Highlights
Caffeine Crush
5 reasons why coffee is the key to your gains in the gym
One of the most effective pre-workout drinks might surprise you, and you won’t find it on the shelves of your local supplement store. You don’t have to scoop it out of a bottle with a flashy label and mix it with water. All you have to do is swing by a coffee shop and get a cup of java, minus the cream and sugar.
- Accelerates fat loss
Perhaps the greatest benefit of having coffee before your workout is the fat burning properties. Coffee—when consumed before exercise—can cause fat cells to be used as an energy source as opposed to glycogen. Also, the high amounts of caffeine in black coffee will increase your metabolism, which makes you burn more calories throughout the day.
- Increases performance
Several studies have demonstrated a link between caffeine intake before exercise and increased athletic performance. A report published in Sports Medicine refers to caffeine as a “powerful ergogenic aid,” and mentions that athletes can “train at a greater power output and/or train longer” after caffeine consumption.
- Improves focus
Along with increased energy to push through tough workouts, black coffee provides an increase in mental focus as well. The improved focus will help keep workouts productive and effective.
- Decreases muscle pain
Researchers at the University of Illinois found that subjects who consumed coffee prior to exercise experienced less muscle pain during their workout than their non-caffeinated counterparts.
- Prevents disease
Another advantage of drinking coffee is that it helps protect your body from diseases. Coffee contains high amounts of antioxidants, which protect against damage from free radicals. Studies show, coffee consumption has an inverse correlation with diabetes, Parkinson’s disease, Alzheimer’s disease, and certain forms of cancer. At the very least, the increase in antioxidants will likely keep you from catching a cold or picking up other germs at the gym.
