- It is important to understand what caffeine is, and to understand your own body, to evaluate how best to consume it.
- Caffeine, in moderation, has natural and medicinal health benefits.
- Caffeine is an important additive to a bodybuilder’s supplement regimen.
There is a popular saying which goes, “Sleep is a symptom of caffeine deprivation.” In our never-ending quest to get more done in a day, many of us turn to caffeine to keep us alert.
This may cause you to ask if caffeine can be dangerous, and especially if caffeine supplements are dangerous while exercising.
There are several factors that will determine the answer to this question, such as your body size and normal daily caffeine intake, but for most healthy adults, caffeine supplements are safe.
Caffeine is one of the most widely consumed products in the world today.
Medicine Net offers good statistics on caffeine usage, including the fact that more than 80 percent of us consume some form of caffeine every day, with the majority ingesting the same amount as approximately two servings of coffee or tea.
Caffeine can be found in everything from medicines to alcoholic beverages. Beyond the drive to stay awake, many people don’t often think about what caffeine is or how it interacts with our bodies.
Read on for information which will help to ease your mind and clear up any myths you might have heard about caffeine.
Of course, supplementation is only one part of an overall healthy lifestyle; exercise matters, too. Go PRO today for access to workout routines, goal trackers, and more.
Where Does Caffeine Come From?
The term caffeine originates from the word coffee in several languages, and it has now become the universal name for the chemical trimethylxanthine.
As a natural product, caffeine comes from certain beans, plants, and nuts. A few examples include tea leaves, kola nuts, and cocoa beans.
Caffeine is added to a variety of products such as sodas and supplements. Actual amounts are not always listed on the label.
You can guess how much caffeine is contained in a product by where it is on the list of ingredients. The higher it is on the list, the more caffeine a product contains.
Watch out for caffeine that is sometimes hidden in an herbal ingredient such as guarana or green tea.
Are Caffeine Supplements Dangerous?
There are plenty of helpful online resources, like the video below, to help you understand how caffeine will affect you, and help you avoid a potentially harmful dosage.
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Getting more than 500 milligrams of caffeine each day is considered excessive. An average quantity is estimated at about 200 milligrams.
There are also websites such as the U.S. government’s nutrition site that comprise charts which list a variety of foods and allow you to calculate their caffeine content based on the amount of it that you eat or drink.
You are a unique individual so you should always look at your weight and rate of metabolism to determine how caffeine affects you.
Is Caffeine Addictive?
You may find yourself craving caffeine during the day, which could cause you to wonder about its seemingly addictive properties.
Due to its stimulation of your spinal and brain cells, caffeine is grouped in the drug family.
This is the cause of the extra kick you may feel after consuming caffeine, and it is also a primary explanation for why many of us feel as though we can’t get through the day without it.
When you try to give up caffeine, you could experience some of the same withdrawal symptoms as a person who quits using drugs, such as an upset stomach or changes in temperament.
Since caffeine reacts with your brain, withdrawal can be difficult but not serious.
Caffeine is not classified with illegal substances like cocaine or heroin and there are none of the intense consequences.
For most people, kicking a caffeine habit is simply a case of mind over matter. It is often best to use moderation and make changes slowly.
What Are the Benefits of Caffeine?
As an ingredient in medication, caffeine can help to reduce swelling and decrease pain. It is also sometimes used in weight loss products and allergy medications.
Many people say caffeine also acts as a social equalizer. For some reason, it seems easier to strike up a conversation around the coffee pot at work or at a local coffeehouse. In this manner, coffee has replaced the water cooler.
How Does Caffeine Help Bodybuilders?
Caffeine supplements can be effective in heightening the flow of blood, thus delivering nutrients to your muscles faster.
Caffeine also benefits bodybuilders by helping to remove excess fluids.
Bodybuilders who take caffeine supplements should be sure to expand their intake of water to prevent dehydration.
You may already be using supplements to enhance your stamina and achieve better results from the gym. If so, you might have noticed that most of these products have added caffeine.
The manufacturers of everything from protein shakes to creatine powders put in extra caffeine, which has been shown to improve energy and can motivate you to work out for longer periods.
When you are a bodybuilder, supplements and caffeine intake are only one step toward a healthier you. Get started with our PRO plan today to track your daily victories using our advanced stats to keep you motivated and focused on your big goals.