13 Health Benefits of Coffee, Based on Science

3. Can Drastically Improve Physical Performance

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Caffeine stimulates your nervous system, signaling fat cells to break down body fat (1314).

But it also increases epinephrine (adrenaline) levels in your blood (1516).

This is the fight-or-flight hormone, which prepares your body for intense physical exertion.

Caffeine breaks down body fat, making free fatty acids available as fuel (1718).

Given these effects, it’s unsurprising that caffeine can improve physical performance by 11–12%, on average (2029).

Therefore, it makes sense to have a strong cup of coffee about half an hour before you head to the gym.

Summary

Caffeine can increase adrenaline levels and release fatty acids from your fat tissues. It also leads to significant improvements in physical performance.