What Are Energy drinks and Why Are They So Popular?
Energy drinks are on the television, radio, newspapers and billboards everywhere you look their advertisements for energy drinks. The common conception portrayed in these advertisements is that these energy drinks improves metabolism and boosts energy levels when drank. But exactly what are energy drinks and what do they do, who makes them?
These energy drinks are classified as soft drinks. They are manufactured by every leading software drink manufacturer including Pepsi, and Coke. Many other commercial drink manufacturers also manufacture and market a wide array of energy drinks. These energy drinks are available in every conceivable color and flavor combination.
No matter what color, brand or flavor you choose you will find that 99% of these energy drinks have one leading common ingredient. That ingredient is caffeine. Caffeine in energy drinks come in many different forms depending on the brand that you choose. Some of the most common ingredients found in energy drinks include guarana, ginseng, creatine, ginko biloba and many others. Guarana is a leading producer of caffeine. The caffeine herbs, vitamins and other ingredients combined in energy drinks are supposed to improve strength, endurance, and mental function. Some also advertise an increase in the number of calories burned in normal activities.
Many people have no idea how much caffeine is in an energy drink. In one energy drink in an 8 ounce serving size there are on average 80 milligrams of caffeine in one form or another. If you double the serving size to 16 ounces you will also roughly double the amount of caffeine contained in the energy drink.
There have been several studies conducted in the effects energy drinks have on the average person. To date these studies have had very similar findings. These findings were that after drinking an energy drink the person had an increase mental alertness. Considering the amount of caffeine in one of the energy drinks this was to be expected. In cycling tests people that had drunk energy drinks before testing showed an increased stamina and body endurance. The upper body received a higher increase on endurance than the lower half of the body.
Energy drinks have also been tested to see if they offer recuperative benefits to already tired people that take them. One such test took eleven participants that had been on a driving simulator for an extended period of time and were functioning poorly. They were given an energy drink that contained both caffeine and taurine. There was also another ingredient named and glucuronolactone present in the energy drink. Within a matter of minutes the participants began exhibiting an improved level of performance on the driving simulators. The participants responded to changing conditions with increased speed. They were able to maintain their simulated vehicles in their own lanes.
Energy drinks can be effective aids in maintaining energy and alertness. Keep in mind when using these energy drinks or any products with large amounts of caffeine that moderation is required. Intake of too much caffeine in to short amount of time can cause sleeplessness and irritability.