Energy Drinks – Are They Beneficial?

Claire — Fri, 28 Sep 2007 22:02:50 +0000

Energy drinks are popping up left and right these days. Some are even low-calorie and formulated for women, such as the Tab energy drink in the pink can (which doesn’t taste like Tab, by the way). Can these drinks be part of a healthy diet?
We visited the Coke museum in Atlanta recently, and they gave us some cans of the “calorie burning” green tea energy drink Enviga. The taste has really grown on me, but I don’t agree with drinking it daily. Most energy drinks are extremely high in caffeine, which can spike insulin levels if you have enough (case in point – my aunt, who drinks a good 20 cups of coffee a day and has type II diabetes, although she is thin).
However, some think it’s a good idea to consume caffeine before a workout for an extra boost. I’ve never tried this, because I usually get plenty of energy from exercising in the first place, and I don’t want to push my heart rate over the top.
If you’re going to consume an energy drink, pick one that is low in sugar and in a smaller container (such as Sugar Free Red Bull) so you don’t OD on caffeine.
Oh, and stay away from alcoholic energy drinks – they’ll make you less able to realize that you’re intoxicated. Plus they taste terrible – which almost goes without saying