Looking for a pre-workout energy boost that can also help jack up your natural testosterone levels? Well just reach for a cup of Joe before you hit the gym!
Bodybuilders and athletes have been know to use caffeine (i.e. caffeine pills, pre-workout energy drinks, coffee, etc.) prior to training to help increase mental focus, energy levels, and workout intensity. Basically it gives you a good swift kick in the arse before hitting the gym, we all need one of those from time to time.
But the caffeine is doing more than just increasing energy…
It is also increasing testosterone levels! New Zealand researchers have found that taking caffeine induced higher blood levels of testosterone during weight training.
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And of course we all know that higher levels of testosterone helps with muscle growth, recovery, reducing bodyfat, building strength, and increasing sex drive.
I always drink a cup of black coffee prior to my workouts for the energy boost, but now it appears that the caffeine may also be helping build more muscle mass due to increased testosterone levels. A nice added perk if you ask me! |
(Note: this study was published in the International Journal of Sports Nutrition Exercise Metabolism 18: 131-141, 2008)
88 Comments
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Shawn Phillips
Lee,
yeah, great news for love me the Starbucks… Americano tho… for NO SUGAR with mine.
Funny to see this now for I was just Tweeting the study on sugar devastating testosterone levels in men for hours… it’s the rise in insulin I gather that tanks the Test.
So, caffeine sure, but watch out for the RedBulls and such that have a ton of sugar in them… they’re going to be more DOWN than UP… Pun intended.
In Strength,
Shawn Phillips
Author: Strength for LIFE
Creator : Full Strength Nutrition
Mike
Damn! I gotta start drinkin’ MORE coffee!!
Mike
Watch out! Coffee raises blood pressure…
samuel
Hi Lee,
You have mentioned coffee. I’ve also seen lots of bodybuilders using this product. May I know whether the coffee should be taken with or without sugar. Please advice.
Regards,
Samue
DJ
coffee also contains a lot of anti-oxidants. I heard a cup of coffee has more than a cup of blueberries.
omkar
hey Lee,well i have always admired your knowledge
But this tip will help me to boost the overall devolopement.Thanks!!
Jonathan Lezondra
As always Lee, thanks for this valuable info. I have heartburn which can be induced by drinking coffee. But one cup before every workout is fair enough, anything to raise the testosterone level. Thanks again!
Gaurav
Hi Lee sure i have heard of this just had a question i was been advised to add creatine with some carb drink 30 min before the workout and now as we also have they we should have caffine before the workout how can we mix this up. Any advise Thanks Gaurav
George Corpuz
Hi Lee, it is true that coffee before training is very good. I did a research for that and I have experienced it, and all the time I train my student before when i was in the Philippines they do take a cup of coffee before training.
gagan
wow great stuff from now on just coffee coffee and coffee
Ouhley
Hi Lee.
I just wondered, do the caffeine pills do the same job?
How many mg do you recomend before training ?
Regards Ouhley
david s.
Hey lee never tried coffee.. I thought coffee dehydrates the body? Am I wrong? Probably.. anyways haha..u always have the best advice. I definitly will try it. What about na no vapor and things like this? Are they the same as caffeine?
sethunath
hey lee,
is it advisable to have protein drinks for those with sugar problem or rather what do you advise for people with diabatese.
regards
sethu
Keith
hmmm…is that true? what i heard from my friend’s yoga teacher is coffee will make us less energy while doing exercise and consequently one cant hold a yoga position very long….Now,which is which??? I have a coffee maker at home and i like Expresso with biscuit at my high tea time…:(
Saad
^ ^ ^ Thats probably just for yoga since coffee makes you hyper. you naturally won’t be able to stay in one position.
Great news for a coffeeholic like me!
Thanks a lot, Lee!
knuclezz
This info seems pretty interesting, but doesn’t caffeine rise cortisol levels which in turn diminish testosterone, just like training more than for an hour… And what about getting used to caffeine, even if you don’t feel the effect of the stimulant do you still get a testosterone boost or does it diminish as well?
tim
Coffee also dehydrates you. Not a bad think if you drink water as well.
Aimo Ruoho
Coffee, as well as tea, is a DRUG! Do you want to be a narcomaniac?
I definitely do not!
I have read, that GUARANA conteins stuff, that is not as dangerous as coffee beans, especially as the latter are manipulated to be very toxic and as that fully dangerous for the human body…
Sorry to say this, Lee and folks, but what I believe and have experienced, is my duty to speak out…
Cordially, Aimo
alex
It doesnt have to be coffee,I have used coffee before work outs and prefer any supplement that contains caffeine. works a lil better .
renz
i will now drink coffee! ^^
jose gaeta
hey feel the pump.drink the coffee
krishnan s
hi
as an indian i give more important to coffee
it is GREAT NEWS THANK YOU
krishnan s
Neil
Not only do you give good muscle tips but you use good English words like “Arse”, good work my man.
Pine
All together .. let’s pop the caffine pills before workout for insane pumps and stop wasting money on pre-workout supplements !!! 😀
Aish
thats great new info, will try to drink more…
Jim
God! You guys are like Lemmings!
Just for this post, I will concede Caffiene raises testosterone. BUT, let’s look at the known experiments with coffee.
