Many of us enjoy the sweet taste of an energy drink. They give you that feeling that you are going to be buzzing with energy, even when we’re drinking it.

Caffeine is consumed so regularly that Healthlines suggests:

‘Nowadays, 80% of the world’s population consumes a caffeinated product each day, and this number goes up to 90% for adults in North America’

Energy drinks can be just what the doctor ordered for that little pick-me-up when we are feeling a bit tired before work or the gym, as it gives an almost instant buzz. However, it has become quite popular for boxers and other martial artists to use a variety of high caffeine products from caffeine drinks, gels and pills to help them perform better.

However, like with most things, there are pros and cons to drinking caffeine before a workout to help your performance.

Does Caffeine really work for an Athlete or could it Potentially Cause Health Risks?

Caffeine is a central nervous system (CNS) stimulant of the methylxanthine class. It is the world’s most widely consumed psychoactive drug and it is recommended to consume a maximum of 400 mg of caffeine per day.

Caffeine is the main acting ingredient in energy drinks for the energy boost, which is also in tea and coffee and most energy drinks contain a large amount of it.  However, some single drinks contain over 300 mg alone.

Healthline suggests that:

‘it works by stimulating the brain and central nervous system, helping you stay alert and prevent the onset of tiredness.’

Caffeine has always been a concern of excessive use in most sports and it was even a banned substance by the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) up until 2004. We recently saw footballer Christian Eriksen collapse during Denmark’s opening Euro 2020 suffering a cardiac arrest. The doctors are unsure what the cause of this was, so it is a possibility he may have over consumed caffeine performance substances as too much at once is considered dangerous (although the cause of his cardiac arrest is still up for debate),

Unlike many other psychoactive substances, caffeine is legal and unregulated in nearly all parts of the world, so it easy to see why it is so popular with athletes wanting to perform better, as opposed to using banned substances or PED’s. Read our article about the banned substances in boxing here.

Caffeine provides an energy boost within 10 minutes of consumption, but it doesn’t last long as it starts to fade off within an hour, which isn’t ideal for someone needing energy for a long time.

Is Caffeine Useful for Fighters?

Also, for a fighter going into a bout, drinking an energy drink at the wrong time or too early, can cause drowsiness when their energy is needed the most. It takes approximately 10 minutes for caffeine to get in your bloodstream and the effects will start to kick in.

Additionally, caffeine can cause your heart to start racing and this wouldn’t be great for a fighter as they won’t be able to control their energy.

The boost is short-lived, however, and may be accompanied by other problems. As a fighter The time your caffeine level peaks in your bloodstream. You’ll feel more alert as the stimulant starts to affect you, improving not only concentration but also how alert you are.

Check out this video below ‘How Much Caffeine Do You Actually Need? (NEW STUDY) | Strength Training and Endurance’

What Happens When you Drink Caffeine?

1. After 30-50 minutes all caffeine is fully absorbed, your liver also responds by absorbing more sugar into the bloodstream.
2. After one hour, your body starts to experience a sugar crash as well as the effects of the caffeine dying down – you’ll start to feel tired and energy levels will start to feel low.
3. After this, your energy levels will completely drop.

Sugar vs Caffeine: Which is better?

Caffeine makes you feel more energized by affecting your brain, while sugar refuels your body’s cells and helps keep you physically active longer.

Some energy drinks contain both and cost as little as 35p per can, however some of the leading brands cost around £2.50 for a large can.

What Drinks are Best for Fighters?

Isotonic Sports drinks, also known as electrolyte drinks, are functional beverages whose stated purpose is to help athletes replace water, electrolytes, and energy before, during and especially after training or competition. Though their effects on performance in sports and exercise has been questioned.

Types of Sports Drinks

Diabetes.co.uk suggests that there are three main types of sports drink available in the UK:

1. Isotonic: This contains small concentrations of salt and sugar. Isotonic drinks replace fluids lost via sweating and help boost carbohydrates in the system too. These are the most common type of sports drink available.
2. Hypertonic:These types of sports drinks contain a high concentration of salt and sugar and are usually consumed after a workout in order to supplement daily carbohydrate intake and to top-up muscle glycogen stores as well. Hypertonic sports drinks are more regularly consumed in long-distance running and other high-endurance sports.
3. Hypotonic: These sports drinks contain a lower concentration of salt and sugar. They help replace floods lost during sweating without a carbohydrate boost.

However, most sports drinks contain between 4-5 heaped teaspoons of sugar per five ounces, so should be consumed with this in mind.

Final Thoughts?

Like everything in life, consuming caffeine in moderation is fine, even for fighters. However, limiting your consumption of caffeine can help improve your performance (as you won’t experience dramatic energy drops) as well as help how you feel overall.

For more information about how to consume caffeine safely when training, check out this video below:

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