Athletes are always looking for ways to improve upon their performance and doctors are always looking for ways to help athletes.  In this world the amount of time and research that is put into helping achieve ultimate athletic goals is huge and those who are continuously working on research and development are always looking for ways to help athletes squeeze the last remaining drops of energy into an activity.

One such way to gather a small boost is to consume some small levels of caffeine.  While it is not advisable to set off running a marathon with only caffeine as your energy source, using it to help jump start your body is a wise idea.  Only a small amount of caffeine can get you started while your body allows time to properly process carbohydrates that take longer to convert into energy.  The ultimate result is the ability to go farther, longer and faster.

Caffeine overall offers several benefits to athletes as long as it is used merely as a supplement rather as a sole energy source.  These benefits include helping delay fatigue, increase body fat losses, improve overall athletic performance and even helping give a short burst of energy.  Other benefits include helping increase fat burning due to the increased metabolism that is a result of caffeine.

The bad news about caffeine is that many athletes try to rely on it as the sole source of energy for athletic events and activities.  This is almost always a sure recipe for disaster and will almost always result in the athlete being injured or running out of energy and being unable to complete the activity prematurely.  In order to truly gain benefits from caffeine usage it is important to still consume appropriate levels of carbohydrates as well as protein.

One thing that you can do to help ensure that you are giving your body the most energy possible is to combine the use of protein, carbohydrates, and caffeine together.  By ensuring that you keep the levels appropriate, you can keep the caffeine supplying your body with energy until the carbohydrates have been broken down, while the protein keeps your muscle mass firmly in place.  This is a winning combination that has helped numerous athletes achieve the results that they desire.

However, it is best to keep your caffeine levels as low as possible so that you do not become dependent on the caffeine to provide you with all of your energy needs.  This can be a very dangerous and risky problem if you are consuming too much caffeine and not enough carbohydrates.  Rather than carbohydrates providing you with the necessary long term energy you may be using only short term caffeine energy which is ultimately unacceptable for long term usage.

Many doctors recommend avoiding the use of caffeine entirely to keep athletes from relying heavily upon it.  Talking to your doctor can help you determine the exact amount that is suitable for your situation and based upon your overall athletic goals.  You may discover that you are consuming enough carbohydrates at appropriate intervals that make caffeine an unnecessary need for you.  Additionally, you may discover that you are not consuming enough caffeine to achieve the maximum potential that you have.  

Talking to your doctor will help you determine exactly how much caffeine you need, and when the optimal time to consume it is.  This is the best solution that athletes have to use caffeine to their benefit while keeping their overall energy levels in top condition.  If you are unable to see your doctor immediately your coach may be able to offer some guidance in the meantime to help you move towards the most successful results possible.  Remember, each person is different and the optimal caffeine intake is going to vary depending upon body type, energy levels and activity engaged in.  Seek out your perfect caffeine level to achieve the results you want.

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