Coffee Offers Risk and Reward in Athletic Endeavors

There has been a great deal of discussion in recent years about performance enhancers in professional sports, but one particular performance enhancer has slipped under the radar for quite some time. Caffeine is one of the most effective performance enhancers available, and many athletes get a dose of caffeine through a cup of coffee they consume before and even during competition. Serena Williams recently requested an espresso in between matches at a tennis tournament, and Matthew Dellavedova of the Cleveland Cavaliers recently revealed he drinks a cup of coffee before tipoff and at halftime.

The reason that these athletes bring coffee with them from city to city is that caffeine is known to improve athletic performance in endurance events. Drinking coffee gives athletes a little extra energy to keep in the bank during competition, and studies have shown that caffeine can improve performance significantly when used properly. Of course, there are risks involved in using coffee and caffeine in this way, as the results are not as great for those who drink coffee on a regular basis and have therefore developed a tolerance.

The other issue, which was recently brought to greater prominence during the NBA Finals, is the fact that coffee is a diuretic and can cause dehydration. This is precisely what happened to Dellavedova, as the point guard had to be taken to the hospital following one of the games to be treated for severe cramping that doctors believe was caused by excessive coffee consumption.

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