Drinking coffee before or after exercise. To do or not to do?
Coffee before, during or after exercise brings benefits. Everyone has heard of it, but does it really work? To confirm (or deny ) these statements once and for all, we contacted Mitch, fitness expert at Gym Athlevel. We asked him about the effects and benefits of drinking coffee for athletes.
Is coffee good for fitness?
Research has shown that athletes who drink coffee before their workout burn up to 15 percent more calories than those who do not. The effect continues for several hours after exercise. So a cup of coffee like this can benefit you for quite a long time!
How much coffee should you drink before exercise for optimal effect?
To optimize athletic performance, that amounts to an amount of 200 to 300 mg. Converted into cups of coffee, that means you should drink one cup of regular coffee or two espressos. It would be best to consume this coffee about 1.5 to 2 hours before you start your workout.
How can your performance be improved?
Coffee contains caffeine. As is well known, caffeine has a stimulating effect. So too during the workout. It reduces fatigue and thus allows athletes to exert themselves better and longer. This can amount to a 12% performance improvement. This reduction in fatigue is even more important in endurance sports! They benefit most from drinking coffee before exercise.
Coffee before exercise improves mood
That is certainly true! Caffeine can have a stimulating effect on motivation as well as concentration. This has not so much a direct effect on your performance, but also on your mood and focus. Are you more eager to train? Then you will be more willing to give your all during the workout. And that, in turn, is good for your performance!
So?
Do you want to improve your sports performance? Then maybe drinking a cup of coffee (or 2 espressos) is the solution for you! Of course, this solution is not guaranteed to work for everyone. But, it is definitely worth a try!
