For years FLEX has recommended that bodybuilders drink plenty of black coffee every day. And we were happy (and a bit surprised) when a U.S. government dietary panel made a similar recommendation: Every healthy adult should drink three to five cups of black coffee per day for optimal health. That’s particularly good news for bodybuilders who are trying to cut body fat while staying energized for intense workouts. Here are five ways black coffee helps support your bodybuilding gains.
ONE
Coffee increases strength when consumed before workouts. Researchers believe caffeine blunts the pain associated with anaerobic training, helping you push beyond your previous bests.
TWO
Coffee helps you recover from intense training. Coffee’s antioxidants help fight the free radicals generated during training. Coffee pre- and post-workouts will help reduce oxidative damage from these harmful chemicals that are a by-product of intense workouts.
THREE
Coffee helps reduce stored body fat. Caffeine stimulates your CNS and supports energy expenditure by releasing stored fat. So coffee not only helps you fuel activity, but it also does so by burning body fat—each cup contains between 60 and 100mg of caffeine. That’s why you find caffeine in most fat-burning and pre-workout supplements.
FOUR
Coffee is the greatest source of antioxidants in the American diet. That isn’t to say it’s the food highest in antioxidants, but we consume so much joe that we get more of these nutrients from coffee than from any other food source.
FIVE
Coffee is low in calories. Each cup has about 10 calories and is loaded with nutrients that support your training goals. That means coffee-loving bodybuilders can drink as much coffee as they want.
