Benefits of Drinking Black Coffee Before A Workout
Good workouts take proper fuel. Your body and mind depend on it for getting the most out of your exercise. Whether you’re starting a new fitness regimen or you’re a pro athlete, drinking black coffee before a workout can be a beneficial boon to your energy levels and performance.
Research has shown the caffeine in coffee helps improve focus and performance during exercises and acts as a great pre-workout.
Here are the benefits of drinking black coffee before a workout:
Enhances Performance
Drinking coffee naturally increases adrenaline, improving strength, power, and endurance. At proper levels, adrenaline prepares your body for exertion, making it easier to grind through a good workout. (source)
Boosts Focus
The natural caffeine in black coffee helps to improve alertness and concentration, helping you stay in the zone. Focus is important in workouts, helping you find that “mind-muscle connection” that athletes utilize to get the best out of their training.
Increases Fat Burning
Many people look to exercise as a way to gain and maintain healthy body composition and caffeine in coffee mobilizes fat stores to be used as fuel. It increases fat metabolism, utilizing stored fat as energy for your workout.
Reduces Fatigue
The caffeine in coffee blocks adenosine (source), a neurotransmitter that makes you feel tired. This helps you to push and get more from a single workout.
Aids in Recovery
Research has shown that drinking coffee may help with glycogen recovery and reduce muscle soreness. A quicker recovery means the quicker you can get back to it, to continue to build endurance and strength.
Things to Consider:
- Timing: For peak effects, you will want to drink about 45-60 minutes before exercising.
- Dosage: Stick to about one cup of coffee before your workout, but adjust based on your tolerance. More than a cup can cause jitters or bother your stomach.
- Side Effects: Too much caffeine can cause anxiety, jitters, or increased heart rate. Caffeine is also a diuretic, so be sure to stay hydrated.
- Type: Black coffee is common, but cold brew may be gentler on the stomach, especially early in the morning. Avoid adding too much sugar, cream, or other additives. They can cause energy fluctuations and crashes or upset your stomach during the workout.
Try Coffee Before Your Next Workout
Pour yourself a cup of black coffee before your next workout and see how it feels for you. You can even mix it with a little protein powder for some extra nutritional fuel. Time to step up your workouts this year with your favorite coffee.