Caffeine & Body Composition: Less Fat=More Muscle
Written on July 30, 2009 – 8:26 am | by admin
Caffeine is best known as a stimulant; it affects the central nervous system, stimulates cardiac function, and increases feelings of alertness. Caffeine also enjoys great popularity as a tool for dieters and athletes.
Caffeine hastens lipolysis—the breakdown of fat. Lipolysis is important for athletes because it enhances endurance by providing the body an alternate, quickly accessible form of energy. For dieters, lipolysis is important to preserve body composition.
Body composition itself indicates the ratio of fat mass to muscle mass in the body. Two individuals may be the same height, weight, and bone structure, but have very different body compositions. A higher muscle to fat ratio is desirable for several reasons, among them being appearance and metabolism. Muscle burns more calories at rest than fat, so the higher the ratio of muscle to fat, the more calories an individual can consume without gaining weight.
To lose weight, dieters try to consume fewer calories than they burn in activity each day, and the body has evolved to prefer breaking down muscle tissue rather than fat for energy when at a calorie deficit. Responsible use of caffeine helps preserve muscle by making fat a more available source of energy to the body.