Pre-Workout Energy Drinks

While researching the latest fat loss methods, I came across some interesting Web sites that suggest drinking an energy drink prior to your workout to boost your athletic performance. To me, it seemed so counter-intuitive to fuel up with caffeine (a diuretic) and who knows what else they put in those drinks, to go workout and make yourself healthier.

Do the ends justify the means? Is it better to have a moderate amount of something unhealthy if it pushes your workout, then to have nothing at all? There seems to be a lot of contradicting views on the topic, so let's take a look at the good and the bad of taking energy drinks before working out.

Caffeine and Athletic Performance

Several studies have found that moderate amounts of caffeine can improve athletic performance and fat burning. Caffeine is a stimulant that causes an increase in heart rate and blood pressure. In addition, research suggests that caffeine encourages the body to use fat as its main fuel source, instead of glycogen, or stored sugar.

Caffeine is also found to improve your mood and masque fatigue - benefits useful to competitive athletes. One of the main reasons people taking energy drinks prior to workouts, though, is because it gives them the energy to workout, allowing them to exercise longer, faster and harder.

Energy Drinks Before Your Workout

Several energy drinks are specifically marketed to give athletes the boost they need to perform at their optimal rate. These drinks can contain approximately 80 to 250 milligrams of caffeine; an 8 oz cup of coffee contains about 130 mg. In addition, many contain high amounts of sugar and ingredients that have not been regulated by the Food and Drug Administration, like guarana and taurine.

Health professionals worry about the use of energy drinks before physical activity because caffeine is a diuretic. Exercisers who do not drink adequate amounts of water and exercise after drinking energy drinks are placing themselves at risk for severe dehydration. Caffeine can also lead to cramps, bloating, diarrhea, upset stomach, elevated body temperature, seizures and abnormal heart rates if abused during exercise.

Another concern is that caffeine masques fatigue. Athletes who intake high amounts of caffeine may not recognize their bodies' limits and not rest properly. This can lead to detrimental results.

Is It Worth It?

As with all things in life, energy drinks are good in moderation. Several professional athletes swear by drinking a cup of black coffee two hours before a big game, and the results seem to speak for themselves.

Ultimately, our bodies react differently so it is important to listen to our bodies to determine if energy drinks for working out is best for us. Dieticians suggest sticking with coffee or tea for your energy boost, instead of energy drinks that can contain unregulated ingredients. In addition, try drinking caffeine a couple hours prior to your workout to ease the possibility of an upset stomach. Most importantly, drink one to two glasses of water for every caffeinated beverage you drink and enjoy small doses of caffeine in moderation.

Resource:

10News(2007). Experts: Energy Drinks, Exercise Don't Mix. Retrieved on May 2, 2009, from the 10News.com Web site.

Drugs.com (2009). Caffeine and Athletic Performance. Retrieved on May 2, 2009, from the Drugs.com Web site.

Hareyan(2007). Caffeine and Calories Fuel Energy Drinks. Retrieved on May 2, 2009, from the Emaxhealth.com Web site.