Caffeine anhydrous is a supplement form of caffeine and is absorbed faster by the body compared to coffee and other caffeinated drinks. One pill contains approximately the same amount of caffeine found in one to two cups of coffee. Besides boosting energy and alertness, caffeine anhydrous can also provide other health benefits, from reducing workout pain to improving brain function. Caffeine in high doses can have undesirable side effects and pregnant women, in particular, should not use it. Consult with your health care provider before taking any supplements.
Protects Memory
Researchers from INSERM in France investigated the effects of coffee consumption on memory in men and women. Lead investigator Dr. Karen Ritchie and colleagues discovered that women who ingested more than three cups of coffee a day experienced less cognitive decline over time compared to those who consumed one or fewer cups of coffee per day. The study stated that caffeine is the main compound responsible for reducing cognitive decline. The study also found that caffeine does not protect memory in men, but researchers are unsure of the reason. The findings were reported in the August 2007 issue of the journal "American Academy of Neurology."
Muscle Pain and Soreness
Increasing caffeine consumption around workout time might decrease muscle soreness after a workout, according to a study conducted by lead author Victor Maridakis and colleagues from the University of Georgia. The report, which was published in the January 2007 issue of the "Journal of Pain," revealed that subjects who took caffeine supplements one hour before performing exercise that induced muscle damage experienced significant reductions in post exercise pain and soreness compared to those who were given a placebo.
Diabetes Risk
Rie Yamauchi led a team of researchers who investigated the effects of coffee on diabetic mice. Subjects received water or coffee for five weeks. At the end of the study, which was published in the June 2010 issue of the "Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry," scientists observed that coffee helped prevent high glucose levels and improved insulin sensitivity. Better insulin sensitivity allows the body to use insulin more efficiently. Researchers stated that caffeine is the main compound responsible for the results.
Upper Body Strength
In research reported in the May 2010 issue of the "Journal of the International Society of Sports Nutrition," Erica Goldstein and colleagues from Florida Atlantic University randomly assigned resistance training subjects a caffeine supplement or a placebo. At the end of the treatment, researchers discovered that the caffeine group experienced increases in strength on upper body exercises, such as the bench press.
References
- Science Daily: In Women, Caffeine May Protect Memory
- Science Daily: Caffeine Cuts Post-Workout Pain By Nearly 50 Percent, Study Finds
- Nutra Ingredients: Is caffeine behind coffee's anti-diabetic effects?
- Journal of the International Society of Sports Nutrition: Caffeine enhances upper body strength in resistance-trained women
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