Stay Healthy

Many of us are under the impression that it takes many complex ingredients to create an energy drink that works. In actuality any old Joe has the ability to make their own drink if they have the right ingredients and know exactly what to do. “There are many energy ingredients on the market, and B vitamins, guarana, and ginseng are the ones our customers are most familiar with,” says product development manager for Starbucks Doubleshot Energy + Coffee - Ruby Amegah. Starbucks decided to share their ingredients with the world.

The problem with is that they are allowing consumer research influence the ingredients that many energy drink companies use and this helps to make them more popular. Certain of these ingredients may seem to work – but many scientists have not been able to discover their full potential and know exactly what they can do to someone.

Starbucks plan has certainly worked. Americans last year paid $4.2 billion on energy drinks. The recipe for these concoctions (which hasn’t changed much since it was first created over a dozen years ago) includes a large dose of sugar, caffeine, and small amounts of substances like ginseng, taurine, and guarana.

The question many people should be asking themselves is whether or not these drinks are really working to energize our bodies and to make our minds more sharp. Are they good or bad for us?

It is true that energy drinks can give us that jolt of awareness when we most desperately need it – but we have to beware of the crash that comes after it has worn off. It is important that a person does not consume too many energy drinks in one day without drinking water because it can cause damage to our kidneys.

Also too much caffeine and sugar over a long period of time can cause us to become addicted to them and if we are constantly drinking them we will find that more then our kidneys are affected. The large amounts of caffeine can affect our metabolism and can in fact cause it slow down making it difficult for some of us to lose the weight we want.

Energy drinks can help – but they need to be consumed in moderation. If you have any questions or health concerns you should talk to your physician and get their opinion.