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Caffeine Increases Leg Power in the Heat |
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Written by SuperHuman
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Thursday, 03 July 2008 |
Heat decreases exercise capacity, particularly when you’re dehydrated.
Increased body temperature causes a competition for blood between the
skin (cooling) and muscles (exercise), which reduces the heart’s
capacity to pump blood.
Heat decreases exercise capacity, particularly when you’re dehydrated. Increased body temperature causes a competition for blood between the skin (cooling) and muscles (exercise), which reduces the heart’s capacity to pump blood. It also causes fatigue in the nervous system (brain and nerves) that interfere with muscle activation and strength. Spanish researchers found that feeding fluids and caffeine increased muscle activation and force capacity during exercise in the heat. Trained cyclists exercised in the heat (98°, 29 percent humidity) for 2 hours at 63 percent maximum effort followed by a maximum sprint. A drink containing water, caffeine and carbohydrate was best for preserving leg power and reducing nervous system fatigue. This study showed that consuming “high energy” beverages, such as Red Bull or Rock Star that contain sugar, water and caffeine might prevent fatigue and preserve sprint capacity during endurance exercise in the heat. (Medicine Science Sports Exercise, 40: 744-751, 2008)
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