The Energy Drink Blog

A great workout may get your heart pumping and blood flowing, however it may also leave you feeling drained and depleted of energy. With so many options on the market, which is the best choice for a sports drink?

Sports energy drinks are specially formulated to replenish electrolytes and carbohydrates that are lost as a result of vigorous exercise. It is recommended that 4-6 ounces of water be consumed for every 15-20 minutes of exercise. While it is important to replenish fluid that is lost as a result of exercise, it is important to replenish vitamins and minerals as well. For this reason many people opt for a sports drink.

While sports drinks provide vitamins and nutrients that regular water may be lacking or only contain trace amounts, it is important to choose a sports drink that does not contain a lot of sugar and carbohydrates.  They You can even make your own sports drink at home by combining water, sugar, salt and flavorings such as citrus fruit or unsweetened drink mixes such as Kool-Aid together and refrigerating.

There has been a lot of debate over the “healthiness” of sports drinks. The sports drink industry reported sales of more than $7 billion in 2007. While advertised as a healthy drink, many sports drinks contain 20 grams of sugar or more and incredibly high amounts of sodium. It is these ingredients that people are concerned about because of the health problems like obesity and high blood pressure that they are linked to. Studies showed that students who drank 1 sports drink a day for a year gained between 10 and 15 pounds.

Not limited to sports drinks, sugar and calorie laden beverages are a sneaky source of calories that can ruin the diet many people adhere to.  For people who are looking for a sweet, healthy drink, many people have found protein shakes a good alternative.

Can your mood be influenced by what you eat? As the saying goes, “you are what you eat,” so it is quite possible that your daily outlook can be a product of your diet.

A cheery outlook can be attributed in part to serotonin. Serotonin is a mood enhancing chemical that is synthesized by the amino acid tryptophan, and is responsible for controlling anger, appetite, aggression, body temperature, sexuality, and metabolism. Additionally, foods which are high in tryptophan such as turkey, increase serotonin levels to induce sleep. For this reason it is one of the best natural sleep aids. Foods that are rich in serotonin include walnuts, poultry, eggs, milk and whole grain carbohydrates.

While the above mentioned foods are the most effective serotonin boosting foods, recent studies have shown that mood is also affected by fat.  British researchers have found that people who eat an extremely low fat diet are often grumpier and more hostile than those who eat a diet that is higher in fat.

Not all fat is treated equal though. Sources of fat that are not good for the body and mind include the drive-up window at any fast food restaurant. Instead, healthy sources of fat include the following: chocolate, fish, as well as foods rich in vitamins D and B. It is not uncommon for some energy drinks to also contain these essential vitamins.

Eating “good mood” foods is only part of the equation. Moderation and exercise are also important factors to the overall mood of and individual. It is important to not over-consume these foods as they may lead to weight gain. Some people who have trouble controlling their appetite have found hoodia pills a great source of appetite suppression.

In today’s fast paced society a lot of people lack the necessary energy to keep up with their schedules. Everything from work to taking care of the kids can take its toll on the human body. Given that we can’t pause the day and relax, a lot of us rely upon energy drinks to help us through the day.

Just as with everything else, when it comes down to purchasing energy drinks there are many options. However, many energy boosting beverages which are available today are not good for your body or your waistline. Majority of these drinks are able to offer the consumer an instant buzz mostly due to the fact that they are made up of pure sugar. An eight ounce can have up to 16 teaspoons of sugar. Therefore, not only are we drinking hundreds of empty calories, but we are also setting ourselves up for a sugary crash. When we consume sugar infused products are blood glucose levels tend to spike up quickly and they tend to drop down in the same fashion. Which means that two hours after your energy drink you will be feeling just as bad, or maybe even worse, than prior to the consumption of the beverage. So what’s a consumer to do? Are there any energy boosting beverages out there which are not a threat to our health and our weight? And if so, what makes up the best energy drink?

Well, the best energy drink will contain zero to no sugar, and it will rely mostly on vitamins and minerals to provide the energy boost. Let’s face it, none of us want to put 300 milligrams of caffeine into our bodies with one eight ounce drink, so why not choose an energy drink which combines natural resources and vitamins to give us that very needed boost in the midst of a hectic day.

The chance of suffering from an ischemic stroke can be reduced by consuming vegetables, research shows. An ischemic stroke can occur when a blood clot blocks the flow of blood to the brain. Symptoms including temporary paralysis can last from a few seconds to a few hours. This is the most common type of stroke that affects the population. 

Recent research has shown that diets rich in folate, or folic acid as it is otherwise known as, is an essential component in reducing the chance of stroke. Part of the B vitamin complex, folic acid is required for cardiovascular health as well as prenatal health. Folic acid is abundant in vegetables, particularly green leafy vegetables, beans and beets.

