Energy drinks are all the rage anymore; they are being consumed by both young and old. These drinks come in many variations, some boast of the addition of caffeine and sugar, others specifically boast about their caffeine free energy drinks. Usually these energy drinks do contain:
Sugar: sugar is available in a multitude of forms; dextrose, fructose, glucose, corn syrup, sucrose are among the popular sources of sugar.
Caffeine is common in energy drinks as well as tea, chocolate and many soft drinks and sports drinks.
These are the two most common ingredients; however, energy drinks may also contain ginseng, guarana, taurine and ephedra.
Over time, caffeine can act as an addictive substance, you must continue getting a caffeine fix otherwise you get headaches or you tire easily. Excessive caffeine promotes excess urine and the result is very rapid dehydration and a drop in the level of calcium, leading to brittle bones and teeth.
There are far better ways to get a jolt than to rely on caffeine, try a few of these:
* Get more sleep: A person needs between 8 and 8 ½ hours of sleep every night, unfortunately, many people get considerably less and it shows. If you find getting to sleep difficult, try winding down all activities about an hour before bed time, stay away from the computer, TV and phone. Just relax and you will fall asleep quickly once you’re in bed.
* Avoid candy: Candy gives a short-sharp-shock due to the high sugar content, but it wears off quickly and you get a ton of useless calories with every bite. Try a half bowl of trail mix, topped with a banana and a dab of peanut butter or alternatively, a bowl of whole grain cereal and low fat milk.
* Move around: When you tire, all you want to do is flop in front of the TV; you will not be getting any quality rest doing that. Get up and be active is a better bet, call a couple of friends, grab a couple caffeine free energy drinks and go for a run. Exercise increases the amount of dopamine and serotonin produced by the body, these two elements are commonly called “feel good chemicals.”
* Water: A great choice for a natural energy booster is water. When the body gets dehydrated it gets sluggish and heavy feeling. Drinking lots of water keeps you hydrated and as a result, you become more alert, focused and you move more freely. Water is cheap, water is calorie free and if you fill up a re-usable bottle with it you are also helping to save the planet.
So remember, get more sleep, stay away from candy, get moving and drink lots of water and caffeine free energy drinks.
