There are so many drinks out there on the market that promise to keep you on top of your game with providing both energy and focus. Are they too good to be true?
Here’s the proof and breakdown of all the energy drinks that are full of promises, from popular book Eat This, Not That! The Best (and Worst!) Foods in America.
5-hour Energy
This energy drink is 4 calories and has 0 grams of sugar. It promises that this energy shot takes only minutes to help you feel bright and alert, lasting for hours. The nitty-gritty truth is that it contains anywhere from 65 to 135 mg caffeine (so much so the company doesn’t print the content on the item). Sure this is no problemo for your average coffee drinker, but keep in mind caffeine overload may cause headaches, sleeplessness, nausea, hallucinations and a spike in blood pressure.
Starbuck’s Double Shot Energy and Coffee
This drink contains a whopping 210 calories, 26 grams of sugar and 146 mg caffeine. It offers a brew of B-vitamins, guarana, ginseng and natural proteins from milk. The nitty-gritty truth is that most energy drinks flaunt their beverage loaded with vitamins. But, how safe are they? A guarana seed contains twice as much caffeine as a coffee bean. Ginseng may react with certain medications. Think again before downing that can.
Red Bull
This popular drink promises to vitalize the body and mind at 110 calories, 27 grams of sugar and 76 mg caffeine. Sure caffeine may offer brain boosting qualities and added B-vitamins may be helpful for metabolism. But, mix the two together and what do you get? The sugar and taurine in this drink counteracts with those forces. Taurine, may also work as a neurotransmitter acts like a sedative not a stimulant. The one plus side, it’s half the size of many other energy drinks, meaning half the calories and half the sugar.
AMP Energy
At 220 calories, 66 grams of sugar and 152 mg caffeine, this drink claims to have an energizing blend of B-vitamins keeping you on top of your game at all times. This drink is basically a hybrid between Starbuck’s Double Energy Shot and Red Bull, but it has more calories and sugar. It’s pretty much a brew of sweeteners, herbal supplements and suspicious additives. Consider this a double Red Bull and don’t make it a habit!
And the worst drink of them all is..
Sobe Energy Adrenaline Rush
This drink promises to elevate your game at 260 calories, 66 grams of sugar and 152 mg caffeine. It also contains D-Ribose and l-cartinine which may sound exotic, but they are simply natural compounds for metabolism. This drink quickly send blood glucose levels soaring, setting you up for a major sugar crash. This drink contains as much sugar as five and a half scoops of ice cream!
Urban Girl Fitness Quote of the Day:
The problem with the world is that everyone is a few drinks behind. ~Humphrey Bogart
