Coffee and Exercising

Released on 2011-12-12 by Emily

Are you a fitness freak who frequents Starbucks? Do you stop by a coffee shop before hitting the gym? Do you think drinking hot cup of java enhances exercise performance? If you have answered in yes to any of the above questions, this article is for you.

According to some studies, it has been proven that coffee is good for enhancing exercise performance. This is especially true in case of endurance based events, for example, running long distance. There are other studies which have shown that there are no such benefits of coffee and that it is actually harmful in some ways. According to an article published in some American college’s health related journal, even moderate quantity of caffeine which is equal to two coffee cups, can impair an athlete’s performance.

Caffeine found in coffee modifies the blood flow amount that moves towards heart while exercising. When a person exercises, amount of blood flowing towards heart increases, which is normal but when athletes were made to consume caffeine tablets for testing, it was found that blood flow reduced and thus supply of oxygen and nutrients to heart muscle was reduced as well.

The above written effect of coffee on blood flow in the body is not only important for performance of exercising but can also prove problematic for high BP patients or those with heart diseases. Exercising and coffee, when combined together, increase heart rate and body’s oxygen needs increase significantly. Lightheadedness and change in heart rhythm occurs when this need is not met.

Despite this fact, a number of gym buffs still believe that consumption of coffee before gym helps them exercise harder and for longer time. Some believe that coffee helps them maintain focus during exercise. Some evidences do prove that coffee reduces fatigue which in turn helps in exercising for long.

Effect of coffee on a person depends on the amount of coffee consumed and person’s health. It is however suggested that coffee should be avoided during exercise, especially if you’re a heart patient or you suffer from hypertension.

Finally, mild diuretic effect of coffee is another disadvantage of drinking coffee right before exercising. It does not have a great impact on hydration but it causes an increase in urine flow which may be inconvenient in case of long distance running.

The bottom line is that coffee and exercise do not really go together. One should rather stick to water or fruit juices and other no-caffeine sports drinks.