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Lead Stories: Friday, November 21, 2008

Caffeine and Endurance

Posted November 16th, 2006 at 7:00 AM by Hariz Siddiqui

Section: Running & Training, Nutrition, Health & Fitness

We have reported in the past, that it might be best to hold off on the coffee, or other sources of caffeine, until your after your run. However, we have posted this article, hesitantly, to at least inform you of the recent studies that have found caffeine to increase endurance. Just remember that although caffeine can produce the positive effects discussed below, there are many possible dangers and moderation is key.

[Studies have shown] that caffeinated drinks increase endurance during long events such as a marathon, triathlon [or cycling events]. A study from the University of Birmingham in England shows that caffeine helps the body use more carbohydrates from drinks that you take during exercise (Journal of Applied Physiology, June 2006). Those who took sugared drinks with caffeine were able to absorb and use 26 percent more of the ingested sugar than those who took the same drinks without caffeine. Read the rest of this entry »

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