Your body produces a natural hormone called ‘Cortisol’ which is a form of adrenaline. This hormone is secreted when your body is under stress; emotionally and physically. Unfortunately, if this hormone is still being released for an extended period after physical training; it can put you in serious harm. Too much cortisol in the system has the potential risk for cardiovascular problems, cognitive and learning and emotional disorders. This is the reason why you always want to eat everything in sight when you are stressed.
What does this have to do with caffeine?
When caffeine is present in your system, you get that same adrenaline rush/burst of energy. This also triggers the release of cortisol. After any physical activity, you should stay away from caffeine for at least an hour to allow your body to go back to a normal ‘stress-free’ state. It is also widely thought that caffeine causes you to urinate more frequently and is still argued between groups as some think it is the volume rather than the caffeine itself.
Benefits of drinking black coffee before a workout.
Caffeine can be used as a pre-workout/stimulant to increase performance and is used as one of the main compounds found in pre-workout formulas. It has been linked to increases in performance by increasing you heart rate and opening the blood vessels in the body. This allows the body to train at a greater level with much more ease then before.
And GOOD news for people using it for weight loss; it has been shown to improve fat loss by mobilizing fat cells to more active tissue (muscles) for breakdown however the catch is that it only works four hours post consumption