Energy drinks and health in the same sentence? They are usually loaded with caffeine, artificial sweeteners (Aspartame Controversy, Taurine and to make everything seem OK, artificial vitamins. This cocktail is toxic and has already started to cause serious health problems.
Many of today's youth consume energy drinks regularly. Some are starting to suffer from intestinal, kidney and heart problems. Additionally, these chemical cocktails affect one's liver, skin and reproductive organs.
This generation is graduating into adulthood without the previous generations' coffee addiction, but with a more potent daily stimulant: the energy drink. Many spend hours surfing the net or watching TV, instead of playing sports, which compounds the problem with soft drinks, increasing the incidence of diabetes and other diet-related diseases.
Why should we be concerned about this new variety of mental stimulant? A cup or two of coffee every day has never caused serious health effects. The big difference relates to where the buzz comes from: natural coffee beans vs. laboratory produced synthetic caffeine.
Like with other natural products, the caffeine in the coffee beans includes many other substances which are not easily separated from the caffeine. It comes with fibrous and other materials, which actually reduce the speed of absorption of the caffeine stimulant.
With these new drinks, the caffeine is produced in a laboratory, usually in Eastern Europe or Asia. This chemical has one big plus over natural caffeine: it is extremely powerful, perhaps too much so. All of the natural elements that come within the coffee beans or Guarana seeds or tea leaves are eliminated in factory produced caffeine. Synthetic caffeine is also easier to produce than natural caffeine, another advantage from the producer's point of view. Unfortunately, for us consumers, this potent and purely chemical caffeine shot is absorbed into our circulatory system as soon as it hits the first part of the intestine.
Natural products like the actual coffee from coffee beans, Guarana seeds or tea leaves, are absorbed more gradually by the body. They are also not as concentrated and therefore less toxic than the chemical caffeine in most energy drinks. Here are some advantages of natural caffeine (whether it be in coffee, tea or Guarana). Firstly, the increased mental alertness is longer. Instead of the instant high you get from most energy drinks and then the subsequent downfall, you get a sustained feeling of mental clarity for a few hours and the effect eventually wears off more naturally and gradually.
Secondly, continuous exposure to synthetic caffeine over saturates our nervous system. If this excessive exposure continues, our nerves go haywire. This is Mother Nature's way of telling us to be careful. Our hands may quiver, nervous habits develop; our body starts to show signs of stress not different from those related to anxiety or depression. Not recommended for anyone.
With guaranine or tea or natural coffee beans, our digestive and circulatory system can easily eliminate the excess quantities without unduly affecting the nervous system. But even with natural stimulants, they must be used carefully and not in excessive amounts. It is best to stick with one cup per day; of coffee (not the grande which is really like 6 coffees) or one 12 oz can of a natural energy drink or unsweetened cold tea.
Organic coffees are your best alternative if you choose to drink coffee. Whole Foods Markets has a wide variety of these.
Some natural energy drinks that I like are GURU Energy Drinks and Syzmo. They are both made with natural caffeine from Guarana and/or coffee. What I like about GURU is that it is entirely natural, has not artificial sweeteners or vitamins. Sysmo is made from good ingredients but is more costly, and is not a usual taste. GURU has a low-calorie drink sweetened with Stevia called (GURU Lite), which is also a favorite of mine (see my post on Benefits of Stevia: (ref: For Dollars (will) Authorize (FDA)). Both of these are available on the respective companies' website and at Whole Foods Markets.
With cold teas; naturally brewed products provide anti-oxidants in addition to the natural caffeine. A brand I like is ITOEN. They have some unsweetened products with a unique taste that grows on you after a while. Teas Teas.
Many of today's youth consume energy drinks regularly. Some are starting to suffer from intestinal, kidney and heart problems. Additionally, these chemical cocktails affect one's liver, skin and reproductive organs.
This generation is graduating into adulthood without the previous generations' coffee addiction, but with a more potent daily stimulant: the energy drink. Many spend hours surfing the net or watching TV, instead of playing sports, which compounds the problem with soft drinks, increasing the incidence of diabetes and other diet-related diseases.
Why should we be concerned about this new variety of mental stimulant? A cup or two of coffee every day has never caused serious health effects. The big difference relates to where the buzz comes from: natural coffee beans vs. laboratory produced synthetic caffeine.
Like with other natural products, the caffeine in the coffee beans includes many other substances which are not easily separated from the caffeine. It comes with fibrous and other materials, which actually reduce the speed of absorption of the caffeine stimulant.
With these new drinks, the caffeine is produced in a laboratory, usually in Eastern Europe or Asia. This chemical has one big plus over natural caffeine: it is extremely powerful, perhaps too much so. All of the natural elements that come within the coffee beans or Guarana seeds or tea leaves are eliminated in factory produced caffeine. Synthetic caffeine is also easier to produce than natural caffeine, another advantage from the producer's point of view. Unfortunately, for us consumers, this potent and purely chemical caffeine shot is absorbed into our circulatory system as soon as it hits the first part of the intestine.
Natural products like the actual coffee from coffee beans, Guarana seeds or tea leaves, are absorbed more gradually by the body. They are also not as concentrated and therefore less toxic than the chemical caffeine in most energy drinks. Here are some advantages of natural caffeine (whether it be in coffee, tea or Guarana). Firstly, the increased mental alertness is longer. Instead of the instant high you get from most energy drinks and then the subsequent downfall, you get a sustained feeling of mental clarity for a few hours and the effect eventually wears off more naturally and gradually.
Secondly, continuous exposure to synthetic caffeine over saturates our nervous system. If this excessive exposure continues, our nerves go haywire. This is Mother Nature's way of telling us to be careful. Our hands may quiver, nervous habits develop; our body starts to show signs of stress not different from those related to anxiety or depression. Not recommended for anyone.
With guaranine or tea or natural coffee beans, our digestive and circulatory system can easily eliminate the excess quantities without unduly affecting the nervous system. But even with natural stimulants, they must be used carefully and not in excessive amounts. It is best to stick with one cup per day; of coffee (not the grande which is really like 6 coffees) or one 12 oz can of a natural energy drink or unsweetened cold tea.
Organic coffees are your best alternative if you choose to drink coffee. Whole Foods Markets has a wide variety of these.
Some natural energy drinks that I like are GURU Energy Drinks and Syzmo. They are both made with natural caffeine from Guarana and/or coffee. What I like about GURU is that it is entirely natural, has not artificial sweeteners or vitamins. Sysmo is made from good ingredients but is more costly, and is not a usual taste. GURU has a low-calorie drink sweetened with Stevia called (GURU Lite), which is also a favorite of mine (see my post on Benefits of Stevia: (ref: For Dollars (will) Authorize (FDA)). Both of these are available on the respective companies' website and at Whole Foods Markets.
With cold teas; naturally brewed products provide anti-oxidants in addition to the natural caffeine. A brand I like is ITOEN. They have some unsweetened products with a unique taste that grows on you after a while. Teas Teas.
About the Author:
Dr. Jones is an expert in matters of financial matters and physical and emotional well-being. He writes and consults with a variety of organizations with a presence in the Natural Foods sector. For more, read his blog on Squidoo at Natural Foods & Drinks
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