Energy drinks are like cigarettes were in their own lethal day; they are popular but can be detrimental to your health. At least the cigarette packs warn the user about the ill effects of smoking; your self-destruction is at least a conscious choice. With energy drinks, many people don’t know how what danger lies therein.
These beverages will give you an energy boost as they claim. The problem is that they give you other things that are not so good as well.
So here is the low down from bad to worse on these culprits, straight from the horse’s mouth (well, sort of).
#5. The 5-Hour Energy Drink
This drink promises that the two-ounce energy shot takes just minutes to transform the drinker into a bright and alert person who will remain that way for hours. Because it has caffeine, that does happen, but the jolt is no different than that experienced from a cup of unsweetened coffee. One bottle will cause no harm for a regular coffee drinker, but too much caffeine can cause headaches, nausea and a spike in blood pressure, among other things.
#4. Starbuck’s Double Shot Energy and Coffee
This drink, which claims to be a blend of B vitamins, ginseng, guarana and protein charged with coffee, contains 146mg of caffeine, 26 grams of sugar and 210 calories. What’s misleading here is the implied promise of the effect of herbal content and the unmentioned problems that can arise with the interaction of ginseng and guarana with certain medications such as the blood-thinner, warfarin. One bottle may be okay but a few in quick succession (easy to do) could be problematic.
#3. Red Bull
This 110 calorie, 76 mg caffeine and 27 gram of sugar drink promises a vitalization of both body and mind with its combination of sugar and taurine, an amino acid that works as a neurotransmitter. According to researchers at Weill Cornell Medical College, the sugar and taurine counteract each other, inhibiting the body’s ability to burn fat and acting more like a sedative than a stimulant. One can won’t hurt, but the best thing about Red Bull is the pre-packaged portion control, as it is half the size of many other sweetened energy drinks.
#2. AMP Energy
With 142 mg caffeine and 58 grams of sugar, this 220-calorie drink is a combination of sweeteners, herbal supplements, and suspicious-sounding additives that lies somewhere between #s 4 and 3. It has more calories and sugar (58 g) than the other two and its benefits are questionable at best. One can will do no harm, except maybe to your waistline.
#1. Sobe Energy Adrenaline Rush
The bold citrus taste of this 260-calorie drink may seem exotic, but the massive sugar load that will surely spike energy comes at a very hefty price. This drink quickly sends blood glucose soaring, which causes a major sugar crash. It should be avoided at all costs by anyone diabetic or pre-diabetic, as it contains as much sugar (66 grams) as 5-1/2 scoops of Edy’s Slow Churned Rocky Road Ice Cream.
In conclusion, if you feel you need a boost, reach for an unsweetened beverage that contains only caffeine such as good old black coffee from Dunkin’ Donuts. It has zero grams of sugar, 146 mg of caffeine, just 20 calories and costs about 2 bucks.
marjorie
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i looooooooove red bull but after reading this, i think im gonna slow my habit down a bit………….