Compared with those people in the study who did not eat as many vegetables, those who had diets rich in vegetables were able to lower their risk by as much as 26 percent!   This research shows that eating healthy is the first line of defense in disease prevention.

Since many people are always on the go, they may feel as though it is hard to get the required vegetables in their diet. To supplement active lifestyles, consider adding a diet pill that contains B vitamins in the ingredients. Other non-vegetable sources of B vitamins that are similar to those found in vegetables are energy drinks.  Energy drinks that do not disrupt sleep at night nor cause a major energy crash after a spurt of energy can also be a convenient source of stroke fighting vitamins.

Other than diets rich in vitamins, diets that are rounded out with low fat dairy and lean protein are an excellent way to prevent stroke. Rather than bacon and eggs for breakfast, blending together a whey protein shake.  This is also a delicious way to achieve better health.

Fruits and vegetables are recommended staples of any well balanced diet. As of late, it seems that the public is made available to more and more exotic fruits and vegetables. Up until lately, not many people have heard of fruit such as the acai berry. However, now it is hard to avoid this berry.  Advertised in just about everything lately from energy drinks to the best diet pills, this exotic fruit boasts powerful properties. Much similar to Hoodia Gordonii , the acai berry is known to help people lose weight, and its benefits have been proclaimed by such stars as Rachel Ray.   

Like the acai berry, the goji berry has been introduced into mainstream culture. Native to Asian, subtropical regions, the goji berry grows on evergreen bushes. Used by people native to the regions of Tibet and Mongolia, for thousands and thousands of years, the goji berry has been used to treat everything from sex drive to cancer.

Similar to chemical properties as domestic fruits and vegetables, they are rich in antioxidants, particularly carotenoids such as beta-carotene and zeaxanthin. These properties are good for eyesight and preventing the formation of “free-radical” cells. In one published study by a group of Chinese oncologists, the goji berry was shown to increase the effectiveness of cancer treatments.

Goji berries are often sold in a dried form. They have a sweet and tart taste and a texture similar to raisins. They can be consumed raw, or as a juice. Goji berries are often used in Chinese cooking as well.

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A lot of us feel the strain of everyday life on our energy. Taking care of kids, preparing meals, completing daily housework and working full time can surely take its toll on our bodies. We tend to feel tired long before we are through with the day. A lot of us resort to energy drinks and other caffeine infused beverages as a means of replenishment; however, sometimes the easiest lifestyle adjustments can help us get our focus and energy back.

One way to gain our energy back is to eat a healthy diet. Believe it or not certain foods can make us feel sleepy and heavy. That is why it is important to stay away from fried foods and anything else which appears heavy and hard to digest. Certain foods which are recommended for anyone wanting to increase their energy are lean meats (such as lean pork and skinless chicken), smart carbs, and nuts. Lean meats are beneficial because they contain an amino acid known as tyrosine. Tyrosine boosts our levels of dophamine and neropinephrine, both of which stimulate our brain activity and help us feel more alert and focused. Smart carbs (such as whole grains, whole wheat bread, brown rice, and cereal) are also beneficial at increasing our energy and focus. This particular food group gets absorbed by the body slowly thereby keeping blood sugar and energy levels stable. Smart carbs offer the exact opposite effect from sugary pick-me-ups. When you consume sweets as an energy booster, not only are you diminishing your chances of quick weight loss, but you are also in for a sugary crash!

Once you improve your diet, other parts of your lifestyle will slowly begin to improve, such as your sleeping pattern and your weight. The next step in improving your focus and your energy is exercise. Even though you may not have as much time to devote to physical activity as desired, even a 30 minute brisk walk can help you regain some of your oomph. Most people think that physical activity drains us of our energy; however, the exact opposite is true. People who undergo regular physical activity have a lot more energy than those who do not exercise. Furthermore, regular physical activity along with a healthy diet can improve your sleep (which can be yet another reason behind poor energy levels). A healthy diet is one of the most important natural sleep aids. These are just a few ways to improve your energy quickly and naturally.

Judging from the covers of health magazines on grocery stands everywhere, it is certain that Hollywood does not have a shortage of detox diets. Based on the headlines, everybody who is somebody in Tinsletown is or has been on an extreme detox diet. With so much popularity both in Hollywood and anywhere USA, why is it that these diets are popular and is it possible that these diets live up to all their hype?  

Detox diets are popular for a number of reasons. Detox diets often promise to rid the body of harmful elements that are present in our systems or offer a route to quick weight loss. Since most of these diets involve extreme measures, can they actually work?

As of late, the lemon water detox diet has become popular. Promising weight loss of up to 20 pounds in two weeks, the lemon water diet involves drinking a minimum of 6-8 glasses of ice water mixed with lemon juice, maple sugar and ginger everyday. While this may sound like some of the energy drinks on the market, it is designed to help someone lose weight fast.

