In short, yes! I don’t think it’s any secret by now that coffee and exercise go hand in hand. But do you know why?
Basically, coffee is packed full of health benefits that you might not know about. Other than increasing your energy levels – which is why most of us drink it, right – the caffeine in coffee is also known to improve your metabolic rate as well as lower your risk of depression and decrease your chances of getting type 2 diabetes. It’s a wonder drink!
So, how does all this tie in with exercise? It’ll get you feeling more motivated to hit the gym for one, but caffeine is also known to increase focus, so you’ll feel more able to concentrate on your workout and smash your goals while you’re there. Plus, thanks to the increase in metabolism from coffee, research shows a significant increase in fat burning.
The best bit is that coffee can actually help decrease muscle pain when you drink it after a workout. Natural antioxidants found in coffee help to clear some of post work-out inflammation.
Our top 5 tips for combining coffee with your workout:
- Keep it black – avoid milky coffee (a latte probably won’t have the same benefits) or added sugar (have we ever mentioned that Little’s is sugar free, but still tastes delicious?!)
- Don’t overdo it – too much coffee and you’ll get the shakes, which is not what you need when working out. Make sure to do your research on the correct amount of coffee to maximise your workout as it varies person to person.
- Eat! – drink your post-workout coffee with something carby like a banana to help your muscles refuel. And drink plenty of water, of course. Egg and avocado are supposedly great post-workout snacks, too… I feel some avo on toast coming on!
- Timing is key – drink a cup of coffee around 45 minutes before your workout to get the best effects. Caffeine kicks in between 30–75 minutes after ingestion.
- Don’t drink it too late – you don’t want to disrupt your sleep. Caffeine lasts in your system for hours so maybe avoid coffee with late-night exercise.
Obviously, it goes without saying that you shouldn’t drink coffee if you’re pregnant or have certain medical conditions.
Let us know your top tips for combining coffee with exercise! instagram.com/wearelittles
