Improve your work out by drinking a coffee

Coffee loving gym goers rejoice!

According to the British Coffee Association drinking our favourite beverage an hour before working out can improve performance by 30% whilst a recent entry in the International Journal of Sport Nutrition and Exercise Metabolism found that trained athletes who had some form of caffeine before exercising burned, on average, 15% more calories.

Coffee has long been a favourite of those within the fitness industry. Jack Braniff, an independent trainer, recommends those looking to combine a trip to the gym with their java habit should think about “drinking coffee for three particular purposes including pre-workout to maximize performance, in the morning to help you wake up, and for general weight loss.’

But it isn’t just pre-work out where coffee can be beneficial, a further study, has seemingly found that having a sip once you’ve finished your exercise can be extremely helpful for endurance athletes.

Published in the Journal of Applied Physiology, the academics noted that they found the intake of caffeine and carbohydrates post-gym session resulted in a 66% increase in glycogen.

Other great benefits

Scientists based at Coventry University found that caffeine managed to offset naturally occurring muscle loss, with the protective results being most prominent in the regions surrounding the diaphragm – the muscle that primarily aids breathing.

Another study, this time conducted by researchers in Japan, discovered that drinking coffee can also improve blood circulation. During the study, participants were divided into two groups; one drank a small cup of coffee, the others drank a decaffeinated variety. After a rest period, scientists looked at how well blood was flowing in the extremities – fingers and toes – and discovered that those who had ‘regular’ coffee had better circulation.

However it is worth remember the negatives associated with the consumption of too much caffeine. The recommended daily allowance of caffeine is 400mg, which equates to about four espressos. 

photo: Anne (ilike) – Flickr, Creative Commons