How caffeine can hurt your chances for optimal muscle growth
Many people who lift weights or body build have at one time or another used a muscle builder that contained certain stimulants, the most popular of which is caffeine. In fact generally speaking more than ninety percent of North Americans consume at least one form or another of caffeine every day. Most people use the standard coffee or soft drink as their choice for consuming caffeine. Workdays are increasingly getting longer and more and more is demanded in the workforce. Caffeine is often the answer to the increasing need to be alert and awake during a stressful workday. But at what cost do most Americans get the added boost of energy and focus? Similarly many people who participate in bodybuilding and weightlifting also supplement their routine with some form or another of caffeine. This could be in the form of a fat burner, or even a creatine supplement that has caffeine as well as other oftentimes negative side effects regarding the desired goal of building lean muscle. As far as the bodybuilder goes, caffeine can often has positive, or rather desired effects that will please those who are looking to lose weight quickly. Caffeine raises energy levels and promotes different forms of mental and physical awareness. For many pre-contest athletes, many use what is called an ECA stack which consists of the following, ephedrine, aspirin, and caffeine. This combination is used to shed body fat fast. In fact almost all weight loss supplements employ at least some sort of caffeinated ingredient list. The aforementioned results regarding weight loss seem very appealing but it is also important to know that there are also many negative side effects that come from both short term as well as long term use of caffeine during your workout routine. One of the side effects can include the feeling of being jittery and a general feeling of anxiety. Because caffeine acts as a stimulant, it has been proven that this stimulant actually constricts muscle growth. It does this by tightening the blood vessels. If something tightens the blood vessels then of course less blood will flow from the heart to the muscles. With less blood flowing from the heart to the muscles your body will not get its needed amino acids as well as the protein it desperately needs to both during as well as after a tough workout. Another consideration is that if you are trying to gain mass, caffeine will work against you as it also acts as a mild appetite suppressant. For more information on creatine, visit Top Form Health Supplements.