Coffee After Exercise: You Should Know That

Coffee after exercise – what sounds like a cozy get-together for the group of retirees who were previously active in sports is in fact a tip for those with sporting ambitions to additionally push their physical performance with a caffeine boost. We have researched what is behind it for you.

Coffee: Also a benefit after sport

Many people already know that caffeinated drinks that are drunk shortly before a sporting event can increase the performance of athletes. The effect of coffee consumption after training, on the other hand, is new to many. However, studies suggest that a caffeine boost could be worthwhile even then.

• Two to three cups of coffee after a workout could help buffer subsequent muscle soreness. This was shown by studies on hard-training cyclists.
• Caffeine can apparently improve muscle recovery. The strength is built up more quickly because it helps that the emptied glycogen stores are recharged more quickly.
• This works particularly well if suitable sugar building blocks are taken in at the same time. So that the sugar metabolism is not overwhelmed, it is best to choose complex carbohydrates such as starch from pasta, potatoes or whole grains.
• Scientists suspect that caffeine increases the activity of signaling enzymes, which play a central role in the synthesis of muscle glycogen.
• In addition, there are test tube observations that indicate that other coffee compounds, namely cafestol and caffeic acid, may have a positive effect on glucose uptake in muscle cells.
• However, because the amount of data and the number of subjects were relatively small, the study leaders recommend performing additional tests to verify their observations.

Who can benefit from coffee

Even in non-athletes, it is suspected that coffee consumption can reduce the breakdown of muscle fibers. However, if you want to benefit from coffee, you should consider the following things:

• Choose types of coffee that contain a lot of caffeine. Robusta varieties usually have a higher content than Arabica varieties.
• Have occasional coffee-free days. Otherwise, getting used to it could negate the positive properties of caffeine.
• If you have a sensitive stomach or generally do not tolerate coffee well, you should look for other sources of caffeine. Guarana or mate might be good choices.