Caffeine is a stimulant drug. The word comes from the French term for coffee, café. Caffeine is a central nervous system (CNS) stimulant, having the effect of temporarily warding off drowsiness and restoring alertness. Beverages containing caffeine, such as coffee, tea, soft drinks and energy drinks enjoy great popularity; caffeine is the world's most widely consumed psychoactive substance, but unlike most other psychoactive substances, it is legal and unregulated in nearly all jurisdictions. A lot of people don't mind a cup of coffee to get themselves in the energetic mode before going to gym. Caffeine pills are also available to give you that sudden energy boost.

But in the context of bodybuilding is Caffeine good or bad?

Although Caffeine is found in a variety of foods, it is essentially a drug. This topic is highly debatable. Since caffeine is found in food, it is also considered to be a natural nutrient. So for the clarification out here, we will consider the caffeine in your coffee as a nutrient but the caffeine pill will be taken as a drug. These are the roles played by caffeine as a drug. On a positive side, coffee as a simulant helps you to combat fatigue and keeps you alert, it helps you perform better mentally and physically.

So, back to the question - Is caffeine good or bad?. The answer is simple too, caffein as long as taken in limited quantities is good, in excess it is going to be unhealthy. So lets say if you stop by a store to take a cup of coffee before you enter your gym, thats ok. But, if you supplement that cup of coffee with a caffein pill than that is going to be unhealthy. When you are going for workouts, you don't need to boost your energy level or use stimulant. Exercising stimulates your mind, body and soul. When you exercise your blood flow automatically increases and so does your heart rate. In such a situation, use of caffeine as a stimulant does not looks necessary at all.

One, thing you should remember is that caffeine is dehydrating. For muscle building you need more water intake. Drink an extra glass of water to compensate for the coffee cup and you should be fine!