Energy Drinks: About, Uses, and Ingredients

 An energy drink is a type of drink containing stimulant compounds, usually caffeine, which is marketed as providing mental and physical stimulation (marketed as "energy", but distinct from food energy). They may or may not be carbonated and may also contain sugar, other sweeteners, herbal extracts, taurine, and amino acids. They are a subset of the larger group of energy products, which includes bars and gels, and distinct from sports drinks, which are advertised to enhance sports performance. There are many brands and varieties in this drink category that selecting the best energy drink in India is difficult.

Uses of Energy Drinks

Energy drinks are widely touted as products that boost energy and improve mental arousal and physical performance. Along with multivitamins, energy drinks are the most popular dietary supplement consumed by American teens and young adults. People consume energy drinks for a variety of reasons. One of the most popular is to increase mental alertness by improving brain function. But does research really show that energy drinks can provide this benefit? Multiple studies confirm that energy drinks can indeed improve measures of brain function like memory, concentration, and reaction time, while also reducing mental fatigue. Another reason people consume energy drinks is to help them function when they`re sleep-deprived or tired. Drivers on long, late-night road trips often reach for energy drinks to help them stay alert while they`re behind the wheel. Multiple studies using driving simulations have concluded that energy drinks can increase driving quality and reduce sleepiness, even in drivers who are sleep deprived.

 

Ingredients of Energy Drinks

Energy Drinks usually also contain ingredients other than Caffeine. Here are some of the most common ingredients other than caffeine:

●       Sugar: Usually the main source of calories in energy drinks, but some are sugar-free and low-carb.

●       B Vitamin: Plays an important role in converting the food you eat into the energy your body can use.

●       Amino acid derivatives: Examples are taurine and carnitine. Both are naturally produced by the body and play a role in several biological processes. 

●       Herbal Extracts: Guarana may be included to add  caffeine, but ginseng may have beneficial effects on brain function

 

Consumption Advice

Energy drinks can provide some of the promised benefits by boosting brain function and helping them function when they are tired or sleep-deprived. However, energy drinks have many health concerns. In particular, it is related to overdose of caffeine, sugar, and mixing with alcohol.  If you drink energy drinks, limit your intake to 16 ounces (473 ml) per day and avoid "energy shots". Also, try to reduce your intake of other caffeine drinks to avoid the negative effects of having too much caffeine. Some people, including pregnant and lactating women, children, and adolescents, should avoid energy drinks altogether.

 

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