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Mixing Coffee & Caffeine With Fitness

There is a high demand for coffee in the United States. There seems to be nothing better than that fresh jolt of coffee flowing through our bodies in the morning to help us start our day. How do these effects relate to fitness?

Caffeine is the main ingredient in coffee that gives us the jolt. Caffeine is a central nervous system stimulant. You can find caffeine in tea leaves, chocolate, and coffee beans. It is also an ingredient that is popularly added into carbonated beverages as well as in certain over-the-counter medicines such as diuretics, cold remedies, weight control aids, and aspirin. Most of the caffeine intake within the United States is proven by professionals to be coming from coffee.

Caffeine stimulates the central nervous system by blocking adenosine which is a neurotransmitter that causes a calming effect within your body. Due to this blockage the resulting neural stimulation causes the adrenal glands to release adrenaline. Your pupils will dilate, your muscles will tighten up, you heart rate will increase, and glucose will be released into your blood stream for extra energy. Caffeine will also increase dopamine. Dopamine will activate the pleasure in parts of one’s brain. Dopamine is also suspected to be the cause of caffeine addiction. Caffeine will make you feel alert while your body pumps adrenaline to give you energy and also changes the dopamine production in order to make you feel good.

Numerous studies that have been completed have documented caffeine’s ergogenic effect to athletic performance especially in regards to endurance. Studies have been known to show that the use of caffeine prior to exercising has extended endurance in moderately strenuous aerobic activity. On other studies that have been conducted while researching caffeine consumption on elite distance runners and distance swimmers have shown increased performance times.

Aside from the fact of caffeine’s positive effects on psychological states and performance, there are numerous documented risks that are associated with caffeine. Whether or not it is for improving performance or consumed on a daily dietary basis. Caffeine stimulates the central nervous system and is known to cause restlessness, headaches, and irritability. Caffeine will also elevate your blood pressure and heart rate. Over a long period of time as your body becomes used to the consumption of caffeine it will take more to be able to receive the same effects. Of course, having your body in a state of hormonal emergency all day long isn’t very healthy at all.

Caffeine is also a diuretic and will cause a loss of fluids which will eventually lead to dehydration. This is clearly not conducive to fitness activities such as resistance training, because fluids are needed for the transfer of nutrients to facilitate muscular growth. Also, when you are in hot environments it is highly recommended that you consider the further loss of fluids.

Risks of the use of caffeine have been document even though caffeine has benefits in relation to exercise performance. Most problems seem more evident in high consumption of caffeine. It is said that moderate coffee drinking (2 or 3 cups daily) doesn’t seem to be harmful to people. Moderation is the main key to caffeine consumption as it is with anything else.