Caffeine boosts metabolism - Yay or nay?

clye_

I've heard both positive and negative things about consuming caffeine.

I usually take a small cup of black coffee (no cream or sugar) prior to a work out because I hear it boosts my metabolism.
However, there are also people who say it's important to cut out caffeine because it stunts growth, makes your teeth yellow, etc.

So, what do you guys think? What are the pros and cons to drinking black coffee before a workout, and given that, do you think there are more pros than cons, or more cons than pros?

Thanks!

lizziebeth1028

I enjoy coffee so I'm going to drink it :drinker: Does it boost metabolism? Well yes....it's called a caffeine rush. Will that help me lose weight? NO. It's an insignificant little buzz. Is it bad for me? I don't know...people have drank coffee for years and years. Like I said I like the taste so I'm going to enjoy it. :drinker:

AbsoluteNG

At the cell level, the creation of ATP for energy, no it does not. At the macro level, yes it does because it keeps you wide wake at night and during the day to do whatever you need to do which naturally burns more calories.


Edit: In other words, if you use caffeine to stay up until 4am in the morning then you are burning more calories because you are not sleeping.


.

Sandigesha

Coffein make your heart rate faster, which is ALREADY an increased metabolism. But, regarding it being healthy, it is a contrivercial product, as many studies shown both positive and negative effects. As it plays with your heartrate, it obviously not recommended for people with heart problems, increased blood pressure, etc. It is also addictive sometime for certain people, and as it becomes a habit, like anything else in excess, can cause some health problems.

AbsoluteNG

Coffein make your heart rate faster, which is ALREADY an increased metabolism. But, regarding it being healthy, it is a contrivercial product, as many studies shown both positive and negative effects. As it plays with your heartrate, it obviously not recommended for people with heart problems, increased blood pressure, etc. It is also addictive sometime for certain people, and as it becomes a habit, like anything else in excess, can cause some health problems.

I first read this and thought it was right but after thinking about it, it is incorrect. Metabolism at the cell level is measured by VO2 max and not how fast your heart beats. VO2 max is your breathing rate. In order for caffeine to increase how much energy your body uses, both heart rate and breathing must increase. A faster heart rate with a slower breathing rate can actually decrease your metabolism because your cells are not getting enough oxygen when the heart and breathing are not in sync.

Mrsfreedom41

I enjoy coffee so I'm going to drink it :drinker: Does it boost metabolism? Well yes....it's called a caffeine rush. Will that help me lose weight? NO. It's an insignificant little buzz. Is it bad for me? I don't know...people have drank coffee for years and years. Like I said I like the taste so I'm going to enjoy it. :drinker:

THIS! :drinker:

SteelySunshine

I like caffeine. I don't really care if it boosts my metabolism or not. That is what exercise is for.

Siege_Tank

There's a reason why Caffeine isn't marketed as a fat loss pill, because it isn't. It helps jumpstart your metabolism, much as a battery helps start a car, but it doesn't cause an increase in thermogenesis (body heat generation - which burns more calories). It causes Adenosine to become displaced in receptors in the brain, causing the pituitary gland to see elevated levels of free adenosine and freak out, pumping significant amounts of adrenaline into your system. This is the Caffeine High, but you crash after just a few hours.

This is the only way in which Caffeine is a stimulant, it's a cheater form of epinephrine, meaning it causes the pituitary to release it, but it doesn't increase signal frequency between neurotransmitters, and it doesn't cause a rise in your metabolic rate, aside from the limited response of your body to the adrenaline.

Now, to contrast that, people used to take caffeine in a stack with Aspirin and Ephedrine. Ephedrine is a substituted amphetamine and a structural methamphetamine analogue. It differs from methamphetamine only by the presence of a hydroxyl (OH). Amphetamines, however, are more potent and have additional biological effects.

Ephedrine in and of itself had a decent thermogenic effect, meaning it increased metabolic rate in the brown adipose tissue (which humans don't have a lot of) and skeletal muscle tissue. Combining it with Caffeine had a synergistic effect, they amplified each other by the release of similar neurotransmitters in the brain. Adding Aspirin serves as a blood thinner and causes increased circulation which makes it easier for fat to be released from the cells and burned. It also helps to block a hormone that can prevent the full effectiveness of ephedrine.

