Drinking This Popular Beverage Before a Workout Can Help Boost Fat Burning
Before I can even muster the energy to go to the gym most mornings, a cup of coffee is a must. I didn’t think much of this regular routine until I discovered that it’s actually a science-backed fitness habit for yielding amazing results. New research suggests that drinking coffee before a workout can help shed pounds faster and keep muscle pain at bay!
A recent review of studies published in the Journal of the International Society of Sports Nutrition looked at how caffeine can enhance physical performance while exercising. While the researchers acknowledge that pre-workout energy drinks and caffeine bars are becoming popular, coffee tends to be the go-to source of caffeine for most people. They pointed out that coffee contains a high amount of an antioxidant called chlorogenic acid. Thanks to this antioxidant, drinking just 300 ml or 1 1/4 cups of coffee before a workout has been shown to reduce inflammation and oxidative stress in the body. Chlorogenic acid in coffee was also linked to helping stabilize mood throughout the workout period.
Along with this antioxidant, the researchers noted that coffee’s strong caffeine content carries several workout-enhancing perks. Caffeine triggers fatty acid (FFA) oxidation, which is essentially the rate that your body burns fat. After consuming the caffeine, they claim that a person can experience up to a 29 percent improvement in exercise performance related to FFA. Caffeine also contains several central nervous system neurotransmitters (CNS) including acetylcholine and dopamine. Previous research has revealed these CNS neurotransmitters are key for lowering post-workout muscle pain and boosting alertness.
Timing wise the study authors highlight that sipping coffee or caffeinated beverages 60 minutes before working out is believed to be effective because that’s when the caffeine levels in your body are at their peak. So enjoying your java and then head to the gym and you’ll not only boost your energy, but your weight loss as well!
