In today’s edition of Dear Mark, I cover a topic near and dear to many of your hearts: caffeine. But I don’t just cover caffeine; I explore whether caffeine truly does act as a diuretic, especially during exercise, and whether or not caffeine can actually be helpful to athletic performance. Should we all be downing mugs of joe or cups of tea before we hit the gym or head outdoors?
Let’s find out.
Dear Mark,
I’ve been told that drinking coffee prior to, or during workouts is a big no-no, because it’s a diuretic and will lead to dehydration, which is no good for performance (or health). But I love an iced coffee right before my workouts. I feel like it helps. It could just be placebo, but if it’s not hurting, I’m okay, right?
I wonder if you could give me the lowdown on what the literature says. Thanks!
Anon
Read MoreLast week’s post covering upper recommendations garnered so much interest – and additional questions – that I thought we’d give it another go around. While last week’s list took on basics like protein and fat as well as worthy indulgences like chocolate and – drum roll, please –BACON (break for rampant applause), this week I’ll take on a mix of specific foods and activity. Thanks for everyone’s great comments and questions last week, and be sure to weigh in on this week’s round.
Read MoreDear Mark,
Do the benefits of tea outweigh its negatives (caffeine, teeth staining, etc.)? Is tea a worthy substitute to a glass of water? If so, how many times a week should one drink tea?
Given our big fall theme the last week or so, I thought this was an especially timely question. The truth is it’s nice to kick back at night with something warm (even in California) once Autumn hits. Call it nostalgia if you will.
Read MoreUS researchers said Monday they have conclusive proof to show that women who drink a lot of caffeine on a daily basis in the early months of pregnancy have an elevated risk of miscarriage, settling a longstanding debate over the issue. To be absolutely safe, expectant mothers should avoid caffeinated beverages of any kind during the first five months of pregnancy, the researchers said in a paper published in the American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology.
The study defined high intake as 200 milligrams or more a day, the equivalent of two 7.5 ounce cups of coffee or five twelve ounce cans of soda. In the study, women who ingested 200 milligrams of caffeine a day had twice the likelihood of miscarriage as those who abstained from caffeine.
Remember one Able Gonzalez of last year’s fried coke fame? (You do.) The deep-fried bad boy is back, along with all the usual suspects at this year’s Texas Food Contest. The TFC is the biggest fried food competition in the country, of course. Last year’s body bombs included such mega-hits as fried coke and fried avocados. This year the offerings include fried guacamole bites, which must be confusing for the chips, and deep-fried lattes.
Read More
Ⓒ 2023 Mark's Daily Apple