Those who commit to the diet, often experience a feeling of energy. This energetic sensation can be all in the head as one assumes that they are doing something good for their health. This feeling is one that often does not last long. Without proper nutrition, a person’s health can severely diminish. Abiding to a detox diet over longer periods of time can lead to anemia, irregular heart beat and low blood sugar, all problems that can eventually lead to life-threatening problems.

Finally those who partake in a detox diet are often unable to maintain weight loss. It may seem like a miracle that all the pounds melt away, however that is often short lived. Since extreme stress is put on the body, people often gain back all the weight that is lost on these extreme diets.

Everyone could use a little energy boost every now and then. Sometimes it is difficult to find the best energy drink out there and other times we just don’t have the time to search for the most effective energy boosters. It is in situations like these when we solely rely on the oomph we gain from various foods. Knowing which foods to consume for energy purposes is key. Once we have that figured out, we can start seeing improvements in our alertness, focus, and vigor.

When we can’t get our hands on energy drinks, carb rich foods are great at improving our liveliness. For instance, you can try half of a whole wheat English muffin with fruit spread to boost your serotonin levels. Another food which improves energy is dark chocolate. Dark chocolate is packed with caffeine and theobromine, both of which are great at improving our alertness and our focus. It has also been said that fluid filled foods are a great pick-me-up food. What this means is you should avoid consuming dry packaged snacks such as pretzels, chips, and crackers. Try consuming more fresh produce and foods which swell during the cooking process (such as pasta).

And the last but certainly not least way to increase energy is to drink more fluids. One specific fluid which aids in improving mental fatigue and alertness is tea. Tea contains caffeine and the amino acid known as L-theanine. These two ingredients combined can decrease mental fatigue, improve alertness, improve memory, and improve reaction time. So if you ever feel like your energy levels are not quite as high as they should be, look at your daily diet and see what foods may be bringing you down. There are numerous ways to improve your energy; food is just one of the ways.

We all know that it is important to exercise, but it is equally important to stay hydrated while doing so.  As we exercise we increase the internal temperature of our body. The process of sweating is our body’s natural cooling system. Sweating, which is the process of the loss of water equals the loss of vitamins, minerals and electrolytes, all vital to keep our systems running properly.  Energy drinks are useful in the quest to replenish these lost nutrients.

Consumers need to be aware that all energy drinks are not created equal. Next time you are at the store looking for an energy drink take a look at the label. Amazing isn’t it, how much sugar is present in something that is supposed to be good for you? Additionally these drinks are rather high on the carbohydrate count which can be devastating to those trying to maintain a low carbohydrate diet.

It is often recommended that unless you are an athlete participating in extremely intense physical activity that you only drink water to replenish the fluids lost during exercise.  However it the taste and convenience of energy drinks is something that you crave, you should consider the following factors when choosing the best energy drink :

Calories: Beware some energy drinks contain more calories than were actually burned during exercise

Serving Size:  Look at the serving size and number of servings per container. Most energy drinks contain more than one serving per bottle, being unaware of this fact is one of the sneaky little ways extra calories sneak up on you.

Sugar: On average a can of soda contains 9 teaspoons of sugar! You might find it surprising that some energy drinks contain an equal amount if not more!

Research has found that by consuming particular fats you can decrease body fat and increase weight-loss more efficiently. It may seem a bit odd that you would eat fat to lose fat but studies show that a group of fats known as medium-chain triglycerides (MCTs) can do just that.

One of the richest sources of MCTs comes from coconut oil. Coconut oil has been getting a lot of attention over the last few years for its ability to help overweight people shed excess body fat by substituting it daily in replacement of other fats.

The benefits of this oil are truly amazing even compared to healthy fats such as olive oil or flaxseed oil. Coconut oil can inhibit and treat obesity more effectively because it contains fewer calories than other fats. It is also a source of fuel and energy for the body because it gets used immediately rather than circulating in the blood stream and getting stored in fat cells. This also means that you will actually experience a natural surge in energy that lasts much longer than a dose of caffeine would. Coconut oil increases metabolism so you burn a lot more calories by consuming it over any other fat. It is also more filling and keeps you satiated longer which means you consume fewer calories. Unlike typical bad fats that raise cholesterol, it can reduce bad cholesterol and raise the good.

Coconut oil is commonly found in drinks and healthy snack items because it gives athletes energy while helping them stay lean. It also helps those that are overweight and obese lose weight more rapidly. As an oil you can add it to salads and vegetables, as a spread you can replace butter or margarine, or for a more convenient way, you can take it in soft gel capsule form. Because weight-loss results are so astounding, it is encouraged to use it as frequently as you like as it will help achieve better results and better health.