Caffeine Helps Muscles Refuel

(Ivanhoe Newswire) -- After an intense workout you’re probably inclined to reach for a glass of water, but new research reveals reaching for a cup of coffee may be more beneficial to your muscles.

Researchers at the American Physiological Society found glycogen -- the muscle’s primary fuel source during exercise -- is replenished most rapidly by carbohydrates and caffeine combined following exhaustive exercise.

They found athletes who ingested caffeine with carbohydrates had 66 percent more glycogen in their muscles four hours after exhaustive glycogen-depleting exercise compared to when they ingested carbohydrates alone post-exercise.

“The is the first study to show that caffeine combined with carbohydrates following exercise can help refuel the muscle faster,” senior author of the study, John Hawley, Ph.D., was quoted as saying. “If you have 66 percent more fuel for the next day’s training or competition, there is absolutely no question you will go farther and faster.”

Because caffeine can have negative effects, like disturbing sleep and causing jitteriness, researchers say the next step is to determine whether small doses of caffeine can accomplish the same goal.

SOURCE: Journal of Applied Physiology, published online July 1, 2008

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