That caffeine can boost performance is nothing new: a well-timed dose can improve awareness, fight fatigue and fire up your motor cortex for greater muscle activation. Caffeine also raises your body temperature, which can help burn more calories, and one study even suggests it can increase feelings of wellness to ramp up your post-workout high. New research, however, hints at an effective alternative to your pre-gym cup of Joe. The study, published in the Journal of the International Society of Sports Nutrition, found that a low dose of caffeine (200mg), supplied in chewing gum, enhanced the performance of a group of rugby players across a range of tests, including sprints and countermovement jumps.
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