The Truth About Energy Drinks

[Chili327]

Countdown of the Top 5 Energy Drinks

 

 

 

#5.

5-Hour Energy (2 fl oz)

4 calories

0 g sugars

(Exact caffeine content not provided by the company)

 

 

The Claim: "The two-ounce energy shot takes just seconds to drink and in minutes you're feeling bright and alert. And that feeling lasts for hours."

 

The Truth: Sure, it'll give you a jolt. That's because it's mainly caffeine—about the same amount that's in one cup of coffee, according to label claims. (So somewhere between 65 to 135 mg of caffeine.) And turns out, the half-life of caffeine—the time it takes for half of the stimulant to be eliminated from your body—is about 5 hours. What's more, the company touts that since the product doesn't contain sugar, you won't experience the sugar crash that comes a couple of hours after guzzling the sweet stuff. And that's true, too. Of course, you could just grab a cup of unsweetened Joe for the same effect.

 

Is it safe? Downing a bottle should be no problem for a regular coffee drinker. Too much caffeine, however, could cause headaches, sleeplessness, nausea, hallucinations, and a spike in blood pressure. (Sodium can also spike your BP, so be careful. Check out this list of the 20 Saltiest Foods in America.)

 

 

#4.

Starbuck's Double Shot Energy and Coffee (15 fl oz)

210 calories

26 g sugars

146 mg caffeine

 

 

The Claim: "A powerful, great-tasting brew of B vitamins, guarana, ginseng, and natural proteins from milk. Charged up with coffee. That extra surge to keep you energized and alert."

 

The Truth: Most energy drinks laud their herbal supplements, but the science behind the add-ins is somewhat fuzzy. Ginseng, for example, won't give you an energy blast, although it might boost your brainpower. For instance, Australian researchers found that people who swallowed 200 mg of the extract an hour before taking a cognitive test scored significantly better than when they skipped the supplement. And guarana's benefit may simply be due to its caffeine content—a guarana seed contains 4 to 5 percent caffeine (about twice as much as a coffee bean). Fancy marketing ploys aside, the Double-Shot ultimately one-ups the competition by virtue of containing actual health-boosting coffee—a beverage that delivers disease-fighting antioxidants.

 

Is it safe? Ginseng has been shown to interact with certain medications, like the blood-thinner warfarin, potentially altering its effectiveness. And scientists at Florida's Nova Southeastern University concluded that the amount of guarana found in most energy drinks isn't large enough to cause any adverse side effects. However, there's still a question as to the safety of downing a few cans of the stuff in a brief time span.

 

 

#3.

Red Bull (8 oz)

110 calories

27 g sugars

76 mg caffeine

 

 

The Claim: "With Taurine. Vitalizes body and mind."

 

The Truth: Caffeine certainly offers brain-boosting benefits, and the added slew of B-vitamins are conceivably helpful for a more efficient metabolism. Unfortunately, the sugar and taurine work to counteract those forces. A New Zealand study found that even the 27 grams of sugar in Red Bull is enough to completely inhibit your body's ability to burn fat. And taurine, an amino acid that works as a neurotransmitter, might act more like a sedative than a stimulant, according to researchers at Weill Cornell Medical College.

 

Is it safe? Certain European countries have banned the product out of fear that its stimulant properties increase the risk of heart attack. However, a 2008 research study presented to the Federation of American Societies for Experimental Biology observed no negative side effects in people after the subjects quaffed one can. The best thing about Red Bull is the pre-packaged portion control. It's half the size of many other sweetened energy drinks, meaning half the calories and half the sugar of its supersized counterparts. Check out this shocking list of the 20 unhealthiest drinks in America.

 

 

#2.

AMP Energy (16 oz)

220 calories

58 g sugars

142 mg caffeine

 

 

The Claim: "With its energizing blend of B-Vitamins and a specially formulated intense combination of taurine, ginseng, and guarana, AMP keeps you connected and on top of your game at all times."

