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Can Energy Drinks Make You Less Tired? (Answered)

Can Energy Drinks Make You Less Tired? (Answered)

Energy drinks are designed to increase your energy level, alertness, and concentration. People of all ages consume them, and their popularity is growing.

33.85% of 18-29-year-olds in the United States say they drink energy drinks regularly. In Canada, one out of every six energy drink consumers has exceeded the daily limit.

According to research, energy drinks can improve brain function and help you stay awake when you’re tired. However, there are some who believe that energy drinks may contribute to other health issues.

Caffeine and sugar are the two most common ingredients in energy drinks. These two well-known ingredients work together to provide a temporary boost in energy, making you feel less tired.

This article weighs the pros and cons of energy drinks, providing a comprehensive review of the components of energy drinks that can help you feel less tired.

What Are Energy Drinks?

Energy drinks are beverages containing ingredients that are marketed to boost energy and mental performance.

Popular energy drink brands include Red Bull, 5-Hour Energy, Monster, Celcius, Rockstar, NOS, and Full Throttle.

Caffeine is used in almost all energy drinks to stimulate brain function and increase alertness and concentration. Sugar, on the other hand, might vary in drinks.

The amount of caffeine, however, varies from product to product. The caffeine and sugar content of some popular energy drinks is shown in the table below:

Energy DrinksServing SizeCaffeine AmountSugar Amount
Redbull8.4 fl.oz75-80mg10g
Monster16 fl.oz160mg11g
Rockstar16 fl.oz160mg0
5 Hour1.93 fl. oz200mg0
Celcius16 fl. oz200mg0
G Fuel16 fl. oz140mg0
NOS16 fl. oz160mg54g
Famous energy drinks and their caffeine-sugar content.

Ingredients In Energy Drinks

Caffeine, taurine, glucuronolactone, B vitamins, guarana, ginseng, ginkgo Biloba, l-carnitine, sugars, antioxidants, and trace minerals are the main ingredients of energy/power drinks.

Let’s have a look at the ingredients in an energy drink that causes us to feel less tired.

Sugar

Sugar
Sugar is present in almost everything that we eat,

Consumption of sucrose and other types of sugar appears to increase energy levels proportionally to the amount consumed, causing you to feel less tired.

In fact, consuming enough sugar can cause a burst of energy known as a sugar high, followed by a sharp drop in energy levels known as a “crash.”

Despite the fact that these effects are similar to those of chemicals such as caffeine, sugar is not a stimulant. It is instead what the body uses as fuel.

For most adult women, the AHA recommends no more than 100 calories per day (about 6 teaspoons or 24 grams of sugar) and no more than 150 calories per day (about 9 teaspoons or 36 grams of sugar) for most men.

Excessive sugar intake can result in the following:

  1. Diabetes
  2. Skin Issues
  3. Obesity
  4. Weight Gain
  5. Heart Problems
  6. Hormonal Issues
  7. Laziness
  8. Cancer
  9. Fatigue

Taurine

Taurine is a sulfur-containing amino acid that occurs naturally. It’s especially prevalent in your brain, eyes, heart, and muscles.

Animal proteins, such as meat, seafood, and dairy, are the most abundant sources of taurine. Plants do not contain any significant amounts of taurine.

Because taurine is found in higher concentrations in oxidative muscle fibers, taurine may improve endurance exercise performance, hence, making you feel less tired.

Taurine’s ability to improve endurance performance may be due to subjects using more type I muscle fibers during aerobic events.

The functions of taurine in the human body are:

  1. Electrolyte balance
  2. Maintaining hydration levels
  3. Regulating minerals like calcium
  4. Supporting the function of the central nervous system
  5. Regulating immune system

Ginseng

Ginseng
Ginseng has healing properties.

Ginseng contains two important substances: ginsenosides and gintonin. These compounds work together to provide health benefits.

It is a plant high in antioxidants. According to research, it may be beneficial to brain health, immune function, blood sugar control, and other areas.

Both American and Asian ginseng has been shown to increase energy, lower blood sugar and cholesterol levels, reduce stress, promote relaxation, treat diabetes, and treat sexual dysfunction in men.

Other benefits of ginseng are:

  1. Improve brain function
  2. Improve erectile dysfunction
  3. Prevent cancer
  4. Fight fatigue

L-carnitine and L-tyrosine

L-carnitine, also known as levocarnitine, is an amino acid structure that the body naturally produces.

Carnitine is essential for energy production. It transports long-chain fatty acids into the mitochondria to be oxidized (“burned”) for energy production. We feel less tired as a result of this.

L-Tyrosine is a precursor to several neurotransmitters and other chemicals in the body, including dopamine (our “feel good” hormone), epinephrine, and norepinephrine, all of which are involved in our body’s energy and mood responses.

L-Tyrosine can also benefit our thyroid and increase our metabolism, thus making us feel recharged.

Guarana

Guarana
Guarana belongs to the Amazon Forest.

Guarana is a plant native to the Amazon basin in Brazil. It’s a climbing plant prized for its fruit, also known as Paullinia cupana.

For centuries, Amazonian tribes have used guarana for its medicinal properties.

It contains a diverse set of stimulants, including caffeine, theophylline, and theobromine. Antioxidants such as tannins, saponins, and catechins are also found in guarana.

It’s high in caffeine, which helps you maintain focus and mental energy. In fact, guarana seeds have four to six times the caffeine content of coffee beans.

