Caffeine alternatives?

[kloan]

Ok, so if caffeine increases cortisol.. that's no good.

Are there any decent pre-workout drinks or pills that offer a swift kick in the ass for energy, but without the caffeine?

[ubcpower]

its more an issue of stimulants--> cortisol..... i had a medical journal article that basically listed every stimulant that can be associated with cortisol release ill try and dig it up for you....thats why i wont list green tea extract, yohimbe...etc right now as they may be on that list

[piller01]

just asking how does caffeine raise cortisol?

[Ritch]

Don`t worry about it, I`m sure it won`t stall muscle growth. At one point on T-nation people were scarred to take caffeine because there was research saying it spiked insulin levels, same thing with glucosamine. Overthinking this WAY too much...

Put it this way. Say you decided to cut all the wonderfull stims because of the said cortisol increase. Your performance would drop. Alot. Which do you think is better? Stronger, more effective workouts allowing you to use higher loads, but increase cortisol using stims? Or cut all stims causing you to handle less weights, be less ampted because you choose to go the "no increased cortisol route?"

I`d say if you`re looking to getting into the zone without caffeine, your best bet would be nootropics. Acutally on t-nation there is a very good thread on this topic called brain function boosters. Read it about 4 times myself. It`s a very long thread, they just started a second version because the first one was just too long.

[dainbramaged]

or just find out what is effective in suppressing cortisol and take that with the caffeine...then you'd get no rise in cortisol and the stimulatory effects of the caffeine

[Ritch]

Vit C is reduces cortisol. I remember a while back in muscle media 2k a study using olympic athletes showing 1gram a day reduced cortisol by a very large number. I forget the exact, will try to look it up, I think I even remember in which issue it was in by the cover...

[kloan]

Interesting... high dose vitamin C is an option, I don't think I can survive without my stimes... just don't have the steam on my own for workouts.

There are some good products on the market now that make C that doesn't upset the stomache at high doses... I'd be interested to see that study that suggests it reduces cortisol.

[warlock]

Cortisol is a fact of life period, anything that stresses you will increase cortisol therefore getting it isn't a problem; getting too much of it and not being able to get rid of it is the real problem.

Wanna a kick ass pre work out drink?

2g of L-tyrosine, 20g of glutamine, 200mg caffeine (whatever source you want).

You will have great work out, mental focus plus the stimulus of caffeine is just unbeatable!

Now back to the subject, if you are having one or 2 cups of extremely strong coffee with no crap on it that will help you to detox your liver and the cortisol raise will be fine.

If you really want to get rid of cortisol go to bed before 10pm. that's when you circadian cycle is programmed to get rid of it.

Now if you want to get rid of it for good go to bed early and meditate in a daily basis that your levels of stress will decrease considerably and you cortisol output will decrease with it.

Wanna know an easy way to meditate well?? PM me.

This stuff is changing my life.

[kloan]

Dude, that's an expensive drink.. glutamine especially is so pricey.

Interesting point about going to bed, circadian rhythm, etc.. I've been going to bed super late for months now... missing a lot of day light, etc.