Energy drinks claim to provide a stimulating boost of energy to help you through your day. Usually that boost is delivered via a large dose of caffeine and sugar. Many energy drinks include other ingredients that are either stimulants, such as guarana or ginseng, or vitamins intended to provide a restorative effect. Ginkgo, an herbal ingredient that's supposed to help sharpen your mind, is another popular additive. So is taurine, a compound reputed to support general nervous system functions. Most are also carbonated.
Red Bull
Red Bull is the beverage that opened up the entire energy drink market and remains the best seller in this category. The 8.3 oz can contains 80 mg of caffeine plus taurine and B vitamins. Its citrusy taste is distinctive but not highly regarded -- people drink this for the boost, not the flavor. Red Bull also offers a sugar-free version.
Rockstar Recovery
Rockstar Recovery won BevNet's 2010 award for Best Energy Drink. This lemonade-flavored beverage contains 3 percent real fruit juice in addition to taurine, ginseng and electrolytes to help you rehydrate -- an important addition that helps balance out the dehydrating effect of high doses of caffeine. A 16-oz can contains 160 mg of caffeine and only 20 calories.
5 Hour Energy
Whereas most energy drinks emulate colas and other soft drinks, 5 Hour Energy is more like a shot, arriving in a tiny 2-oz bottle. It contains 100 mg of caffeine plus a hefty dose of B12 and other vitamins. More importantly, it contains no sugar at all, which the manufacturers claim helps avoid the peak-and- crash cycle of other drinks, plus it avoids unnecessary calories -- each bottle contains only four calories total.
Rip It A'tomic Pom Energy Fuel
The selling point of this energy drink is its taste, a pleasantly sweet grenadine flavor with no bitterness or aftertaste. That sweet flavor does come at a price, namely a lot of sugar and a high-calorie count. A 16-oz can contains 200 mg of caffeine and 260 calories. Rip It A'tomic Pom also contains guarana and provides a good dose of vitamins B6 and B12.
Guru
The "natural" in its name refers to the fact that Guru is a juice-based beverage with no artificial sweeteners, refined sugars or artificial flavors. It also contains several herbal additives including echinacea, ginseng and ginkgo. A 12-oz can contains 145 mg of caffeine. Five flavors are available and there's a "lite" version as well.
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