Energy Drinks ~ What are they about?

Energy drinks are everywhere! They are often found in small cans at quick marts and claim to “energize” you and make you more alert. Some examples include:

Red Bull Energy Drink®
SoBe Adrenaline Rush®
SoBe No Fear®
Hype Energy Drink®
Red Dragon Energy Drink®
YJ Stinger®

The question you should ask ~ Are They Safe To Drink?

Unlike most food and beverages, energy drinks are regulated as supplements.

Caution - children and women who are pregnant or breastfeeding should avoid energy drinks.

Caution - energy drinks should NOT be mixed with alcohol and no more than 500 mL be consumed in one day.

Not all energy drinks that are sold have been evaluated by Health Care standards yet. If the energy has a NPN (Natural Health Product Number) on the can, it has been evaluated. Check the label.

If you have had a bad reaction to an energy drink you should let your health are provider know.

What is in Energy Drinks and Why?
Caffeine
Caffeine is a stimulant and can be found on energy drink labels listed as Guarana, yerba mate, or caffeine. Most drinks have 80 mg per 250 mL can, which is double that of soft drinks but half that of brewed coffee.

This amount of caffeine is probably not harmful for adults, but exceeds recommendations for children.
Health professional suggests no more than 45 mg/day for children 4-6 years, 62.5 mg/d for 7-9 years and 85 mg/day for children 10-12 years.
Pregnant and breast feeding women should not consume caffeine. The side effects can cause respiratory problems in unborns.

Herbs
Many energy drinks contain the herbs Gingko biloba and ginseng. These herbs do not improve performance and are added to most energy drinks in very low amounts. They can interact with drugs like warfarin and affect blood clotting, however, so be sure to talk to your doctor.

Taurine
Taurine is an amino acid and found in the diet in meat and dairy products. Some energy drinks claim that taurine makes you more alert but there is no research to show this. Most energy drinks have 1 gram of taurine per 250 mL can. The safety of such large doses is not known.

Use of Energy Drinks During Exercise?

The best choices during exercise are water or sports drinks. The high sugar content and carbonation of energy drinks can interfere with hydration which makes them a poor choice for use during exercise. Proper hydration is the main concern during exercise, especially in the heat.

Remember exercising is already increasing your heart rate!
If an energy drink is causing you to feel the jitters or making you feel uneasy, that is a sign that it is too much for your nervous system.

Taking a muli-vitamin with your meal and having a cup of coffee can often give some people the same lift.

Remember fitness is a life long journey about learning about yourself, and your body.....take notes, learn and grow mentally and physically.

~ Best always to understanding you ! The Fitness Twins ! ~