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A plethora of energy drinks lines the shelves of gas station refrigerators, most of which promise "high performance," "natural energy" and "better-for-you energy." Despite claims, the boost from energy drinks isn't much more "natural" than what a person could get from a regular carbonated beverage like Mountain Dew. "Energy drinks are not much different than a soda, but with a little bit more caffeine. They're not a healthy drink by any means," said Lona Sandon, dietician at the American Dietetics Association. "Mostly they're just loaded with caffeine to make you feel as though you're energized, but they're not really providing a health benefit."
Mystery ingredients Listed along the brim of some of the popular energy drinks are their scientific-sounding ingredients like taurine, L-carnitine, ginseng and guarana with no explanation of each ingredient's purpose. "There's not a whole lot of science and research as to what taurine does," Sandon said. "The manufacturers of these somehow claim that it enhances energy, but the science and evidence behind it just isn't there. The real answer is we don't know what taurine does." According to www.nichd.nih.gov , taurine is the most abundant free amino acid in breast milk. No evidence exists, however, that shows taurine has a benefit to fully grown adults. Without knowing very much about taurine, energy-drink manufacturers include it on the side of their cans as one of the key ingredients. But if taurine, the highest concentrated ingredient, is not the primary source of energy, the sources left are caffeine and sugar. Effects of Caffeine Sandon said caffeine is not a source of energy in itself, but rather it breaks down fats that can give you energy. She said fat breakdown will give a person more energy than carbohydrate breakdown. The problem with caffeine and sugar is that they wear off quickly and can often leave a person more tired than before the energy drink was consumed, according to a study done by the Sleep Research Centre at Loughborough University.
Other energy options Tony Ahlgrim, dietician at Central Kansas Medical Center, suggested beverages like Gatorade and POWERade to use instead of typical highly caffeinated beverages. She said there is a risk of dehydration from energy drinks, but Gatorade and POWERade don't contain caffeine. Instead, they use electrolytes, which deplete when a person is dehydrated. Some practices people can do to increase their level of energy is exercise more often, increase intake of dietary fibers and consume less sugar and fat based products, and outside of that, a restful night's sleep.
Click to read a CNN article on energy drinks .
UGGGGHHHH!!!!!!
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