- A moderate intake of coffee and/or other caffeinated beverages DOES count towards fluid needs.
- Approximately 80 percent of Americans drink coffee.
- Most studies conclude that caffeine does indeed enhance performance and makes the effort seem easier.
- Caffeine stimulates the brain and contributes to clearer thinking and greater concentration.
- The average improvement in performance is about 12 percent, with greater benefits noted during endurance exercise than with shorter exercise (eight to 20 minutes) and a negligible amount for sprinters.
- More benefits are also noticed in athletes who rarely drink coffee as they are not tolerant to its stimulant effect.
- The amount of caffeine that enhances performance ranges from 1.5 to 4 mg per lb of body weight taken one hour before exercise.
- Be forewarned: While a morning cup of joe can assist with a desirable bowel movement, a pre-competition cup might lead to troubles! Experiment during training!
These are just a few tidbits from the article. Read further for other information regarding caffeine and performance enhancement here:
http://www.active.com/articles/the-facts-about-caffeine-and-athletic-performance
