According to a Jan. 4, 2007, segment on NPR's "Morning Edition," teenagers and young adults spend $2.3 billion on highly-caffeinated energy drinks like Monster, Red Bull, Amp and Full Throttle. Some of the energy drinks contain five times the amount of caffeine found in soda. Others contain vitamins and other stimulants to help boost energy. With so many different energy drinks on the market, it is important to know what you are consuming.
Caffeine
Caffeine is a main ingredient in energy drinks. Most energy drinks contain at least as much caffeine as coffee. On average, an eight-ounce cup of coffee contains 40 to 125 milligrams of caffeine. Most energy drinks contain 70 to 200 milligrams. For example, a can of Monster has 160 milligrams of caffeine and Jolt Energy has 280 milligrams. Caffeine stimulates the central nervous system and can also raise blood pressure and heart rate.
Sugar
Energy drinks contain high levels of sugar, often even higher than the levels found in soda. For example, a Sprite contains 39 milligrams of sugar and Coca-Cola contains 40.5. A SoBe Energy Citrus contains 78 milligrams of sugar and Full Throttle contains 58.
Taurine
Taurine is an added ingredient in many energy drinks. It is an amino acid that your body produces naturally. It is responsible for regulating your heart beat, muscle contractions and energy levels.
Guarana
Guarana or guaranine comes from the seeds of the guarana plant, which grows in parts of South America. These seeds contain high levels of caffeine. For years, people in the Amazon have used them as a stimulant for energy. According to Energy Fiend, the guarana seeds are denser in caffeine than coffee beans, with 3 to 4 percent vs. 1 to 2 percent.
Ginseng
Ginseng is a root used to help increase energy and decrease stress in the body. It can be found in teas and as an added ingredient in many energy drinks today.
B Vitamins
B vitamins are found naturally in certain foods like turkey, bananas, liver and peppers, and they help to convert food to energy. Supplements are often found in energy drinks to act as a source of energy.
Member Comments