Other benefits of guarana include:

  1. Promote weight loss
  2. Improve performance
  3. Relieve chronic diarrhea
  4. Boost heart health
  5. Relief pain

Can Caffeine Make You Less Tired?

Caffeine, as an active ingredient in energy drinks, does all of the heavy liftings by improving performance and mental alertness.

Caffeine in energy drinks works by preventing adenosine buildup in our brains.

Because adenosine is a sleep-promoting chemical, the more of it our brain produces, the more sleepy we become. When caffeine does its job, this process is disrupted, and we begin to feel alert and awake.

Similarly, sugar is intended to keep us awake because excessive amounts of it can be overstimulating, making you feel ready to be physically and mentally active.

It is important to keep the caffeine content in mind though, since excessive caffeine intake can produce negative effects, causing you to feel tired.

The FDA has cited 400 milligrams per day for healthy adults—roughly four or five cups of coffee—as an amount not generally associated with dangerous, negative effects which are:

  1. Insomnia
  2. Headache
  3. Anxiety and Nausea
  4. Depression
  5. Rapid Heart Rate
  6. Skin Issues
  7. Dehydration
  8. Liver Problems
  9. Kidney Stones
  10. Death

Can Energy Drinks Make You Less Tired?

Active
Energy drinks make you active and increase performance.

Yes, energy drinks’ main function lies in making you feel less tired and increasing your performance energy.

Drivers on long, late-night road trips frequently reach for energy drinks to keep them awake behind the wheel.

The primary ingredient is caffeine which acts as a stimulant and causes a boost in energy levels.

Several studies using driving simulations have concluded that energy drinks can improve driving quality and reduce sleepiness, even in sleep-deprived drivers.

Similarly, many night-shift workers use energy drinks to help them complete tasks during hours when most people are sleeping.

How To Fight Tiredness?

Tiredness is the sensation of being mentally and physically exhausted on a regular basis. A variety of factors, including unhealthy lifestyle choices, workplace problems, and stress, can contribute to it.

Unexplained pain, fever, and headaches are signs that your tiredness is caused by something more serious.

Let’s have a look at some tips to follow to fight tiredness.

TipsHow?
Balanced Diet Eat whole, fresh foods from a variety of food groups to ensure you get enough nutrients. Combine unrefined carbohydrates with protein for long-lasting energy.
Regular ExerciseExercise produces endorphins, which naturally increase your energy levels. It may also result in more restful sleep.
Hydration (Drink more water)Low energy levels can result from dehydration. It can also disrupt your sleep by drying out your mouth and nasal passages, resulting in snoring, hoarseness, and leg cramps.
Fix Sleep ScheduleMaintaining energy levels throughout the day requires adequate rest. Before going to bed, relax by doing some gentle stretches.
Talking Therapy (Socialising)There is evidence that talking therapies like counseling or cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) can help with fatigue or tiredness caused by stress, anxiety, or depression.
Quit AlcoholReduce your consumption of alcohol before going to bed. You’ll have more energy and get a better night’s sleep.
Tips on feeling less tired.

Pros And Cons Of Energy Drinks

Energy drinks are consumed the most by youth for energy-upgrade purposes yet their risks on the other hand should not be neglected.

Pros

Energy drinks are consumed for a variety of reasons. One of the most popular is to improve brain function and thus increase mental alertness.

Energy drinks are consumed for a variety of reasons. One of the most popular is to improve brain function and thus increase mental alertness.

In addition to caffeine, energy drinks frequently contain taurine, B vitamins, ginseng, and glucuronolactone. These are thought to boost their effectiveness.

Because of the caffeine and carbs in energy drinks, athletes can recover from exercise more quickly. Many athletes prefer a cold and light beverage to a hot or milky one after a workout.

Cons

According to research, energy drinks can improve brain function and help you stay awake when you’re tired. However, there are some who believe that energy drinks may contribute to heart disease.

The majority of energy drinks contain a significant amount of sugar. Anyone’s blood sugar will spike if they consume this much sugar, but if you have trouble controlling your blood sugar or have diabetes, you should be especially cautious with energy drinks.

Energy drinks and their effects on human health.

Famous Energy Drinks

Redbull

Redbull
Redbull is the oldest and the most famous energy drink.

When most people think of energy drinks, they think of Red Bull. It is without a doubt one of the most well-known brands available.

A standard 8.4 fl. oz. can of Red Bull contains 110 calories, 27g of sugar, 80mg of caffeine, and a few other ingredients, including taurine, sodium, and B-Vitamins.

Rockstar

Rockstar
Rockstar is high in calories, as well as sugar.

Rockstar Energy is marketed as an energy drink “for those who live active lifestyles, from athletes to rockstars.”

A 16-ounce can of Rockstar Energy provides a powerful boost with 160mg of caffeine, 122 calories, and 24 grams of sugar.

REIZE

REIZE
REIZE is the best.

REIZE is an excellent powdered energy drink that comes in a convenient 4g sachet. REIZE contains only 11 calories per serving and includes a reasonable 50mg of caffeine.

REIZE also includes a clever combination of taurine, ginseng, and B-group vitamins. It’s the ideal energy drink blend, providing just the right amount of focus and energy without the sugar crash.

Conclusion

  • Energy drinks can help you function when you’re tired or sleep-deprived by increasing brain function. They can help you feel less tired.
  • However, there are a number of health risks associated with energy drinks, particularly excessive caffeine consumption, sugar content, and mixing them with alcohol.
  • To avoid feeling tired all the time, reduce your caffeine intake and improve your lifestyle by eating well and exercising regularly.

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