are there any 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 or come to

www.medicguide.org

this is a free site done by me and other doctors for all the people with health related problems....

If you want to try Ginseng then look around at Cost Co. for the best price.

They have a Cost Co. Brand that has all 3 or 4 types of Ginseng in 1 gel cap.

Caffeine is a highly addictive and your tolerances go up SUPER QUICK... It takes about a week to finish withdrawel but after you get off of it you will see that you can do just as well without it.

The best way to perk up without stimulents is to make sure that you are not dehydrated, that you get at least 15 min's of direct sunlight in the morning, and that you get about 15 min's of exercise in the afternoon.

Oh, and don't eat a huge lunch or a lunch made up of carbs.

The afternoon slump has 3 distinct causes for the average person:

1. They didn't eat lunch at all and they are out of "fuel"

2. They ate a big lunch and the body has pushed all it's energy into digesting it.

3. They ate a lot of carbs, they got converted to sugar, the sugar gets burned QUICK and their bloodsugar crashed.

If you make sure that you don't ever get super hungry then you always have your blood sugar at an even levle so you don't have the up's and down's of eating then getting really hungry.

Just think about your biology and do what seems logical and your body will run at it's peak!

Yes there are healthier alternatives for energy drinks. I drink AdvoCare's Spark everyday along with all my family and friends. We simply love the product! It is 45 calories, has 21 vitamins, tons of amino acids, with 120 mg caffeine. I take half of one a day so I'm only ingesting 60 mg caffeine. It sharpens mental focus, lasts 4-5 hours, and the flavors are amazing!! I am a mother and this keeps me going throughout the day. There is no jittery feeling or crash because of all the vitamins and aminos packed in the product. Feel free to look into www.advocare.com/140456771 to learn more about Spark and other products AdvoCare has to offer. Email me through that site if you have any questions, I'm here to help!! Thanks

I'd suggest freshly squeezed grapefruit juice.

Also take vitamins and eat organic food and exercise.

Here are some good ideas:

1. Do something that gets your heart rate up a bit like, walking, running, biking, and swimming.

2. Eat Whole, Organic foods like: Broccoli, Cabbage, Organic Brown Rice, Beans, Spinach, Sweet Potato, Apples, and other fruits and vegetables in their Natural State.

3. Avoid eating corn, white bread, white rice, white potatoes, candy, sodas, chips, and anything else that you already know you shouldn���t be eating.

4. Drink clean water as your beverage of choice. Avoid Fruit drinks and fruit juices (unless YOU juice them yourself)

5. Stop smoking, drinking beer & wine, and drinking coffee.

6. Get 8 hours of sleep each night.

7. Hang out with people who want to be healthy.

8. Avoid anything with High Fructose Corn Syrup.

9. Look into taking a multi-vitamin.

Tone up the muscles:

1. Join a gym and get a trainer.

2. If you’re short on cash, start a light stretching & yoga regimen.

3. Do push-ups, and light dumbbell curls for the upper body.

4. As I said above, walk, run, swim, and or bike

5. Take an aerobics class, a yoga class, or some other fitness class.

6. Join the local YMCA.

7. Buy or borrow this book by Bill Pearl called GETTING STRONGER.

In the book, he describes everything you need for a great fitness plan.

8. Crunches & Curl ups for the abs.

Mental Health:

1. Get a friend to talk to each day about your feelings.

2. If you have some money or insurance, get a counselor to talk to.

3. Learn how to meditate.

4. Join a support group for the issue you’re dealing with.

5. Ask your Higher Self (or God) for guidance.

6. Start keeping a diary or journal about your feelings & thoughts.

7. Write a ‘gratitude’ list every night.

8. Do something that makes you happy each day like: listen to your favorite music, draw, paint, write, or anything creative.

9. Do something for someone else who needs help.

10. If the above suggestions don't improve your mental health, talk with your therapist about the possibility of taking some medication.

11. Check out the book FEELING GOOD by David Burns.

Take care of yourself

Yam King

I think sports drinks can be a alternative to energy drinks but taking in energy drinks in a moderate way is ok.

Of course! You can get many vitamins naturally from fruits and vegetables which are just as conveniently available. Surprisingly, they contain the essential ingredients to keep you full of energy without putting potentially harmful things into your body. They're easy to cut up and take with you on the run or road.

You could try Ginseng it's a natural alternative to Coffee. There are three different types of Ginseng: Panax, Siberian and American. Just make sure you get it in a liquid form or in gel caps it gets into your body quicker.

Maybe one or two energy drinks wont harm ,but drinking to much will harm you for sure,read this article about why you should avoid enery drinks,also read the other article about making your own energy drink at home in a natural way:

http://www.healthnaturalguide.com/2014/02/4-reason...

http://www.healthnaturalguide.com/2013/09/homemade...

Elan Sport probably is the best Nutritional Energy Drink. It helps optimize your wellness goals.

http://www.elansport.net/

I'm a sales rep for an energy shot that is full of vitamins and no caffeine or niacin.