Caffeine And Exercise

When assigned this paper, I decided to look no further than my current job to help me in

deciding a topic. I work at Starbucks Coffee, and the only logical topic choice for me would be

the effects of coffee and caffeine on exercising.

The best way to live a healthy lifestyle is to eat a balanced diet and combine that with

exercise as well. However, often humans feel that they need an extra burst of energy

(particularly in the mornings). This is where coffee and caffeine come into our lives.

Believe it or not, coffee supplies our body with several health benefits. "You may not

need a man in a white coat to tell you that your daily dose of caffeine counteracts fatigue and

improves alertness and concentration, but did you know that research suggests coffee can lessen

the risk of heart disease, Parkinson's disease and gallstones as well as act as a powerful

antioxidant?" (Pitcher 2). Some people may support coffee drinking for these reasons, but there

are always those who doubt the health benefits. It is necessary to delve a little into the

physiology of caffeine in order to understand this further.

Caffeine contained in coffee is a drug and is highly addictive. "Caffeine has a Ð''global'

effect, meaning it influences all body tissues, including muscle" (Pitcher 2). According to

Anthony Haynes, a nutritionist, coffee stimulates release of adrenaline (a hormone released

during stress) which causes your heart to beat faster and to release glucose, making one feel a

burst of energy. He continues by saying in the short-term people feel more energized by the

drinking of coffee, but repeated use can upset the adrenal glands with the constant stress

response. In addition, with the constant drinking of coffee and supplying the body with high

doses of caffeine it is possible to build a tolerance to the drug, causing one to have to drink more

and more to have the same effect on the body. I've noticed this firsthand working at Starbucks.

Customers often ask for an extra shot of espresso added to their beverages. This goes to show

that their bodies need more caffeine above and beyond the regular dosage in order to feel the

effects of the caffeine on their body. Studies have also shown that caffeine stays in the human

body for quite a long period of time. In addition, Anthony Haynes states, "Coffee is an

anti-nutrient. It hampers the absorption of essential minerals including iron, magnesium, zinc

and potassium, as well as the B vitamins."

So this comes down to the actual topic of my paper, whether or not caffeine can

positively or negatively affect exercise. "In a landmark study by American doctor Dave Costill

in the 1970s, a group of cyclists were able to ride