Should You Drink Caffeine Before a Workout?
You may have heard that it’s a bad idea to drink caffeine before a workout. But is this really true? Get-Fit Guy untangles the latest scientific research.
Ben Greenfield
In the episode Do Weight Loss Supplements Work?, I warned you about the potential negative effects of constantly pumping energy drinks and caffeine (also known as adrenergic stimulants) into your body.
But a recent study entitled “Epinephrine preworkout elevation may offset early morning melatonin concentrations to maintain maximal muscular force and power in track athletes” makes an interesting point (as well as a mouthful).
In the study, researchers looked at epinephrine and melatonin concentrations in the early morning and late afternoon in elite collegiate male track and field athletes (jumpers and sprinters). They found that when working out in the morning, whole body power performance, reaction speed, and overall physical performance could potentially be enhanced through “adrenergic arousal” when melatonin is elevated.
What this means is that when you wake up, and you have high levels of the sleepy hormone melatonin, you may actually benefit by combating this melatonin with some kind of adrenergic stimulation – such as motivational music, an energy drink, or a cup of coffee – or, as the researchers said:
“To compensate for the ‘sleepiness’ associated with high concentrations of melatonin being secreted from the pineal gland…early morning practices may require greater adrenergic arousal to potentially offset melatonin’s effects.”
So there you have it. If you have an intense morning workout that requires focus and reaction speed, such as complex weightlifting movements, team sports practice, or a hard interval session, then you may want to dump some stimulants into your body and perhaps have a second cup of coffee!
See also: Can Caffeine Help You Work Out?
Do you have more questions about whether you should use caffeine before a workout? Then join the conversation over at Facebook GetFitGuy!
About the Author
Ben Greenfield received bachelor’s and master’s degrees from University of Idaho in sports science and exercise physiology; personal training and strength and conditioning certifications from the National Strength and Conditioning Association (NSCA); a sports nutrition certification from the International Society of Sports Nutrition (ISSN), an advanced bicycle fitting certification from Serotta. He has over 11 years’ experience in coaching professional, collegiate, and recreational athletes from all sports, and as helped hundreds of clients achieve weight loss and fitness success.