Many recent studies on coffee before workouts have come out, and they show that drinking a couple of cups of coffee before a workout can actually make it feel more enjoyable. Most people think that coffee works well before a workout because it is a stimulant. Actually, caffeine has powerful nootropic effects. It manipulates neurotransmitters to alter how the brain functions. Caffeine will prevent or block the action of neurotransmitters that promote sedation and relaxation. So this is what people commonly think of as the stimulating impacts of coffee.
There are also other benefits to drinking coffee before working out. In a previous knowledge post I described how coffee helps to burn more fat during and after your workout. Coffee acts as a catalyst in breaking down and releasing fat during a workout, so you use it as energy.
But, don’t think that if one cup is good, then 5 will be better. Too much coffee before working out can make you feel nauseous and lightheaded. If you’re drinking coffee for the fat-burning effects, then studies show that 200mg or more work perfectly.
However, more is not always better. Your body will adapt to caffeine overtime. Therefore, you progressively need more and more to reap the benefits of alertness overtime.
One common myth about caffeine is that it will lead to dehydration during your workout. That is a myth. While caffeine is a diuretic, studies have shown that caffeine use in high-temperature exercise situations show that it does not lead to dehydration or subsequent decreases in performance.
One additional benefit of coffee before a workout, as shown in one study, is that it can suppress your appetite during the day. So, go ahead and drink a cup or two before working out, and enjoy the impact during your workout and later.
