Need a pre-workout energy boost? Drinking coffee before the gym won’t only perk you up with a caffeine fix, but it can also improve your athletic performance along with other health and fitness benefits.
So next time you consider buying expensive pre-workout formulas or slurping an energy drink, why not consider a hot coffee before your next workout?
Coffee and caffeine has been shown to improve mental focus, so drinking a cup before your workout will make your session much more productive and effective. Caffeine can also help bring the good vibes to your workout. It can increase the release of feel-good neurotransmitters like dopamine, which affects pain receptors and mood, helping to make your workout enjoyable! Time to brew up some workout motivation.
Caffeine also lowers your body’s levels of adenosine – which is a substance that builds up in your muscles during exercise and causes them to contract less forcibly. A coffee before a workout means less adenosine, meaning stronger muscle contractions and you’ll produce more force. May the coffee force be with you…
You’ll be glad to know that coffee and caffeine has been shown to reduce exercise-induced muscle pain – so it’s time to make some personal bests in your next session! Studies have also shown that a post-coffee can help increase your body’s uptake of sugar, which is needed to refuel depleted muscles. The results found that athletes who combined coffee 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.
Studies have shown that caffeine enhances your metabolic rate, and can help increase your overall fat burn during a workout. Drink a cup of coffee one hour prior to your training session for the best results. Another great excuse for that morning coffee!
You’ll need more than just your cup of joe to be prepped and ready for an epic session. Chasing your coffee with some water is important to keep hydrated. Remember to keep sipping water throughout your workout.
We know that too much caffeine can also have a laxative effect so stick to just one cup before a workout. A little will go a long way!
For my black coffee lovers; adding milk to your coffee, whether it’s dairy or soy, will give you extra protein and carbs. Those nutrients can help boost blood sugar after a night of sleep, and can also rev your mental engine to help get your head around your Zumba routines or quick HIIT circuits.
If you have blood pressure or heart rate problems, speak with your GP before using caffeine as a performance enhancer.
How does coffee improve your workout? We'd love to hear from you! @AngelinosCoffee or Facebook
