Is Coffee Good For Me?

To fuel my obsession, we have an in house coffee machine which means I can make my own coffee every morning for, what feels like, free. But is this coffee actually good for me?

The “science”

Post workout, caffeine actually can work to help aid recovery by reducing muscle soreness (or DOMS) and speeding up glycogen replenishment when with carbs. Therefore, scientific reasoning backs the post workout favourite: coffee and pastry.

Before a workout caffeine also has its benefits including physical and mental effects. This includes increasing alertness and reducing fatigue allowing you to train harder for longer. Therefore, the morning coffee before some high intensity exercise is also backed by science.

However, be aware that too much coffee may result in jitters and stomach issues – especially if you are about to attempt a long workout. Slowly introducing it to your diet and not having too many would be the top advice.

What is my coffee order?

My coffee order, very basically, is an oat vanilla iced latte. As I am clearly not a proper coffee drinker, I find this is a nice way to enjoy it, particularly if you have a sweet tooth. Wherever I go, I always will find the local coffee spot to try out and find this to be one of my favourite ways to socialise. When at home, I have found that Aldis oat milk, coffee beans and vanilla syrup are all decent taste for a good price.

Caffeine on the hard days

Morning workouts are not easy, especially if you have a big session. Therefore, a reward type system is something I incorporate to boost my motivation. I have found that by rewarding myself with a coffee post workout is something that works well for me. My favourite day to do this is after a long run, particularly with friends. The metabolic benefits of coffee also aid recovery making this the perfect post workout activity?!