Caffeine Relieves Pain AND Boosts Your Workout? by Joan Kent, PhD
Back in May 2023, I posted 2 articles covering some benefits of coffee and tea consumption.
While it’s somewhat less well known, caffeine can be a pain reliever, too. The brain chemicals released by caffeine trigger an analgesic effect.
As we know, plenty of potent pain-killing substances are available, either OTC or by prescription. Caffeine is a more natural pain reliever, especially considering its known health benefits. I’m recommending coffee and tea, not energy drinks. Those drinks have been implicated in cardiac episodes, headaches, sleep disturbances, anxiety, nervousness, high blood pressure, and more.
Long ago, I used to warn against coffee and tea because of what I’d read about the interplay of caffeine and insulin. But caffeine is a drug that has definite value and can be used to our advantage.
Caffeine as an Ergogenic Aid
Much has been written about the ergogenic benefits of caffeine, particularly for endurance athletes, so it’s unnecessary to detail them here. Caffeine can also help power athletes work harder and generate more power, often without feeling the extra effort. They may not even realize they’re expending more effort, despite power increases.
If you work out hard, it’s good to know caffeine can help you train harder AND ease some of your pain. (Always consult a medical professional if you’re injured; don’t ignore injuries.)
Get accustomed to caffeine in training before using it during your performance event. My advice remains: No surprises on performance day.
Know how caffeine affects you and how much you can safely consume without upsetting your stomach or causing anxiety, irritability, high heart rate, or insomnia.
Stick with the basics: coffee and tea, particularly green tea.
How Does Caffeine Work?
When we drink coffee or tea, caffeine occupies the brain receptors normally occupied by adenosine. Adenosine inhibits release of dopamine and norepinephrine – primary brain alertness chemicals – and prevents an over-release of them.
When caffeine ‘takes over’ the adenosine receptor, adenosine can’t inhibit dopamine and norepinephrine. Those 2 chemicals are then disinhibited and released. We feel extremely alert and may notice improvements in memory, mood, energy, reaction time and general cognitive function.
Protein foods also make us feel alert.
Why Eat Protein? Why Not Just Drink Coffee?
The mechanisms of action are completely different. Caffeine uses (and eventually depletes) stored brain levels of dopamine and norepinephrine.
In contrast, eating protein provides the amino acids the brain uses to make more dopamine and norepinephrine – tyrosine and phenylalanine.
If you’ve been skipping protein lately, you might find you’re drinking more coffee. Or you might discover that you feel less effect from any coffee or tea you drink because your brain stores of dopamine are already depleted. AND you haven’t eaten enough protein to make more.
On the other hand, if you eat protein foods consistently throughout the day, you might not need or want as much caffeine because your brain keeps releasing – and making – dopamine and norepinephrine.
Unsweetened is Better
Sugar could reverse most of the beneficial effects referred to here. Limit fancy coffees with exotic names; they often contain sugar. Sticking with the basics is again a healthier choice. Limiting sugar in general will help keep you more alert.
For tips on getting more from your workouts and putting more into your workouts, just visit LastResortNutrition.com and grab your free Boost My Workout consult. Discover how easy it is to move forward again – even if you’ve been feeling stuck! You got this!
Brought to you by Dr. Joan Kent, best-selling author of Stronger Than Sugar.
