There is no physiological requirement for caffeine in the human diet. Caffeine is a stimulant of the central nervous system (CNS), the cardiac muscle (increases heart rate), and respiratory system (relaxes air passages permitting improved breathing, and allows some muscles to contract more easily). It acts as a diuretic (increases the rate of bodily urine excretion), and delays fatigue (having the effect of warding off drowsiness and restoring alertness). For these reasons, caffeine is probably the most popular drug in use. The effects you might notice after consuming a large cup of coffee are hands getting cold, muscles tensing up, feeling of excitement and increased heart beat.
The related alkaloids theophylline (found mainly in tea) and theobromine (in cocoa beans, cola nuts and tea) act as a cardiac stimulant, smooth muscle relaxant, diuretic, and vasodilator (widening or dilating blood vessels in the body).
So Gregg, to answer your question, it actually should INCREASE stamina, generally. The diuretic effect could be a problem if your sport does not allow for pee breaks, but generally, in endurance type sports where stamina is required, the body's fluids requirement may offset urine volume output making pee stops moot.
Last edited by RNDDUDE; 01-17-2012 at 05:02 PM.
|
Linear Mode
