No Pain, All Gain.
Athletes and bodybuilders have long known about the thermogenic and stamina-building potential of a cup of coffee before a workout, but a new study published in the Journal of Pain indicates that caffeine may also be involved in the reduction of post-workout pain — by up to fifty percent.
Just ask Futurama’s Fry who, fueled by 100 cups of Joe, saves the day for the ragtag crew of the Planet Express and doesn’t feel a thing.
Better still, check out the reviews, Coffee May Help Relieve Gym Pain and Caffeine Cuts Post-workout Pain by Nearly 50%.Â
It appears that caffeine most likely works by blocking the body’s receptors for adenosine, a chemical released in response to inflammation.
Despite the limitations of the most recent study (a 2003 study also showed positive findings for caffeine’s pain reduction qualities), caffeine may be more effective in relieving post-workout muscle pain than most commonly used anti-inflammatory drugs like naproxen (30%) and aspirin (25%) while ibuprufen has produced inconsistent results.
A cup or two of coffee an hour before a workout reduces post-workout pain by 48%, claims the study’s author, at least among those whose daily caffeine consumption is low.
Another argument for moderation in all things.