Taking caffeine alone has a very limited thermogenic effect. The only way that it will help you to raise your metabolic rate is if it gives your the alertness you require to go outside and mow the lawn. Increasing the frequency of the doses to achieve a long term stimulant effect from caffiene shows diminishing returns, IE, your body will become tolerant to the effects that Caffeine has on adenosine, and compensates for it, lessening it's effect.

But it's fun for clearing the morning fog!! and it DOES help jumpstart fat oxidation (lipolysis).

SoViLicious

It just makes me hyper.

JMarigold

It helps me workout like a boss! Which in turn boosts my metabolism. I don't think it really does otherwise though. It's also a diuretic which is important to remember since that can register as a reduction in "weight."

Sandigesha

Coffein make your heart rate faster, which is ALREADY an increased metabolism. But, regarding it being healthy, it is a contrivercial product, as many studies shown both positive and negative effects. As it plays with your heartrate, it obviously not recommended for people with heart problems, increased blood pressure, etc. It is also addictive sometime for certain people, and as it becomes a habit, like anything else in excess, can cause some health problems.

I first read this and thought it was right but after thinking about it, it is incorrect. Metabolism at the cell level is measured by VO2 max and not how fast your heart beats. VO2 max is your breathing rate. In order for caffeine to increase how much energy your body uses, both heart rate and breathing must increase. A faster heart rate with a slower breathing rate can actually decrease your metabolism because your cells are not getting enough oxygen when the heart and breathing are not in sync.

Oh, good point!

AbsoluteNG

There's a reason why Caffeine isn't marketed as a fat loss pill, because it isn't. It helps jumpstart your metabolism, much as a battery helps start a car, but it doesn't cause an increase in thermogenesis (body heat generation - which burns more calories). It causes Adenosine to become displaced in receptors in the brain, causing the pituitary gland to see elevated levels of free adenosine and freak out, pumping significant amounts of adrenaline into your system. This is the Caffeine High, but you crash after just a few hours.

This is the only way in which Caffeine is a stimulant, it's a cheater form of epinephrine, meaning it causes the pituitary to release it, but it doesn't increase signal frequency between neurotransmitters, and it doesn't cause a rise in your metabolic rate, aside from the limited response of your body to the adrenaline.

Now, to contrast that, people used to take caffeine in a stack with Aspirin and Ephedrine. Ephedrine is a substituted amphetamine and a structural methamphetamine analogue. It differs from methamphetamine only by the presence of a hydroxyl (OH). Amphetamines, however, are more potent and have additional biological effects.

Ephedrine in and of itself had a decent thermogenic effect, meaning it increased metabolic rate in the brown adipose tissue (which humans don't have a lot of) and skeletal muscle tissue. Combining it with Caffeine had a synergistic effect, they amplified each other by the release of similar neurotransmitters in the brain. Adding Aspirin serves as a blood thinner and causes increased circulation which makes it easier for fat to be released from the cells and burned. It also helps to block a hormone that can prevent the full effectiveness of ephedrine.

Taking caffeine alone has a very limited thermogenic effect. The only way that it will help you to raise your metabolic rate is if it gives your the alertness you require to go outside and mow the lawn. Increasing the frequency of the doses to achieve a long term stimulant effect from caffiene shows diminishing returns, IE, your body will become tolerant to the effects that Caffeine has on adenosine, and compensates for it, lessening it's effect.

But it's fun for clearing the morning fog!! and it DOES help jumpstart fat oxidation (lipolysis).

Ahh interesting. Didn't know that it jumpstarts lipolysis. Do you know how long the effects last? Just looked up the research paper on it. Very educational and informative post though.

andyisandy

coffee make it so I don't go crazy and bish slap stupid people

GormanGhaste

I don't keep caffeine around the house or use it in my daily routine, but as I have chronic mild depression, I drink caffeine socially

yaseyuku

I drink black coffee daily. I am not sure if it has an effect on my metabolism as I've been doing it for years.

SteelySunshine

coffee make it so I don't go crazy and bish slap stupid people

I bet you could burn a lot of calories bish slapping stupid people.