Post-exercise coffee could help athletes
Drinking coffee after a workout could be the key to building better muscles, scientists believe.
It is now thought consuming caffeine after exercise helps muscles recover faster and can improve an athletes performance.
A team of Australian researchers found after exercise caffeine resulted in athletes having 66% higher glycogen levels - the muscle's primary fuel source during exercise.
This means they would be better equipped for further training or putting in a improved performance.
"If you have 66% more fuel for the next day's training or competition, there is absolutely no question you will go farther or faster," said Dr. Hawley, the study's senior author.
The study was conducted on seven well-trained endurance cyclists who participated in four sessions.
After one session a selection of them where given the caffeine (8 mg per kilogram of body weight, the equivalent of drinking 5-6 cups of strong coffee), and their performances compared.
Dr. Hawley said athletes who want to incorporate caffeine into their workouts should experiment during training sessions well in advance of an important competition to find out what works for them.
