A better workout can begin with a cup of this popular drink. If you are wondering what you can do to improve your workouts, the answer may be that drinking this popular breakfast brew is the answer. According to a recent NY Times article, caffeine may be the secret to better bike rides and faster runs. For most of us, our morning coffee ritual gets us going in the morning. For anyone who works out, caffeine may be the ultimate performance aid. According to the NY Times, caffeine is the most widely consumed psychoactive substance in the world and one of the best studied. Check out the article below The Secret to a Better Workout Is Probably Already in Your Kitchen Used correctly, caffeine can help you lift more, run faster and cycle farther. By Hilary Achauer Feb. 2, 2023 For two years, Steph Gaudreau gave up her daily cup of coffee. She switched to large mugs of herbal tea — not because caffeine was affecting her sleep or making her anxious, but to gain an edge in cross-country mountain bike racing. Hoping to enhance the effect of caffeine as a performance aid, Ms. Gaudreau, who lives in San Diego, drank a cup of coffee on race day as she warmed up. Once that prerace caffeine boost hit, Ms. Gaudreau, now a nutritional therapy practitioner and strength coach, said she felt a sense of euphoria, which helped her feel focused and mentally prepared for her race. The strategy paid off. In 2010, she took first place in a regional amateur biking race, called the Kenda Cup. Caffeine is the most widely consumed psychoactive substance in the world and one of the best studied. Scientists have been looking at caffeine’s effect on athletics since the 1900s. While there is still some disagreement as to the exact mechanism by which caffeine consumption affects exercise performance, and whether taking a break from it until game day can give you an edge, scientists agree that a cup of coffee before working out can improve performance, whether you’re playing for the N.B.A. or just running through your neighborhood. Read more