Go Juice: A Look at Energy Drinks

FOOD & DRINK A Look at Energy Drinks Go-juice:

In today’s world, it seems like there is always something to do: one more errand, one more movie to watch, one more place to visit. With a never-ending “to-do” list, some people may feel there aren’t enough hours in the day to do it all, while others feel like they are lacking in energy.

Either way, it’s no surprise that for many of us energy drinks have become a staple in our daily lives – who wouldn’t want an extra boost of energy during the day?

When it comes to choosing a drink that livens you up, there are a lot of options to choose from and it’s important to know what you’re putting in your body. Understanding the options, the ingredients in them and how they work in your body can be the difference between getting a kickstart or crashing and burning.

story by Jake Hassebrock

photos By Dylan Hanson

Water

If you find yourself feeling sluggish, your energy problem might actually be a dehydration problem. Drinking 48 to 64 oz. of water a day is a good goal for most people. This equates to six to eight glasses of water or about two rounds through your standard 32 oz. Hydroflask. A quick (and maybe a little gross) way of checking your hydration level is by paying attention to color on your next trip to the bathroom. Dark yellow urine is usually an indicator of dehydration while a pale yellow or clear stream means you are drinking enough H20. An important factor in choosing an

Coffee and Tea

An important factor in choosing an energy drink is caffeine content. The FDA recommends no more than 400 mg of caffeine a day for most healthy adults. Caffeine amounts can vary, but an average cup of black tea will have about 40 mg of caffeine, which is safely below the 400 mg threshold. Different kinds of teas can have other healthy properties such as black and green teas which contain antioxidants, which prevent cell damage in our bodies, and flavonoids that protect our bodies from everyday toxins.

In terms of caffeine, a plain cup of coffee has 80 to 100 milligrams of caffeine, which is also a safe amount for most adults. However, this does not necessarily mean your favorite coffee order is particularly healthy. Drinks that have multiple shots of espresso can have more caffeine than a normal cup of coffee. Also, many coffee beverages are made with lots of sugar and syrups. A grande frappuccino from Starbucks can have more than 40 grams of sugar!

With 9.8 billion cans sold in 2021, Red Bull is one of the most popular energy drinks around with a brand that is recognized world-wide. How does its beverage stack up? One 8.4 oz. can of the original flavor has 80 mg of caffeine, which is comparable to a cup of coffee. The original Red Bull also contains 27 grams of sugar which is a relatively high amount based on the American Heart Association’s recommended 25-37 grams daily. The added sugar can be avoided with Red Bull’s sugarfree options. Red Bull also contains B vitamins and taurine.

Red Bull

While Red Bull has a similar caffeine content to coffee and can boost energy and focus, it can also boost the risk of heart problems. Studies have shown that Red Bull causes raised heart rate and blood pressure,both of which can lead to future heart problems. Because of this, if you do drink Red Bull, make sure to do so in moderation. You may want rethink drinking a Jager Bomb during your next trip to the bar. In 2010, the FDA forced companies to stop adding stimulants to alcoholic drinks like Four Loko. The ban was made for good reason: combining alcohol and caffeine is a very potent and dangerous combination. When consuming both at the same time, the energetic feeling from caffeine can override the feeling of drunkenness from alcohol. The combo makes you less aware of your intoxication even though your body still experiences impairment from the alcohol. This leads to heavier alcohol consumption and higher rates of drinking and driving among other health risks like heart palpitations.