeine also alters the ratio of potassium and calcium ions in muscles. When this is altered, the muscles of the body are able to generate more power. Caffeine is also known to delay the fatigue effect on muscles.
When you exercise, you get tired and the muscles feel fatigued. This is when you are not able to exercise any further. When this effect is delayed, the muscles feel energetic and you are able to exercise for longer. When you exercise for longer periods of time, you are likely to see better results.
Fat Burning Effect
If you are exercising to lose weight, you should consider consuming caffeine before a workout. Since caffeine is a stimulant, it will increase your metabolism and heart rate. An increase in heart rate causes it to burn more calories. As a result, the burnt calories result in substantial weight loss. The caffeine in coffee also prompts the body to use the fat cells stored as energy. This causes you to lose more fat, exercise harder, and see better results.
Frequency of Caffeine Consumption
Considering the benefits of consuming coffee before a workout, one may want to continue using it. Unfortunately, if you keep consuming coffee frequently before exercising, these effects will diminish. This is because the body eventually gets used to the coffee intake. You will see spectacular results in the beginning, but they will slow down eventually.
Be sure to consider the above-mentioned points, both pros and cons, if you want to consume coffee prior to exercising.