This week most of the United States will move their clocks forward one hour, allowing for an extra hour of sunlight, but that also means an hour loss of sleep. 

If you weren’t reaching for the coffee before, this may be the week you’ll need a little extra boost. And you’re not alone, roughly 85% of Americans drink coffee. 

So many of us count on coffee to help us start our day, but are there benefits to drinking coffee before exercising? I recently took a class with Melissa Layne, MEd and here are a few of the things I learned about caffeine:

• Caffeine is found naturally in the leaves of 60 plants
• It is a psychoactive drug that stimulates the central nervous system by increasing energy metabolism throughout the brain
• Caffeine causes the release of epinephrine 
• When a person ingests caffeine, their blood levels rise and peak at around 60 minutes. 
• Ingesting caffeine before exercise will decrease a person’s perceived rate of exertion and they are likely to feel an exercise high. 

All in all, if you’re a regular coffee drinker chances are, you’re 

reducing your risk of certain diseases. Research has shown drinking 3-4 cups of coffee a day is not only safe, but it’s also been linked to lower your risk of heart disease and premature death. 

Multiple studies done on coffee and your health have also shown it can decrease your risks of stroke, Alzheimer’s Disease, type 2 

diabetes, liver disease, and multiple sclerosis.

 Just make sure you’re not countering those effects by dousing your coffee with sugar/artificial sweeteners or creamers that are high in sugar and fat; or drinking it at night when the caffeine can interrupt sleep!

So, splurge on a good cup of coffee before heading into JF!