Alternatives to Energy Drinks?

Hi,

I am a doctor..

Hope this will help...

“Energy drinks” seem to be the buzz word among a lot of young adults both internationally and locally. The web sites as well as advertisements in the mass media for these products are full of images of macho lifestyles. They promote beverages containing ingredients that sound scientific, but may be unfamiliar to many consumers.

While we all need an energy boost from time to time, an energy drink may not be the best way to get it, experts say. The FDA (Food and Drug Administration of the US-The US government agency responsible for ensuring the safety and effectiveness of all drugs, biologics, vaccines, and medical devices) does not define the term "energy drink"; that label is up to manufacturers' discretion.

"There is scant scientific support for these ingredients to make the kind of claims manufacturers use in hyping their products," says Suzanne Farrell, MS, RD, a spokeswoman for the American Dietetic Association. "Most of the energy from these drinks comes from the sugar and caffeine, not from the unnecessary extras."

She also points out these drinks contain plenty of calories from sugar, which can add up quickly if you drink a few cans.

Aside from caffeine and sugar, some of the more common ingredients are taurine, ginseng, guarana, vitamins, and green tea.

"Most of the energy drinks contain high-tech-sounding ingredients that are not controlled substances, of no value, and potentially harmful" in large amounts, adds Cynthia Sass, MPH, MA, RD, specialist in sports dietetics, in USA.

And trying to figure out exactly how much of each stimulant is contained in an energy drink can be difficult, she says.

"The amount of the stimulants is not always listed on the label, and even when the information is listed, it is hard for consumers to interpret because we are not familiar with these ingredients.

One ingredient most people are familiar with is caffeine, and "what we do know is that large doses of caffeine can be very dehydrating.

While one cup (8 ounces) of strong coffee has about 125-150 milligrams of caffeine and a 12-ounce can of ordinary cola has 35-38 milligrams, an 8.3-ounce can of energy drink may contain upto 280 milligrams. In general, caffeine consumption should be limited to about 200-300 milligrams per day, says Farrell.

Easy to Drink

One of the concerns about energy drinks is how easy it is to drink large quantities of these sweet beverages.

Energy drinks contain multiple stimulants that, when combined, can be dangerous and have a very powerful effect on the body. Most people know how much caffeine they can tolerate, but may not be familiar with the effects of some of the other ingredients.

Such possible symptoms are upset stomach, leg weakness, heart palpitations, being jittery, nervousness, and more. Drink these energy drinks on an empty stomach and the effects can be magnified.

There will be an energy burst, but it could also lead to agitation, difficulty concentrating, hyperactivity, a problem sleeping, nausea, and affect blood pressure.

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Fuel for Workouts?

Don’t be misled into thinking energy drinks will power up your workouts.

"If you take an energy drink before exercise, it could increase your blood pressure, overstimulate your heart or nervous system, resulting in a number of potential side effects on your body," she says. "You might think there would be no risk to drinking an energy drink, but some of these products have powerful, drug-like effects and should not be underestimated."

Her advice: "If you have any medical condition, hypertension, or heart disease, avoid all drinks that have multiple stimulants."

If you want to try an energy drink, she recommends trying a small amount the first time with a meal to see how your body reacts to it. She advises avoiding physical exertion during this trial period.

Need a Boost?

When you need a boost -- whether to study for a test, prepare for a workout, or just get past an afternoon slump -- there are healthier ways than energy drinks, the experts say. Among the energy-boosters they recommend are a healthy diet, physical activity, and a good night’s sleep.

And when you need a quick fix? Energy drinks sound like they would be better than a latte, but a coffee drink made with skim or soy milk is a much better choice because we know more about the effects of caffeine.

They recommend no more than 2-3 servings a day of caffeinated beverages, preferably served along with food. If you find caffeine overly stimulating, try decaf or half-caffeinated beverages.

Other energizing beverages include sports drinks, fruit juices, water, low-fat milk, and good, old- fashioned water. "Drink more water," suggests Farrell. "Being dehydrated can lead to fatigue."

Also make sure you're getting enough carbohydrates. Fresh and dried fruit, vegetables, cereal, low-fat yogurt, and whole-grain breads are just a few of the many nourishing foods that can give you energy.

Eat meals every few hours, don’t skip meals, and take a good look at your eating and sleeping habits.

If you're feeling run down, take a look at the reasons why you are so tired instead of trying to fix it with energy drinks.

Try to get more sleep or increase your physical activity -- both will help sagging energy levels.

The bottom line is that while energy drinks are not necessarily harmful, many just don’t live up to most of the claims they make. Think of them as drinks that are highly concentrated in sugar and caffeine, and drink them with caution.

