You hardly get any sleep, you have a long day of work or class or that half marathon that your friends forced you to sign up for looming ahead and you just feel like you need something to give you that extra boost of energy. We have all felt like this plenty of times.
Energy drink and energy shots companies thrive on that because they know that most people will turn to their products to help them get through their day. These products are everywhere, from supermarkets, to drug stores and in vending machines.
These little bottles promise to provide you with energy and alertness to go about your business. They promise you superhuman powers to help you conquer the world. Apparently, Super Mario and Donkey Kong even have their own energy drinks . Many of these drinks also have more ingredients listed than those at on a VIP Guest list at the popping club. However, have you ever really stopped to think about what exactly it is that they are offering and whether or not they work or is it just another attempt for companies to make lots of dinero?
What to know about common Energy Drink Ingredients
- Most simply consist of sugar, not the type you find in fruits…no just plain old simple sugar. Sugar is used as a source of fuel by your body, but the amount in these drinks is way more than your daily allowance…so guess what happens to all that excess sugar not utilized by your body…yip its stored back into fat. Therefore, if you are trying to lose weight, you could actually be stalling your progress.
- These drinks also have large amounts of caffeine which if you consume too much of it can increase your heart rate, cause anxiety, jitteriness and dehydration.
- The amino acid Taurine is also frequently used. Even though it can be found naturally in the diet, studies have shown that when coupled with caffeine it causes the heart rate to increase and more blood is pumped from the heart. This explains why after consuming these drinks you may feel jittery and your heart feels heavy.
- More than 100% of your daily B Vitamin intake is found in these products. You most likely are already getting enough from your diet alone and guess what happens to excess vitamins…they are excreted through your urine. So really you are paying for them but most likely don’t use them.
- Majority of the drinks also have the herb Guruana which is a type of caffeine. The side effects of this herb when combined with the other ingredients are still unknown.
Pretty much all I am saying is just be careful of what you are consuming. Don’t think that just because you see it being advertised its safe for consumption. If you need to take these energy drinks, occasionally that’s OK but if you constantly rely on these drinks for energy…I would really think aboout what you are consuming. Why waste your money on expensive energy drinks when it is well known that the best way to supply your body with adequate energy is to east lots of protein, whole grains, fruits, and vegetables, plenty of water as well as get adequate sleep.
