Caffeine Pills Vs. Coffee: Which Is The Better Choice? Get Energy at Prolab Nutrition
Posted by Prolab Nutrition on 23rd Mar 2022
The Benefits of Caffeine
Caffeine can be extremely beneficial to training.
Focus: Caffeine affects areas of the brain that improve focus and concentration.
Fat Loss: Caffeine is a thermogenic shown to help burn fat and increase body temperature to help burn more calories.
Performance: Caffeine stimulates epinephrine, the body's fight or flight hormone, which can help improve performance and endurance.
Exercise High: Because caffeine can help produce endorphins, it can also help you feel great during and after your workout.
Besides helping you get through your morning workout or evening run, caffeine also offers additional benefits.
- Studies show two cups of coffee a day can decrease the risk for cancer of the colon by 20 percent.
- Caffeine fans are also 75 percent less likely to develop Parkinson’s disease.
- It’s helpful in the reducing symptoms of asthma, headaches and menstrual cramps, too.
- And some studies show when combining caffeine with exercise that you could reduce pre-cancerous skin cells.
Now, don’t go and drink a whole carafe of coffee. Three cups a day, or 300mg is considered moderate.
So, there you have it, the science behind caffeine and the surprising additional benefits of taking caffeine.
Coffee Vs Caffeine Tablets
If you are debating between caffeine pills versus coffee, it's important to know the different health implications. In addition to giving you a jolt of energy in the morning, coffee can offer antioxidants and key nutrients, such as riboflavin and vitamins B5 and B3, which you most likely won’t find in caffeine tablets.
The ingredients in coffee promote brain health. Coffee has other benefits such improved memory and mental performance. However, more research is needed to confirm these findings.
Caffeine tablets are beneficial for those who want to stay alert and energized but can't drink coffee or tea. Coffee can be irritating and cause heartburn or acid reflux in those with digestive issues. Caffeine, its active ingredient, is a diuretic and causes you to urinate more, so both coffee and the pills will this effect. Lastly, some people just don't enjoy the taste of coffee and would prefer caffeine in pill form.
How Much Caffeine Is Safe?
The FDA says that caffeine can be part of a healthy diet when consumed in moderation. Most consumers associate it with coffee, but it is also found in chocolate and cola. Energy drinks usually contain caffeine and guarana, a plant that contains caffeine. Along with commercial weight loss pills. But how much caffeine is safe? The FDA says that about 400 milligrams per day is a safe amount for healthy adults.
Coffee contains anywhere from 80 to 100 milligrams in a single cup, so you should drink no more than four or five cups per day. Caffeine tablets typically have about 200 milligrams in one pill, which is the equivalent of two coffee cups.
A 12-ounce can of soda provides 30 to 40 milligrams of caffeine, while an 8-ounce cup of tea boasts 30 to 50 milligrams. Energy drinks can have up to 250 milligrams per serving (8 fluid ounces), points out the FDA.
According to the same source, children and teens should not consume caffeine. If you are pregnant, breastfeeding, trying to become pregnant or suffering from certain conditions, you may be more sensitive to its side effects. Consult a doctor to determine whether or not caffeine is safe for you
Price Difference
The most prevalent arguments between caffeine pills and coffee is the price. The cost of a regular coffee habit can be quite high, though it depends a lot on whether you drink straight black coffee brewed from crystals out of a tin or go with "processed" coffee imported from an exotic locale and roasted, ground, and brewed fresh every morning, or even just getting your daily Starbucks hit.
There are plenty of articles written about the high price of coffee, with compound interest calculations and strange comparisons. The fact is, claiming that the true cost of anything is all the lost interest you would have had from investing that money is nonsense.
Caffeine pills also cost money. They cost a lot less, though. A simple bottle of 100 tablets costs somewhere under $10 from a variety of different sellers. In order to equal a $10 a day coffee habit, you would need to be downing a near-fatal number of caffeine pills.
No matter what your caffeine of choice is, you'd have to try very hard to get the price of coffee under the price of pills. We're going to give caffeine pills the edge on this one - they are a better value.
Final Verdict
Price: Pills
Strength: Pills
Efficacy over time: Pills
Time costs: Pills
Tolerances: Pills
Social implications: Coffee
Additional nutrients: Coffee
Sugar and calories: Pills
Risks: Coffee
Coffee only pulls ahead in a few categories, although one of them is very important. Pills are, generally the healthier option and the better choice for long term energy, weight loss assistance, and health. Really, the choice is yours; do you prefer the breaks, socialization, and experience of coffee, or do you just want the energy without all the hassle?