Caffeine, cortisol and weight loss

Toblave

I've read a few places that caffeine can have a real affect on cortisol and testosterone production which can then impact weight loss efforts. Does anyone have any real information or experience to share?

http://www.bodybuilding.com/fun/gill3.htm

http://stress.about.com/od/stresshealth/a/caffeine.htm

coppertop_4

No but I was just wondering about this and searched the forums and found your post.

I drink coffee (4-8 cups a day) and just finished a starbucks refresher and was thinking about caffeine. I work night shift so caffeine is my friend plus I've consumed at least 2 cups of coffee a day since high school.

I will have to search for more info!

Unknown

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Hexahedra

These are the studies:

http://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s00421-010-1620-6
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18458357

Caffeine seems to increase testosterone while delaying the increase in cortisol level. However, when cortisol level eventually raises, it is higher than normal. Testosterone builds muscle while cortisol breaks it down. Since caffeine eventually increases cortisol more than testosterone, the net effect is muscle loss, which also means weight loss.

Caffeine also increases your metabolism, which causes you to burn more calories and fat. So, either way caffeine helps you lose weight.

thankyou4thevenom

Since caffeine eventually increases cortisol more than testosterone, the net effect is muscle loss, which also means weight loss.

Now there's a good reason for me to stop drinking caffeinated coffee. I don't want to lose muscle.

Hexahedra

Since caffeine eventually increases cortisol more than testosterone, the net effect is muscle loss, which also means weight loss.

Now there's a good reason for me to stop drinking caffeinated coffee. I don't want to lose muscle.

Bear in mind that the effect is slight, so slight that the International Olympic Committee lifted the partial ban on its use. You can counteract its minor catabolic effect with exercise, while taking advantage of the increased metabolism to burn more fat.

Toblave

Thanks for the info :-) I appreciate it.