Are Energy Drinks for me?

Energy drinks

It’s so difficult to stay awake when you’ve been lounging around throughout the pandemic in your PJs all day for a few months. Now that it is time to get back to a regular schedule, you may feel like you need a caffeine boost. Well, if you are health conscious like we are, we want to know what is best for our body and how can we avoid the high sugar content.  Let’s go over some simple ingredients and which are the best energy drinks in the current market. 

Caffeine 

This plant based energy is commonly found in coffee, tea or cacao beans. Only 400 mg per day should be taken to help with alertness and wakefulness. It is used in supplements to help with headaches or migraines but can cause symptoms such as irregular heartbeat, seizures, hormone imbalance, and diarrhea when taken in large quantities. 

Green Tea Extract

Camellia sinensis leaves and buds make up green tea extract. This herb is an antioxidant that promotes healthy brain function, alertness, reduces inflammation and helps battle against common diseases such as cancer and diabetes. While this herb doesn’t necessarily give us as much caffeine as a cup of coffee, it does provide at least half and many other powerful healing properties. 

Vitamin B

Vitamins are essential for overall health and function but B vitamins play a special role in our bodies because they help metabolize food into energy. B12 is a common one heard amongst many energy supplementations because it helps form red blood cells and convert protein and fats into glucose (our body’s natural energy source). Deficiency of B12 has been known to cause fatigue and anemia. However, vitamin B6 (pyridoxine) is also known for its help in this same department. B6 metabolizes protein, fat and carbs to converts them into glucose as well as improve brain function. B1 on the other hand, commonly found in fish, nuts and whole grains is used to convert carbs and fats into glucose, too. Lastly, B3 and B5 are helpful in overall metabolism, increase energy and blood flow plus, lower cholesterol. B vitamins are vital and should be taken regardless.

Taurine 

Taurine is known to help boost exercise performance by increasing energy, decreasing exercise fatigue and muscle damage. Taking taurine in its recommended levels of 50-2500 mg per day is considered safe and tolerable. However, high doses of taurine in combination with caffeine and/or sugar can cause irregular heartbeat, vomiting or seizures. Simply knowing your dosage and watching your intake can be helpful for increased energy, brain function, and metabolism. Those whom are at risk for kidney diseases should decrease or eliminate taurine from their diets. 

Guarana

Paullinia Cupana trees grow a fruit and the seeds are used to make the supplement known as Guarana. This supplement has the ability to increase energy, reduce fatigue, heart health, weight loss, and decrease the risk of age related eye diseases. The caffeine in guarana might also speed up the nervous system. Taking guarana along with stimulant drugs might cause serious problems including increased heart rate and high blood pressure. 

While sugar can provide energy, the energy is temporary and high in calories which can cause weight gain. Other ingredients such as ginseng are advertised as energy producers but are not actually proven to be effective. Most ready to go energy drinks contain large amounts of all of the above ingredients and finding a product that is safe, healthy and effective can be a little complicated. First, speak to your doctor as an underlying condition can worsen by drinking these supplemented drinks. Here is a list of energy drinks we think are healthier besides a fresh cup of brewed black coffee or tea:

Tea Riot

This drink has only 4g of sugar, it’s made with Tea, has 180 mg of caffeine and packed with B vitamins. 

Celcius

While this drink does include sucralose in its ingredients, it is 10 calories per drink and it is packed with B vitamins and contains only 1.8 g of taurine, guarana, caffeine and green tea (staying below the recommended allowance for the day). 

MatchaBar Hustle

This drink is vegan friendly and includes 120 mg of caffeine per can with as little as 5 calories, this carbonated drink similar to Lacroix will have you ready for your day! 

EBoost

Considered “Best New Products for 2019” includes 6 times your vitamin B needs for the day, 2g of sugar provided by honey (and it does include stevia), and 110 mg of caffeine in a 15 calorie can. 

RUNA Zero

Tea in a can! Contains zero sugar and calories but still provides 120 mg of caffeine per 12 oz can. 

Next time you’re shopping, let us know if you find and try one of these! Also, name your favorite energy drink below!