Organic Caffeine & The Benefits For Athletic Performance

Why do we only use Organic Caffeine in our Endurance Fuel products?

Let's start at the beginning, there are two basic types of caffeine, naturally occurring and synthetic.  The latter starts out with ammonia (pretty amazing what one can do with chemistry!!); it is converted to synthetic caffeine using chemicals, and this type of caffeine is quickly absorbed into the body and gives a sudden boost of energy. Natural caffeine comes from plants like green coffee beans, cacao, yerba mate, green tea, and different types of berries. Often times it is a simple soaking process to extract this caffeine. This type of caffeine is absorbed much slower than the “man-made synthetic caffeine” and will give a much gentler boost of energy. Since it is gradually absorbed into your bloodstream many of the side effects of synthetic caffeine are nonexistent. The organic certification guarantees all beans are grown organically and the process to extract the caffeine is free of chemicals. 

So how to make the best of the caffeine added to 4 of our Endurance Fuel flavors? For starters, most studies so far have shown good results at 3 to 6 mg/kg, which translates to about 200 mg for an average 160 lbs. person. It can take up to 60 minutes for the caffeine to “kick” in the “magic” (this magic is also called the ergogenic effect). In other words, it boosts your performance. It works by mobilizing available fatty acids in the bloodstream, burning them, and sparing your glycogen stores, resulting in greater endurance. It's almost like accessing a spare “gas” tank with the help of caffeine. Studies also have shown additional benefits to the central nervous system, reducing the feeling of fatigue and giving an extra boost to a workout. 

As with all good things, moderation is important. Consuming more than 500 mg of caffeine does not translate to even higher performance, because higher amounts are associated with jitters, nausea, and irritability.

By Monika Reck-Glenn