 

The Truth: AMP is basically a hybrid between Red Bull and Starbucks Double Shot Energy, but with more calories and sugar and without the brain-beneficial coffee—rendering it a veritable witch's brew of sweeteners, herbal supplements, and suspicious-sounding additives. (Find out why additives can be so bad—here's a list of the 11 most controversial food additives).

 

Is it safe? Just consider it a double Red Bull. One probably won't hurt, but don't make it a habit, if only for your waistline.

 

 

 

 

#1. The Worst Energy Drink

Sobe Energy Adrenaline Rush (16 oz)

260 calories

66 g sugars

152 mg caffeine

 

 

The Claim: "Elevate your game with high performance energy for your mind and body. Bold citrus taste enhanced with a unique blend of energizing elements including D-ribose, L-carnitine and taurine. So good."

 

The Truth: D-ribose and L-carnitine sound exotic, but they're simply natural compounds that your body needs for proper metabolism. While research shows that carnitine supplementation may aid in recovery from exercise, there's no strong evidence to suggest either compound helps improve performance or enhances energy levels. The massive sugar load, however, will certainly spike your energy—for a price. You see, this drink quickly sends blood glucose soaring, which sets you up for a major sugar crash to follow: British scientists discovered that sleep-deprived people who consumed a sugary drink actually had slower reaction times and more sleepiness 90 minutes later.

 

Is it safe? Not if you're diabetic or pre-diabetic. Sobe Energy Adrenaline Rush contains as much sugar as 5 and a half scoops of Edy's Slow Churned Rocky Road Ice Cream. Additionally, taurine is probably fine in small doses, but chug too many energy drinks and the picture becomes less clear. According to a recent case report from St. Joseph's Hospital in Phoenix, Arizona, three people had seizures after drinking approximately two 24-ounce energy drinks in a short period of time. Whether the seizures were due to caffeine, taurine, or pre-existing health conditions is unclear. So, limit yourself to one—at the most.

 

 

 

 

The Bottom Line: The real truth is that most people are already consuming too much energy, which is why there's an obesity problem. (Think about it.) So adding to your energy excess by guzzling a calorie- and sugar-laden drink doesn't make a lot of sense. In fact, ask yourself this: Is it a lack of incoming sugar that's causing you to be tired—or is it that you're consuming too much of it in the first place? Chances are, it's the latter.

 

Our advice: If you feel you need a boost, reach for unsweetened beverage that contains only caffeine—like a black coffee from Dunkin' Donuts. It has zero grams of sugar, 146 mg of caffeine, and just 20 calories—all for about 2 dollars.

[PACKERNUT-]

You've made me rethink my drinking habbits in a big way. I need some water!

[Chili327]

Yea they are really bad for you.. even worse if you add alcohol.

I've even stopped drinking Iced latte's and just add a little flavor to Iced Coffee now.

[-Rooster-]

dont make me hate you chili ;D

 

 

I drink sugar free red bull. about 2 a day max. Today I only had one...but it was 16.9oz not 8.

 

I love jagerbombs (sp) ... I have at times 6-10 on a saturday night. Is it still bad if its sugar free?

 

BA HUM BUG! :-\

[o-BacklasH-o]

All I will say is I don't normally drink energy drinks except if I pull a late night and have to be up to hunt in the AM, but that may change in the near future. I did a focus group to test Red Bull Energy Shot last fall. All I can say is it will be the leading energy drink/energy shot on the market without a DOUBT. I was thoroughly impressed and I've tried most all energy drinks.

[BigMoneyNacku]

Coffee. That's my energy drink. ;D

[[-VR-] Tool_Minion]

-Rooster- ]

dont make me hate you chili ;D

 

 

I drink sugar free red bull. about 2 a day max. Today I only had one...but it was 16.9oz not 8.

 

I love jagerbombs (sp) ... I have at times 6-10 on a saturday night. Is it still bad if its sugar free?

 

BA HUM BUG! :-\

 

Amen.

[SnowBud]

Sugar Free Red Bull and Vodka FTW!!!!!!!!!!

