What to drink first thing in the morning?
Water. Next, a cup of coffee. Coffee is one of the most commonly consumed and popular drinks worldwide. It makes us fresh and ready to start the day. Not only it becomes a can’t-break-it habit, but it also gives your workout a boost.
Research suggests that if you consume coffee before exercise, it can help enhance your performance. Here are 5 reasons why coffee is the go-to supplement for many athletes.
Coffee fights fatigue.
In longer events, caffeine delays fatigue by reducing the athlete’s perception of effort. It increases the concentration of hormone-like substances in the brain called B-endorphins during exercise. The endorphins affect mood state, reduce the perception of pain, and create a sense of well-being, which allows the athlete to sustain high levels of exercise intensity.
Coffee burns fat.
Coffee contains caffeine which stimulates your nervous system, signaling fat cells to break down body fat, and making free fatty acids available as fuel. Research also shows that caffeine in coffee increases fat oxidation in the body, sparing carbohydrate calories. The increased free fatty acids promote fat burning during exercise.
Coffee increases metabolism.
Caffeine is a stimulant that is proven to increase fat oxidation and boost the resting metabolic rate. Taking your coffee black, without sugar, is the best way to minimize your calorie intake while maximizing the drink’s weight loss benefits. Not only does caffeine increase your metabolic rate and helps weight loss, it also makes you more alert.
Coffee reduces muscle soreness.
Caffeine stimulates the release of B-endorphins which can lower the pain in muscles. It affects the central nervous system and helps achieve better athletic results by reducing muscle soreness. Research shows that moderate doses of caffeine, roughly equivalnt to two cups of coffee, reduce post-workout muscle pain and soreness.
Coffee is a rich source of antioxidants.
Coffee gives you a dose of disease-fighting antioxidants, that reduce cavities, boost athletic performance, improve moods, and stop headache. In fact, In fact, coffee shows more antioxidant activity than green tea and cocoa. Antioxidants fight inflammation, an underlying cause of many chronic conditions, including arthritis, atherosclerosis and many types of cancer.
