Ditch Your Favourite Cup Of Coffee In The Morning Before Gym

Caffeine as a mental and physical stimulant is a staple in everyone’s daily life. Known for giving you a kick when you need it the most, there can also be some drawbacks to your favourite cup of coffee in the morning before gym.

- Werner Beukus

TRAIN HARDER FOR LONGER

Let's be honest - for a vast majority of people coffee has become more of an entrenched habit than an energizer. Caffeine consumption, in fact, can lead to a vicious cycle of fatigue and insomnia. Some of the negative side effects of caffeine include:

--  Accelerated heartbeat

--  Restlessness

--  Muscle tremors

--  Nervousness

The chronic use of caffeine can cause physical dependence which means you need to continue taking more and more of it to achieve the same desired effect. As we become increasingly desensitised to caffeine over time we are forced to increase the amount we consume.

Some people even compare caffeine withdrawal to experiencing a breakdown in a relationship. You feel headaches, depression, and a host of other symptoms that vary depending on the individual. Symptoms usually set in as early as 12 hours after caffeine cessation, and may last for up to a week.

Acknowledging this drawback, supplement manufacturers have started including an ingredient known as theacrine in their pre workouts, fat burners and mood enhancing products as an alternative to caffeine.

GAINING POPULARITY

Found almost exclusively in camellia assamica, otherwise known as kucha tea, theacrine (1,3,7,9-tetramethyluric acid) is an alkaloid that is biochemically very similar to caffeine (1,3,7-trimethylxanthine).