| Caffeine. It's the world's most widely consumed | | | | Nervousness, headaches, anxiety are also reported, as |
| psychoactive substance - and the only one that is | | | | well as memory loss and multiple sleep disorders. |
| completely unregulated. You find it in soft drinks, | | | | When you move down to the cardiovascular level, |
| coffee, tea, energy drinks, and of course, those magic | | | | things become more serious. Caffeine mimics the |
| little "reviving" yellow pills we find on the medicine aisle. | | | | effects of epinephrine - causing heart palpitations and |
| While caffeine has always played a small role in the | | | | high blood pressure. The laundry list of symptoms |
| diet of most people (90% of Americans consume it | | | | continues. Twitching, tremors, panic attacks - all for a |
| daily), it's only recently that bodybuilders have | | | | little buzz in the gym? |
| discovered that caffeine gives them an edge. | | | | Stacking (use of multiple substances for a synergistic |
| However, caffeine has some risks and dangers that | | | | effect) caffeine with aspirin and ephedra is a highly |
| many are not aware of. While bodybuilders will spend | | | | effective thermogenic mix used by thousands of |
| hours measuring their rice and chicken to the gram, | | | | bodybuilders worldwide. The list of risks grows |
| they will often ignore the side effects of the pills they | | | | tremendously when this stack, called E.C.A., is used by |
| pop without worry. | | | | athletes to shed bodyfat. Nearly every top amateur or |
| Caffeine is tremendously beneficial to the bodybuilder. | | | | pro athlete (of both genders) uses E.C.A. in his/her |
| Alone, it is a great stimulant which can give a trainer | | | | contest preparation, and studies to this point are very |
| extra energy in the gym. It boosts the metabolism. The | | | | incomplete, as to the long term effects on the body of |
| user feels more alert and will have better blood flow | | | | using these substances. Our generation is the guinea |
| for that ever-essential pump. Used with other | | | | pig. |
| compounds, it can help the user shed a great deal of | | | | Caffeine can be your best friend of your worst |
| bodyfat with few side effects. | | | | enemy. Any bodybuilder who chooses to jump into |
| However, there are risks associated with caffeine | | | | caffeine use for improving workout quality or losing |
| especially with over periods of months or years. Let's | | | | bodyfat should take time to learn about the side |
| start with the stomach. Extended caffeine use can | | | | effects of long term caffeine use. After all, what good |
| lead to peptic ulcers, gastric reflux, and most | | | | is looking great if you're not going to be around to |
| embarrassingly, excess gas. Next comes the brain. | | | | enjoy it? |