Guide
For lazy caffeine junkies: a comparison of fully automatic machines
by Simon Balissat
It must be black
23.4.2020
Translation: machine translated
Espresso, caffè latte or cappuccino: coffee is the favourite hot drink of the Swiss. Especially before sporting activities, many people favour coffee as it is said to naturally boost performance. Is that really true?
On average, a person in Switzerland drinks three cups a day. Coffee gets its effect from caffeine. The active ingredient stimulates the nervous system: it stimulates the production of noradrenaline in the brain and thus has a performance-enhancing and energising effect. This is an advantage after a short night or a performance slump after lunch. Coffee reaches its maximum effect around 30 minutes after drinking it.
Effects of coffee on the body ...
Coffee increases blood pressure in the short term. This is unfavourable for people with high blood pressure, as caffeine makes the heart beat faster and dilates the blood vessels. So you may get heart palpitations if you drink large quantities of coffee.
... which benefits you during sport
Caffeine has a vasodilating effect on the bronchial system of the lungs. This means that the muscles of the bronchi relax and breathing becomes easier
The high antioxidant content has a positive effect on the immune system. Body temperature rises briefly after drinking coffee because caffeine stimulates thermogenesis, i.e. the production of heat through metabolism. Your body therefore burns more calories.
Last but not least, caffeine is also said to have a pain-relieving effect. It is used in some medications as a supportive analgesic for headaches, for example.
A black coffee is therefore a favourite among sports enthusiasts as a natural booster. A study published in the Journals of Human Kinetics determined the effect of coffee consumption before endurance training. Significant improvements in athletic endurance performance were found in five out of nine studies.
Patrick Bardelli
Senior Editor
Patrick.Bardelli@digitecgalaxus.chFrom radio journalist to product tester and storyteller, jogger to gravel bike novice and fitness enthusiast with barbells and dumbbells. I'm excited to see where the journey'll take me next.
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