Pretend you don’t drink coffee and you just had your first cup.
your veins and capillaries will dialate, increasing your blood flow. You will be more alert and somewhat stronger.
NOW! Changing nothing. You have that same cup of coffee every day for one week. ON the 7 or 8th day, your cup of coffee no longer works it’s magic. Instead, you will start to get a bit irritable, you may begin to lose sleep, and ONE cup of coffee just isn’t going to do the job. You are now hooked.
My point is, nothing is free. Like most things a stimulent like coffee has it’s place, but if you drink the same amount of coffee every day, you get no caffiene benefit; just side effects and you are now just another caffiene junky.
Think that through for a bit – Remember, the monkey never dies. 🙂
Umar
Lee you are absolutely right but that will cause of a lot of aggressiveness and that will cause of different diseases please do no recommend any thing like that before confirming side effects from any PHD Doctor thanks
Tony
Great to know this. I will increase my coffee intake on a daily basis.
knuclezz
About the research this is where you can read the summary
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18458357
This is the more detailed overview
http://www.warriorfx.com/2008/03/caffeine-enhances-testosterone-during-exercise/
To make this short it’s testosterone to cortisol ratio that is important, to make the testosterone increase greater than cortisol you should be ingesting 400-600mg of caffeine before exercise and be ready to counter a high increase in cortisol after exercise with post workout nutrition and some heavy relaxation. Overall chances are your gonna decrease your muscle building ability rather than increase it from high doses of caffeine…
Jay
That’s some intresting news. I’m guilty though, because I barely ever drink black coffee without any creamers.
Nabil
just another free pub
nut job
pop a few vicodins and your good to go!
THE REBEL
MONSTER ENERGY IS THE BEST FOR PREWORKOUT.
Ralph
i dont drink no coffee or that other bs i just attack the weights
like a maniac. so fuck all that caffeine crap and use your brain
and youll get hyped up if you know what your doing.
Ralph
hey nice name nutjob
David ROCK Nelson
Thanks, Big Lee! I am encouraged by your comments on this & all your videos. I glad to say that I am a “Java”(coffeee) “guzzler”! -Heeh! I just turned Big “53” Nov. 27th(same bd as Bruce Lee & Jimi Hendrix) & I’ve been drinking about 3 cups or more of coffee/Java a day, since ’93 & I feel great. That’s good to hear it increases testosterone levels. I have mine with 2 spoonfuls sugar & like sipping it before & during my 2-3 workouts a week at home. Of course, I eat good, get my carbs, protein, some veggies & drink about 4 + glasses milk a day. Yeah, I’vec always been all Natural, never wanted to take a steroid. Good nutrition & resistence exercise is the way to go, as we know. Thanks for your advice, tips, encouragement, write-ups & videos! I like that hi-protein Nachos recipe you & your girlfriend made! That sounds & looks “Gooood”! Yummy! -Until next time, your “fiend”, David ROCK Nelson.
P.S.- I’d love to compete in any over 50 or 40 all Naturalbodybuilding contests in the Chicago NorthWest suburbs. I’m from Des Plaines, IL. & if anyone knows of any of those type contests around here, I’d appreciate it. Thanks. -“ROCK”!
Steve D
For the best workout try a good night sleep and focus on your breathing. As Jim mentioned earlier, caffeine becomes less effective the more you drink daily. It also effects sleep, stress, hydration, and calcium. I should know; I’ve become one of those junkies. I have noticed for myself, cycling days on and days off has helped with performance, sleep, and stress.
leehayward
I always drink my coffee black. But you don’t have to drink coffee or energy drinks. You can take a caffeine pill instead. I personally use the caffeine and ephedrine stack when dieting for fat loss http://www.LeeHayward.com/ephedrine.htm
mohamed salmi
before workout, coffee has a good effect in training,but caffeine is an”excitant”(in french) and could result from its using a bad sensations like a drug,so we must take care of overtake it
nicholas
Hey Lee, i,ve been taking a cup of coffee most of the time before my workouts, but never knew that it was important in my training, guess it,s been helpping me attack the weights. Thanks for this advice Dude, wont stop taking a cup B4 training,,,,,,,
The Big Cheese
would cappucino work as well as coffee?
Sean
I have a cup if I really need a boost, but I can’t make a habit out of it due to my blood pressure rising too fast and the massive gitters.
Jim
I see that you speak highly on drinking coffee before a work out but i am taking this pre-workout protien that says on it do not take with caffine. So now i dont even drink decaffinated before my work out because i dont want it to weaken my protien intake. What is the correct thing to do.
Jim
Mike
I often drink a cup of coffee before a workout for the energy boost, but I had no idea it might actually help increase my growth. Great info!!
Reseller Hosting
Your blog keeps getting better and better! Your older articles are not as good as newer ones you have a lot more creativity and originality now keep it up!
Paul
The Dr. Max Powers Testosterone Booster is the best price and quality I’ve found. I lift about 3 times a week. I take this about 1/2 hour before working out and it makes a big difference. Getting through my workout is much easier with this. I’m pushing 40 and this is like turning back the clock a dozen years. I wouldn’t recommend this if you’re still in your twenties, but mid thirties and up, looking for an extra boost in your workout, I highly recommend.
Lee Clark
Long Black with artificial sweetner
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