in 1651 and today we drink more than 70 million cups of coffee every day.With more than 21,000 studies on coffee's stimulant, caffeine, scientists have solved pretty much every mystery associated with the popular drink, aside from the point

the recovery benefits. The sugar in honey travels quickly to recovering muscles, "so it's a good choice immediately after exercise," says Gidus.Teas contain less caffeine than coffee - herbal is caffeine-free - so they're less likely to interfere with hydration

dismutase) that are known to have anti-inflammatory properties. Some people who drink it report less muscle soreness and faster recovery rates after intense training.Performance boostWhere caffeine can come into its own is in aiding performance before

these may cause digestive problems on race day. So, if you do opt for pasta, use a simple sauce.When it comes to your choice of drink, stick to water at the evening meal. Avoid coffee and tea, which contain caffeine and can therefore disrupt your sleep

at the start of a run - dehydration will affect your performance and can trigger bowel symptoms such as cramps and diarrhoea. Avoid caffeine for 24 hours before a race because this can irritate the gut, and consider changing your sports drink; highly

.Routine ChangesTriathletes often become creatures of habit to help them balance training, work and life away from triathlon. "Transitioning into off-season eating does require a bit of mental concentration," says US professional triathlete and coach Paul Fritzsche