We don't need energy drinks. "Don't take trendy energy drinks at face value. Question the marketing of these products, and find alternatives that contain ingredients that are known to be healthful."

If you have more queries, feel free to write to me..

Your boyfriend is burning the candle at both ends. Also it's a double edged sword. Now his body requires sleep and to deprive it of sleep will only cause a list of risks that goes on forever. Not receiving enough sleep will make you tired as it is, but adding in energy drinks makes the effect expotential. The reason is that the energy drinks provide a flight response in your body that causes neurons to react more sensitively and more quickly than they normally would. After that fuel has ran out, your body crashes. Also, too much caffeine and other chemicals in those drinks can cause you to go into cardiac arrest.

His blood pressure has most likely gone up as well as his heart rate which the effects of over time is catastrophic. Imagine taking your hand and smacking it against the side of a car door lightly. Over time the damage you will do is minimal at best but now take a sledge hammar and swing at that door as hard as you can. This is what high blood pressure and fast heart rates combined do to your arterial walls. Whats worse is that with the amount of sleep he gets and the risk factors that go with it along that and also with those drinks, he's looking at premature death dying 20-30 years younger than he should or sooner. His arteries can rupture and his heart can leak. If this happens, it is a certainty that he would have a very poor quality of life for the remainder of it.

He needs to get enough sleep. He can take vitamin B-12 as this usually increases the energy level in people. Your energy drops like flies without enough sleep however. Moderate caffiene is alright but more than two cups of coffee is detrimental to your health.

My advice, he should find a different job. Even if he made only half what he makes now. His lifestyle will kill him. It won't "might" kill him, it "will" kill him. Pay now or pay later, when you pay later its always much worse. He needs a different job, no if's and's or but's. Hope this helps, stay healthy.

The best thing for your boyfriend to do would be to rearrange his schedule in whatever way he can so that he can get a good night's sleep. I understand the necessity of working 18-hour days, though, as there have been times in my life when I've had to do so myself. So, if there's no practical way at this time for your boyfriend to change his schedule, he might investigate two pharmaceuticals - adrafinil and modafinil. Both can be ordered from European websites without a prescription. The US military (Air Force, I believe) gives modafinil to help its pilots stay awake and alert on very long missions. Both substances are also prescribed to narcoleptics to help them stay awake. One advantage of these over traditional central nervous system stimulants (speed, benzedrine, etc.) is that they don't usually make the person taking them feel wired, shaky, or stressed out. It's also possible to sleep after taking them if the user decides to do so, but, if the user wants to stay awake, she finds it quite easy to maintain a wakeful state of alertness even if she is significantly sleep deprived.

But, there are always negatives to substances like this. Prolonged use of adrafinil can cause elevated liver enzymes, which indicates the possibility of permanently damaging one's liver. Modafinil does not have this effect, but it is very expensive, running about $5.00 or $6.00 for a single pill. Still, depending on how much Monster your boyfriend actually drinks, he might not have to spend any more on modafinil.

As far as whether the -afinils are actually safer than energy drinks, I can't say. From the research I've done on energy drinks, the verdict is still out on just how bad they are for you. The worst I've read about drinking them on their own without alcohol or other substances is that they tend to aggravate cardiovascular problems in those who already have them. I've read that modafinil, on the other hand, is quite safe - safe enough that the FDA has approved it for regular, daily use by narcoleptics - and that even adrafinil doesn't pose any real health threats until one has used it daily for a few weeks or more. (OK, I know that many out there would say that FDA approval really doesn't say much about a product's safety, but that's a different conversation.)

Regardless, I urge your boyfriend to do his own research on these substances before he considers using them, and then carefully weigh the pros and cons. In other words, don't just take it from me. Consuming any drug comes with a certain amount of risk, and there's always the chance that those drugs that haven't been studied and consumed extensively over the last forty years or so have negative health effects that haven't yet been discovered.

Also, two herbs your boyfriend might consider are tulsi, an East Indian medicinal plant synonymous with "holy basil," and rhodiola rosea, a Siberian plant supposedly used by the Mongols in Siberia to maintain high energy levels and promote a sense of well-being. Both are available online or in health food stores in the United States, and many people report very positive effects from them. I personally, have been taking a small, daily dose of each for several months, and I notice a pretty definite effect. This is unlike what I've experienced with a lot of other herbs on the market, many for which I could easily accept that what I think I feel is nothing more than the placebo effect/wishful thinking.

Again, please have your boyfriend research these substances well before trying them.

Good healthy food and vitamins. Working exhausted is never safe, even on energy drinks.

He should try adjusting his schedule, getting more rest and eating healthy.