4. Tons of athletes swear it improves performance.
Many in the exercise and fitness industry swear by caffeine. In fact, they make caffeine supplements a regular part of most exercise routines.
But why?
To find out, we talked to Mike and Kari Ott. This energetic fitness duo regularly uses caffeine as a performance enhancer.
“It’s something that’s been tried and true for years. It’s a natural stimulant,” says Kari, a veteran fitness instructor with a master’s degree in public health. “I use caffeine before every single workout.”
Her husband, Mike, feels that caffeine gives him the edge needed as a fitness instructor. “I feel more focused when I’m instructing, and I have more energy to give my students my best,” Mike says. In addition, he used caffeine supplements as a part of his former career as a professional athlete. “I was a professional cyclist and always used caffeine before racing,” Ott says. “It helped keep me alert because things can happen so quickly.”
That said, caffeine is only a temporary solution. “Athletes should know that it’s not an endurance thing because it’s fast acting,” Ott says.