Can’t you go a day without your cup of coffee? Well, you are not alone. It is almost unbelievable how one cup of coffee can make a bad day more stressful. Turns out, it can be a big help during your weight loss journey as well. If the results of the latest study are to be believed, drinking a strong cup of coffee before exercising may encourage fat loss exercise. The study, published in the Journal of the International Association of Sports Nutritionists, found that taking caffeine (about 3 mg / kg, equivalent to strong coffee) half an hour before aerobic exercise significantly increased fat burning .
The study also noted that the effects of caffeine are more pronounced in the evening than in the morning. In other words, afternoon exercise after a strong cup of coffee may be more effective.
Through their study, the researchers aimed to find out whether caffeine, an ergogenic substance widely consumed to improve sports performance, actually increases fat oxidation or “burning” during exercise.
There may be no scientific basis in a popular recommendation to drink coffee on an empty stomach for faster weight loss, as it is not known whether this increase is due to morning exercise or due to exercise. going without food for a longer period of time, said the lead author of this research, Francisco Jose Amaro-Gahete from the Department of Psychology of UGR.
For the observational study, 15 men (average age, 32) were studied. They were asked to do an exercise test four times at seven-day intervals. Subjects administered 3 mg / kg of caffeine or placebo at 8 am and 5 pm (each subject completed the trials in all four conditions in random order).
The conditions before each exercise test (hours deviated from the last meal, physical exercise, or consumption of stimulants) were measured strictly, and fat oxidation during exercise was measured accordingly.
“The results of our study showed that taking caffeine in 30 minutes before an aerobic exercise test maximized fat oxidation during exercise regardless of the time of day,” explained Francisco J. Amaro.
The results confirmed that there was a daily difference in fat oxidation during exercise. Values were higher in the afternoon than in the morning for equal hours of employment.
Caffeine has been shown to increase fat oxidation during morning exercise in a similar way to those seen without caffeine in the afternoon.
The scientists conclude that a combination of caffeine-induced caffeine and aerobic exercise done at a moderate afternoon is effective for people who are trying to increase fat burning during physical exercise.