Strange But True Fitness Tips #16: Take a Caffeine Nap

When we're sleepy, most of us consider one of two options:

1. Drink a cup of coffee and let the caffeine push back the tiredness
2. Take a short nap

But mixing the two? Is that a good idea? According to the Japanese, it is! Studies have discovered that drinking caffeine before taking a nap is the best way to feel refreshed in the middle of a long day. Caffeine clears your brain of a molecule known as adenosine, which is responsible for your sleepiness. However, it takes about 20 minutes to get the job done, so you have just the right amount of time for a nap. [caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="700"] Source: healthambition.com[/caption] By the time your 20-minute nap is done, the caffeine has eliminated the adenosine and you feel more alert and energized. Participants in the Japanese study who drank coffee before a nap were not only more alert after waking up, but performed better on a number of tests than those who skipped the pre-nap coffee.  

Featured Image Source:tenhomaufeitio.blogs.sapo.pt

Resources: http://www.vox.com/2014/8/28/6074177/coffee-naps-caffeine-science