Caffeine gives athletes a leg up

Caffeine gives athletes a leg up, numerous exercise studies show
But it can limit blood flow to heart in high-altitude workouts

By Jack Cox
Denver Post Staff Writer

Coffee lovers, hoist your cups. Stopping at Starbucks before going out for a long run or bike ride is no longer a no-no, exercise researchers say.

Contrary to what many trainers and coaches have maintained over the years, caffeine won't leave you dehydrated and can actually improve your endurance.

"There may be a temporary diuretic effect, but it seems the body deals with this quite well," says Lawrence E. Armstrong, a physiologist with the Human Performance Laboratory at the University of Connecticut.

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