Energy drinks are highly-caffeinated, often-carbonated beverages that are intended to help you battle fatigue at work, when playing sports or for everyday activities. Although energy drinks aren't approved to treat any medical conditions such as obesity, some ingredients in energy drinks may speed up your metabolism. Note that these drinks are not a suitable substitute for sleep.
Caffeine
Caffeine is the main ingredient in most energy drinks. Although you may be familiar with this ingredient because it's in coffee, tea and soft drinks, energy drinks tend to contain much more caffeine than those drinks. For example, a 12-oz. serving of cola contains about 35 mg of caffeine, while a 12-oz. serving of some energy drinks contain 120 mg. According to research from the October 2010 edition of "Nutrition," caffeine can not only increase energy expenditure, or your metabolic rate, but can also increase alertness and improve reaction time.
B Vitamins
Another common ingredient in energy drinks is a B-vitamin complex. Although the B vitamins are involved in turning food you consume into fuel, they aren't metabolism-boosters, according to Jeff Hampl, professor of nutrition at Arizona State University.
Taurine
Taurine is an amino acid that is included in many energy drinks because of its purported benefits for athletic activity. However, research published in the August 2010 issue of "International Journal of Sport Nutrition and Exercise Metabolism" found that taurine did not improve athletic performance but did stimulate an increase in the rate of fat metabolism, also known as fat oxidation. This means taurine may increase the amount of fat your body burns for fuel.
Green Tea Extract
Green tea extract, often listed as EGCG on ingredient lists, is a typical ingredient in energy drinks, as it contains caffeine and may promote metabolic benefits. A review of research studies on green tea extract published in the January 2010 edition of "The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition" found that this ingredient may help boost your metabolism, with and without added caffeine.
References
- Mayo Clinic; Caffeine Content for Coffee, Tea, Soda and More; October 2009
- "Nutrition"; Caffeine - Not Just a Stimulant; M.J. Glade; October 2010
- "Redbook"; 14 Ways to Speed Up Your Metabolism; Hallie Levine
- "International Journal of Sport Nutrition and Exercise Metabolism"; The Effect of Acute Taurine Ingestion on Endurance Performance and Metabolism in Well-Trained Cyclists; J.A. Rutherford, L.L. Spriet, T. Stellingwerff; August 2010
- "The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition"; Effect of Green Tea Catechins with or without Caffeine on Anthropometric Measures: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis; O.J. Phung et al.; January 2010
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