Energy Drink Information

Updated May 2009

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Water Bottles

Energy Drink Links

Alternative ways to boost energy

Energy drinks usually contain a lot of sugar, a lot of caffeine and too many calories. Medical experts say there are healthier ways to get a boost of energy, and there's always the risk that your lack of energy is symptomatic of a larger problem, from poor diet to sleep apnea.

One easy way to keep your energy up throughout the day is to be sure your blood sugar remains steady. That means snacking on fresh and dried fruit, vegetables, cereals and whole grains. Meals should be eaten every few hours so the blood-sugar levels stay relatively constant, preventing a dip in energy. You should get a decent amount of physical activity every day and a good night's sleep.

If you like the taste of coffee and tea, they are easy ways to get a boost of caffeine without going beyond a healthful limit of about 300 mg per day. Energy drinks may appear a healthier choice than coffee, but they're really not, because the effects of caffeine in the coffee are better understood than the effects of caffeine and other stimulants in an energy drink.

For a completely different take on energy boosters, Shower Shock Caffeinated Soap (*est. $7) is mentioned on several energy drink blogs. It contains 200 mg of caffeine per serving, with 12 servings per bar. You don't eat it, you shower with it, and the caffeine is absorbed through your skin. Several reviewers report increased alertness. Others are more skeptical.

Energy drink makers are not required by the Food and Drug Administration to list the caffeine content on the label. The Caffeine Database is the most complete source of caffeine content online, showing the amount of caffeine in popular products, including energy drinks.

An article in The New York Times, "Taste for Quick Boost Tied to Taste for Risk" discusses the link the Journal of American College Health has reported between energy-drink consumption and risky behavior by young people. Researchers aren't claiming that energy drinks cause bad behavior, but rather that the regular consumption of energy drinks by a young person could indicate that he or she is more inclined to take unhealthy risks.

BevNet.com reports that according to a Henry Ford Hospital study, people with high blood pressure or heart disease who are taking medication for those conditions should not consume energy drinks due to their caffeine and taurine levels, which can increase both blood pressure and heart rate.

Manufacturers' websites are also helpful sources of information about energy drinks. Most have ingredient labels for each product so you can compare different brands.