Caffeine and Bodybuilding
Many bodybuilders have found that caffeine helps them to maximize their workouts. Caffeine has been used as a natural stimulant for more than 100 years. Because of the way caffeine works within the brain, caffeine is addictive. Some people find they just can’t start their day without some form of caffeine. In fact, many beverages are made with caffeine just for this purpose.
What is caffeine?
Caffeine is a natural stimulant and a mild diuretic that is found in coffee, tea, kola, cocoa, and guarana. In its pure form caffeine is a bitter white powder. The majority of caffeine that is produced for supplements and other uses comes from the process used to decaffeinate coffee.
How does caffeine work?
Caffeine is similar to Ephedra in the way it increases energy and mental alertness. Caffeine provide surge of energy needed to maximize your training. Caffeine is a central nervous system (CNS) stimulant. Although caffeine is a fairly mild stimulant, caffeine stimulates using the same mechanisms as amphetamines, cocaine and heroin to stimulate the brain.
Caffeine is similar in composition to adrenaline and because of this you can fool your body into breaking it down instead of breaking down adrenaline. This keeps your adrenaline supplies in your system longer. The extra adrenaline in your system allows you to be more alert and to focus more intently.
Adenosine dilates blood vessels within the brain to cause drowsiness. Caffeine binds to adenosine receptors within the brain. Since the caffeine is bound instead of adenosine the effect is opposite and you are stimulated instead of drowsy. Caffeine decreases the sensation of sleepiness and allows you to stay awake longer (but the need for sleep still remains). The pituitary gland recognizes the increased amount of adenosine in the brain as an emergency so it releases adrenaline.
How is caffeine beneficial to bodybuilding?
Caffeine makes it possible for you to concentrate your workout. Bodybuilders are able to work out longer and harder when they use caffeine than they could otherwise. Increased amounts of adrenaline helps the body builder to maximize their workout. Caffeine delays the onset of muscle fatigue. Caffeine provides extra energy and increased endurance during your workout.
Caffeine increases the flow of blood to muscles. This increased blood flow is beneficial to bodybuilding because it allows for an increased flow of oxygen and nutrients to both your muscles and your brain. By working with in the muscles themselves to produce constant flow of energy caffeine allows you to maximize your workout efforts. Since your muscles are getting a good constant flow of oxygen and nutrients while you are working out your able to build muscle mass much quicker than you could without using caffeine.
Caffeine is a fairly safe substance. Because of its stimulating properties, caffeine has been used to treat infants, and premature babies who have problems breathing. You can use caffeine daily, even multiple times daily. Your body will still tire and require sleep but when use caffeine you’ll be able to stay awake longer and have better focus and more energy while you are awake. Caffeine takes less than an hour to begin affecting your body. One way to see how caffeine will help your workout is to have a cup of coffee with your breakfast before you workout.
