NOS is a high-performance drink. The brand is owned by the Coca-Cola Company, and the drink is meant to raise your energy level and help you feel more awake. The name of the beverage, which stands for Nitrous Oxide Systems, is intended to be a nod to nitrous oxide, more conventionally known as laughing gas.
Types
NOS comes in both cans and bottles; each can holds 16 oz., and bottles hold either 11 or 22 oz. According to the NOS website, there are five varieties of the beverage: original, sugar-free, grape, fruit punch and loaded cherry. A single serving of NOS is just 8 oz., so each can contains two servings, a small bottle contains about one-and-a-half servings and a large bottle has nearly three servings.
Nutrition
Each 8 oz. serving of NOS contains about 110 calories and no fat, fiber or protein. A serving also provides 115 mg sodium, 27 g carbohydrates and 26 g sugar; the drink is fortified with 100 percent of a normal adult's daily value of vitamin C, vitamin B6 and vitamin B12.
Ingredients
The stimulants in NOS that enhance energy levels are caffeine and taurine, an acidic component that occurs naturally in the human digestive system. The original flavor of NOS contains primarily carbonated water sweetened with high fructose corn syrup. According to EnergyFiend.com, the drink also contains citric acid, sodium citrate, natural flavors, vitamin C, sodium citrate, D-ribose, L-carnitine, pectin, inositol, gum Arabic, sodium benzoate, ester gum, sucralose, beta-carotene, folic acid and vitamin B12.
Warning
According to EnergyFiend.com, a Missouri teenager passed out and was hospitalized after having two cans of NOS energy drink. Each can has 260 mg of caffeine, so the teen drank 520 mg in just a short time before collapsing. For most healthy adults, that amount of caffeine is not likely to be as damaging, but it is important to consume energy drinks in moderation. According to the Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, energy drinks and dietary supplements are not regulated by the Food and Drug Administration, and therefore may not meet the same health standards as products that are.
Alternatives
Sports drinks are meant to offer an energy boost as well, but many do not contain caffeine and other stimulants. An even more natural option is to sip a less processed drink, such as low-fat milk, water or 100 percent fruit juice. You won't get the same buzz that NOS is designed to provide, but you'll receive more essential nutrients that your body needs in the long term.
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