Coffee's effect is determined by genetics

I don't need to read it. Ever live with a Finlander? Drink coffee all day, another cup before bed and sleep soundly all night. My mother.

Unfortunately, I ended up 50% Belgian and can't drink coffee after noon or else I can't sleep. But beer on the other hand...😄

I must admit I never can feel the effect of drinking coffee. When I race (not bikes, cars) I always drink loads of coffee but I honestly cant tell any difference. I've also never noticed any difference with pain killers either!

I drink about a liter of cola a day, so I definitely like my caffeine. Doesn't seem to really have much of a stimulant effect though. Now, add a cup of coffee to that and I start to get a little excited. Make it 2 and I'm excited. I've noticed a rather large jump in my interval power (like what's hard without caffeine becomes easy?!) after a cup of coffee + a liter of cola a day, maybe about 10%. You bet I'll be drinking some coffee before my next TT.

-Bikeguy

bikeguy said:

I drink about a liter of cola a day, so I definitely like my caffeine. Doesn't seem to really have much of a stimulant effect though. Now, add a cup of coffee to that and I start to get a little excited. Make it 2 and I'm excited. I've noticed a rather large jump in my interval power (like what's hard without caffeine becomes easy?!) after a cup of coffee + a liter of cola a day, maybe about 10%. You bet I'll be drinking some coffee before my next TT.

-Bikeguy

I've read also that if you aren't a regular caffeine junky, it makes a good recovery drink because it has antioxidants and helps deliver oxygen to your muscles. In that way, it promotes faster healing after a hard effort and can replace NSAID-type pain killers, which may negate some of the positive effects of working out. Maybe I ought to try going off the caffeine for a few weeks to try this out....or maybe somebody with less of an addiction would like to volunteer!

Woofer said:

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20060307/ap_on_he_me/diet_coffee_heart

Perhaps someone with access to the article can comment on the study.

What I meant was comment on the validity of the methods, sample subjects, etc.

The study found that *irregardless* of the effect and length of that effect of caffeine on an individual, there is a genetic component to a person's ability to absorb it and this means that caffeine is literally good for some people, and literally bad for others. This genetic trait is only detectable when searching specifically for it and is not the same as the effect of caffeine that we know and love.

Woofer said:

What I meant was comment on the validity of the methods, sample subjects, etc.

The study found that *irregardless* of the effect and length of that effect of caffeine on an individual, there is a genetic component to a person's ability to absorb it and this means that caffeine is literally good for some people, and literally bad for others. This genetic trait is only detectable when searching specifically for it and is not the same as the effect of caffeine that we know and love.

We don't have access to the article, but felt like commenting on caffeine's other effects anyway. 😉

-Bikeguy