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Posted on Jun 30, 2008, 8 p.m.
By Jeanelle Topping
People can recover faster from an exercise workout by drinking caffeine, according to new research.
People can recover faster from an exercise workout by drinking caffeine, according to new research.
A study published in the American Physiological Society found that athletes who ingest both carbohydrates and caffeine after extensive exercise restocked the body's levels of glycogen, the muscle's primary fuel source.
Research by scientists revealed that people who consumed caffeine with carbohydrate had 66 per cent more glycogen in their muscles four hours after completing a workout.
Dr John Hawley, the study's senior author, said: "If you have 66 per cent more fuel for the next day's training or competition, there is absolutely no question you will go farther or faster."
Scientists are now looking into how smaller doses of caffeine can be used to help athletes as participants in the study had to consume large amounts of caffeine which led to negative side affects such as disturbed sleep.
Researchers conducted the study on seven endurance cyclists who participated in four sessions.
