According to Spanish researchers, drinking coffee half an hour before a sports session increases the rate of fat elimination.
- A strong coffee before physical exertion burns more fat
- This effect works especially when physical activity takes place in the afternoon.
Coffee wants you well. If excessive consumption is bad for your health, a few daily cups protect you. A recent study from the University of Granada even indicates that it could help us lose fat. Its authors note that drinking a strong coffee half an hour before a sports session increases the amount of fat burned during exercise. The results of this research have been published in Journal of the International Society of Sports Nutrition.
Prioritize sports sessions in the afternoon
For several years, caffeine has been known for its virtues for athletes. This Spanish scientific team wanted to test this hypothesis, observing the effects of the substance on the elimination of fat. They recruited 15 men, whom they asked to perform a stress test several times, seven days apart. Tests were carried out in the morning at 8 a.m. and in the afternoon at 5 p.m. Part of the group of participants ingested caffeine before exercise, 3 mg / kg, the equivalent of a strong coffee, and the others took a placebo. The scientists have made sure that the conditions are the same for each of them: time elapsed since the last meal, consumption of stimulating substances, etc. They measured the level of lipid oxidation, or fat burned, for all participants. “Results show that ingesting caffeine 30 minutes before doing aerobic exercise increases lipid oxidation, regardless of time of day“, concludes Francisco J. Amaro, one of the authors of this study. He notes, however, that this phenomenon is more important when physical exercise is practiced in the afternoon. For the researchers, people wishing to increase the amount of fat burned during exercise should therefore favor a session of moderate intensity, carried out during the afternoon, drinking a coffee half an hour before.
Three cups a day
If you want to increase your coffee intake, however, be careful not to overdo it. It is recommended not to exceed 400 mg of coffee per day, or about three cups. In case of excess, it is common to feel palpitations, difficulty in sleeping or even headaches. Over the long term, excessive caffeine consumption increases the risk of high blood pressure.
