# Caffeine before cardio?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/caffeine-before-cardio/433421>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [January 13, 2008, 11:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/caffeine-before-cardio/433421 "2008-01-13T23:07:04Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 3\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![D\_White](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/839c29/32.png) [@D\_White](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/D_White)\
**Post date:** [January 13, 2008, 11:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/caffeine-before-cardio/433421/1 "2008-01-13T23:07:04Z")

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What’s the straight dope on taking caffeine before cardio to aid in fat burning by having a thermogenic effect or even by a less direct effect such as giving one “more energy”? Google searches have given me conflicting answers. Thanks.

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**Author:** ![Moriarty](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/moriarty/32/49_2.png) [@Moriarty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Moriarty)\
**Post date:** [January 13, 2008, 11:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/caffeine-before-cardio/433421/2 "2008-01-13T23:32:56Z")

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IANAD, but I’ve previously read that a caffeine, aspirin, ephedra (this was back when ephedra was still available over the counter; a natural alternative like ma huang might be an effective substitute) stack was a potent fat burning catalyst prior to doing cardio.

Having said that, I don’t recall the ratio that should be used, nor am I knowledgable enough to advise of possible counterindications (i.e. heart health).

Nevertheless, I’ve personally used caffeine pills prior to cardio, with no ill effects. It doesn’t seem to hurt, and I figure it might help.

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**Author:** ![lalenin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/3da27b/32.png) [@lalenin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lalenin)\
**Post date:** [January 14, 2008, 4:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/caffeine-before-cardio/433421/3 "2008-01-14T16:02:54Z")

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Well, I always drink Cuban coffee (espresso with sugar), about 30 minutes before a workout. Then again, I drink Cuban coffee 8 or 9 times a day, so I might not be a good data point.