Individuals searching for a daily boost of energy will find numerous products with varying ingredients that each work in different ways. Finding the appropriate supplement can help you gain the most benefits with minimal side effects, and prevent you from choosing a supplement that can be potentially harmful to your health. Consult with your physician before taking supplements.
Types of Energy Supplements
You can find energy supplements available in many forms, containing various active ingredients. Common energy supplements include stimulant-based energy drinks and supplements containing both caffeine and other energy boosters, creatine energy supplements that can also enhance muscle growth, and non-stimulant energy supplements that can provide complementary health benefits. Each of these supplements affect your energy levels in different ways and produce varying results.
Caffeine-Based Supplements
You can find a wide variety of caffeine-based energy drinks and supplements from convenience stores to grocery stores. These supplements contain high levels of caffeine, amino acids and sugar. Stimulant-based drinks use caffeine as their main source of energy, and can contain up to twice the amount of caffeine found in coffee. Most of these drinks contain very high levels of sugar, although some products offer sugar-free alternatives.
Another common energy drink ingredient is taurine, an antioxidant found naturally in your body.
While energy drink supplements provide you with a noticeable increase in energy, they are not particularly beneficial to your health and are relatively expensive.
Creatine Supplements
Creatine monohydrate supplements provide energy for muscles performing quick, intense movements. This can increase your energy level while exercising, but does not cause excitement or restlessness like caffeine. Creatine-based supplements may not be regarded as common energy supplements, but they can be effective in intensifying your agility exercises or weight-training efforts. Because of creatine's effect on the muscles, high contact athletes, powerlifters and weightlifters may receive the most benefit from consuming a creatine supplement.
Creatine may cause you to gain weight in the form of muscle mass and water-weight, so individuals strictly looking for an energy-only supplement may want to consider other alternatives.
Non-Stimulant Energy Supplements
Non-stimulant energy supplements use vitamins and minerals as a source for energy rather than stimulants like caffeine or ephedra. Quercetin, a plant product found in fruit skins, is the common source of energy for non-stimulant energy products. It is popularly known as an antioxidant that provides modest health benefits, but is also used as an active ingredient in energy supplements.
Some energy supplement products combine non-stimulants like quercetin with low levels of caffeine to provide both an immediate and longer lasting energy boost. Some non-stimulant supplements include B and C vitamins as a source of energy production. Your body can use vitamin B to fight disease, absorb protein and regulate metabolism, while vitamin C acts as an antioxidant and helps produce energy from food.
Warning
Drinks that contain high levels of sugar can cause unwanted weight gain and may be detrimental to your cardiovascular system. Taurine in caffeinated energy supplements typically provides negligible benefits for adults, except during highly physical or stressful situations in which your body's taurine level may be abnormally low.
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