ABSTRACT
Although the use of caffeine and tannins from food and beverages has been in existence for many centuries, recently their recognition in the scientific arena has gained much popularity.1,2 Several animal and human studies have demonstrated the effects of caffeine and or tannins in improving athletic performance and enhancing overall health status.3-19 This chapter will focus primarily on research within the past 10 years and its implications on athletes. Even though scholarly evidence on the influence of caffeine/tannins in middle-aged recreational athletes is lacking, information extrapolated from research associated with other athletes will definitely add muchwarranted value to the growing body of knowledge.
