Caffeine
Rejoice, coffee lovers!
CNN reports that researchers from the University of Georgia have found that caffeine might reduce post-workout muscle pain.
Thank goodness, now that daily cup o’ Joe (OK, maybe two cups) are totally justified!
Post-workout muscle pain, known as delayed-onset muscle soreness (DOMS), is that familiar pain that you wake up with a day or two after a particularly hard workout – you know, the kind that has you waking up and getting out of bed all stiff-legged?
The researchers simulated a strenuous workout on the women using electrical stimulation to contract their thigh muscles. The following day all of the women complained of post-workout pain. Over the next two days, the women were given either a caffeine supplement (equal to the caffeine in two cups of coffee) or a placebo, one hour before their simulated workout. Neither the women nor the researchers knew which pill was the caffeine and which was the placebo. Overall, the women reported significantly less muscle soreness if they took caffeine instead of the placebo.
The theory behind these findings is that caffeine actually blocks adenosine, a chemical that is released when your muscles become inflamed during extreme contractive exercise, thus causing you post-workout pain.
But before you hook up a coffee I.V., remember that caffeine still has its negative side effects – anxiety, heart palpitations, increased blood pressure, dehydration, disrupted sleep and stomach pain. That’s why whenever you drink a cup of coffee, it’s wise to accompany it with a big glass of water. Caffeine does cause dehydration, and it’s important to stay hydrated during exercise.
As everything else in life, coffee should be enjoyed in moderation.