[-Rooster-]

Glad I wont die alone! ;D

 

 

Anyone try redbull soda? Not an energy drink at all...just soda. Comes in red and blue can same size. I didnt care for it alone.

 

 

[SnowBud]

-Rooster- ]

Glad I wont die alone! ;D

 

 

Anyone try redbull soda? Not an energy drink at all...just soda. Comes in red and blue can same size. I didnt care for it alone.

 

 

 

Is that the stuff that their finding cocaine in? I think I read something about countries banning it because it has traces of cocaine.

[Chili327]

I doubt it.. lol

[[-VR-] Tool_Minion]

The draw to the soda is that it's completely made from natural sources. No chemicals added.

 

It tastes like RC cola.

[SnowBud]

Chili-Palmer ]

I doubt it.. lol

 

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/worldnews/article-1187275/Red-Bull-Cola-banned-Germany--traces-cocaine-it.html

 

 

 

[Chili327]

Tool_Minion ]

It tastes like RC cola.

How DARE you..!!

 

RC is above & beyond all other Cola's. ;D

 

 

SnowBud i will insert foot here >

[SnowBud]

Chili-Palmer ]

Tool_Minion ]

It tastes like RC cola.

SnowBud i will insert foot here >

 

lol

[[-VR-] Tool_Minion]

That is honestly the best marketing scheme on the planet.

 

If you tell me that their is something on the shelves of my local convenience store that has cocaine in it, Ima friggin buy a FEW of em before they get em pulled.

[SnowBud]

Tool_Minion ]

That is honestly the best marketing scheme on the planet.

 

If you tell me that their is something on the shelves of my local convenience store that has cocaine in it, Ima friggin buy a FEW of em before they get em pulled.

 

I wonder if they were like "Hey I know how we can boost sales in slow global market right now, lets put a little cocaine in there and see if they just can't bear to not have another one".

 

And who knows Tool they could become collector items.

[[-VR-] Tool_Minion]

Well hell even if their was only one batch, and they 'leaked' the info before one was sold, it would make it so people rushed out to purchase before they were removed from shelves......

[[LA]MAXIMUS666]

Aside from water coffee and tea are the only other things I drink on a daily basis.

[Chili327]

Tool_Minion ]

Well hell even if their was only one batch, and they 'leaked' the info before one was sold, it would make it so people rushed out to purchase before they were removed from shelves......

Yea i HIGHLY doubt they actually released any substatial amount of these into the market, but the rumor will work just as well if not better to help boost sales.!!

 

By the way i heard there was traces of Coke on Gamelobby.com

[willywonka159]

Chili-Palmer ]

Yea i HIGHLY doubt they actually released any substatial amount of these into the market, but the rumor will work just as well if not better to help boost sales.!!

 

By the way i heard there was traces of Coke on Gamelobby.com

This just in: producers of the website GameLobby are arrested for possession of narcotics. More details as the story develops.

[-Rooster-]

Well, I have a few cases on the shelf....they dont sell very well. I think i need to post the story of the cocain in the store...thatll get them moving.

[Johnson30]

I used to drink at least one Monster a day. I quit them about a month ago. All I drink now is black coffee, V8 and water. I also have been going to the gym 5-6 days a week, lost 22 lbs, and have never felt better. I changed my eating habits. Slim fast for breakfast, banana/apple for coffee break, Slim fast for lunch, Maybe a chicken salad or some tuna with vegetables for dinner.

 

I figure it was just time for a real change, plus the summer co-ed football leagues are starting up!!lol.

[IRISH BULL]

BigMoneyNacku ]

Coffee. That's my energy drink. ;D

 

x2. I drink a pot when I'm at work. DD only though, best coffee hands down IMO.

[Johnson30]

IRISH BULL ]

BigMoneyNacku ]

Coffee. That's my energy drink. ;D

 

x2. I drink a pot when I'm at work. DD only though, best coffee hands down IMO.

 

DD is good, BUT I'm sure you have never had a Tim Horton's coffee?