Coffee is a little beverage that is easily praised for its beneficial effects to give yourself a little boost in the middle of the day, both physically and mentally. But then, can it be considered a doping product? What are its beneficial effects and possibly its undesirable effects?
By Jean-François Tatard – Photos: Pxhere.com, Pixnio.com, JF Tatard
What do you think doping means? What is your interpretation of it? Ultimately, there are perhaps as many definitions as there are individuals.. However, if we agree on a common definition which is that of our friend Wikipedia, it is indicated that: " In sport, doping is the practice of taking chemical substances or using medical procedures defined by organizations in order to increase the physical and/or mental performance of an athlete”. So, this drink that we sometimes take as soon as we get out of bed, that finishes our meals and gets us going again in the afternoon when we're feeling down, is it a doping substance? Is coffee a doping substance? Does coffee make us run faster? Does coffee improve performance?
Before 2004
Before 2004, it was still possible to test positive for caffeine. Indeed, the substance alone was considered a doping product. However, from a certain dose. Which must have corresponded to a few coffee pots. The question is perhaps therefore to know what justified that coffee appears on this Blacklists ? And in what dose was it possible that it improved performance?
Does the name Gianni Bugno mean anything to you? Un champion exceptional, capable of winning on all terrains and whose history will remember that he was above all twice world champion in 1991 and 1992. A guy of incredible elegance. And of rare intelligence. He signed 63 victories among the pros. And certainly double in places of honor. After the Moser era, Italy found in him its new teacher. But in his glory days there is also a small dark area. He too once tested positive for a test anti-doping. Positive for caffeine, the main substance in coffee. And to justify himself, he says that he drank an astronomical quantity of coffee: " I always drink coffee before races to wake me up. I have a few espressos". He did not say the number but it seems that it could go up to 10 in a row. We will not know if the positive test is really linked to the espressos that he drank from the coffee maker. But the fact that on this subject, the UCI was lenient towards him, leaves doubts hanging.
The effects of caffeine
I did a bit of studying though. There have been many studies on the subject of caffeine and performance. Caffeine is said to stimulate muscles and the brain.
On the first, coffee would allow reconbuild glycogen stores more quickly and have an improving effect on endurance. On the brain, coffee would have a stimulating effect that improves alertness and delays the feeling of fatigue.
Among other benefits, caffeine helps increase basal metabolism, with better mobilization of fatty acids. And therefore help you lose weight. Stop believing that coffee is a diuretic! Or else you should drink a few barrels of it! Similarly, coffee does not dehydrate. However, do not make the mistake of hydrating yourself only with coffee. Vary your intake with water or hot water like tea or herbal tea, which also hydrate better.The risks of caffeine In high doses, coffee can have an effect of accelerating transit, and cause diarrhea, particularly during exercise, with an impact on the stomach and internal transit.testfinal. Have you ever felt heart palpitations? It's not just an impression, since in high doses, coffee can accelerate the heart rate. Even if it doesn't last and it passes, don't worry. Another case, where you have to be vigilant: it may not be a question of completely eliminating your pleasure of the Voluto pod from Nespesso, but if you suffer from iron anemia, know that the two do not necessarily go well together. Indeed, like tea also, coffee inhibits the absorption of iron.
To conclude
Don't change your habits. Don't deprive yourself of what you love. A little coffee won't kill you, and even less will it boost you. And besides, if it's just to boost your performance: don't believe in miracles! It's not coffee that will allow you to win a rainbow jersey one day. Keep it simple: eat a balanced diet, exercise regularly, and above all, have fun.
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