Discuss the pros and cons of caffeine use in competitive athletic events
What will be an ideal response?
Some research supports the use of caffeine to enhance endurance and, to some extent, to enhance short-term, high-intensity exercise performance. Caffeine may stimulate fatty acid release during endurance activity, but in contrast to what was previously thought, caffeine does not slow muscle glycogen use. Light activity before a workout also stimulates fat release, and unlike caffeine, also warms the muscles and connective tissues, making them flexible and resistant to injury.
Caffeine is a stimulant that elicits a number of physiological and psychological effects in the body. Caffeine may enhance alertness and reduce the perception of fatigue. The possible benefits of caffeine use must be weighed against its adverse effects—stomach upset, nervousness, irritability, headaches, and diarrhea. Caffeine-containing beverages should be used in moderation, if at all, and in addition to other fluids, not as a substitute for them.
Caffeine is a restricted substance by the National Collegiate Athletic Association, which allows urine concentrations of 15 milligrams per liter or less (equivalent to about 5 cups of coffee consumed within a few hours before testing). Urine tests that detect more caffeine than this disqualify athletes from competition.
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