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Energy Drinks Facts: Everything You Need To Know

Energy Drinks Facts: Everything You Need To Know

This article will inform you of the typical ingredients in energy drinks, and the effects of those ingredients, and cover the history of these stimulating beverages from ancient Japan, and mid-century America, to modern-day Australia.

It will explore the negative media reports and studies into the potential dangers and risks of caffeine overdose which have been attributed to over-consumption of energy drinks; as well as speculation regarding the future of the industry.

We’ll also provide answers to common questions we’ve received  – like, what do energy drinks do to your body? And, why do people drink energy drinks?

Keep reading!

What is an energy drink?

Essentially, it’s any beverage that provides the drinker with a boost of energy.

Energy drinks contain stimulants, most often caffeine, which provide mental and physical stimulation. The stimulants used in energy drinks are designed to make you feel focused and alert while working out.

Keep in mind not to overconsume your favourite energy drink to avoid side effects.

Check my article on the dangers and side effects of energy drinks in this article.

Ingredients

The typical ingredients in energy drinks include varying amounts of caffeine, taurine, and ginseng amongst others.

Additional amino acids, vitamins, and carbohydrates are also included. Different energy drinks will include other ingredients to make their own signature taste. This could be added sugars, sweeteners or flavourings.

I’ll discuss briefly the main components of energy drinks below.

Ginseng

A powerful and widely used medicinal herb, which is understood to improve physical performance, mental focus, and stimulation.

Ginseng is a member of the Panax family, literally meaning “All-Healer” in Greek. It grows only in the Northern Hemisphere, with the Asian ginseng variant being the most powerful.

In fact, it has been used in Chinese medicine for over 5,000 years. As its original Greek name suggests, it has been used to help with every ailment, from mood disorders to diabetes to fertility issues, to mental and emotional stress.

Taurine

Taurine is a naturally occurring amino acid that has fundamental biological properties. It helps relieve stress, and anxiety and fight off depression.

Taurine in energy drinks does not come from bull sperm but rather than synthesised in a laboratory. So, rest assured your favourite energy drink is bull sperm-free!

I have listed a few good recommendations for energy drinks that contain taurine in this article.

The video below explains more about taurine. Watch it!

WATCH & LEARN: What is Taurine?

The B Group Vitamins

The B-Group vitamins are made up of 8 water-soluble vitamins that are needed for optimum metabolic function. Each of the B-group vitamins has its own benefits.

I have added the table below to show the benefits of B vitamins.

B VitaminsBenefits
Thiamine (B1)convert glucose (i.e. sugar) into energy
plays a role in nerve function
Riboflavin (B2)energy production
promotes healthy eyes and skin
Niacin (B3)converts carbohydrates, fat, and alcohol into energy
promotes healthy skin
supports a healthy nervous and digestive system.
Pyridoxine (B6)metabolises protein and carbohydrates, to form red blood cells and other brain chemicals
B Vitamins in Energy Drinks and Their Benefits

Sugar

Like many substances, high amounts of sugar can be very unhealthy. It is particularly dangerous in liquid form, as your body does not recognise how much sugar you’re consuming.

This can lead you to crave more sugary products leading to a poor diet and even obesity. If you’re wondering if there is sugar in energy drinks, the not-so-sweet truth is that most energy drinks contain roughly 30 grams of sugar.

However, there are sugar-free energy drinks that can be a safer option for all.

Always keep in mind the recommended intake of sugar as proposed by health authorities.

Caffeine

Caffeine improves your motivation and focus by increasing catecholamine signalling.

However, this effect is lessened over time as you develop a tolerance to it. When you are awake, neurons are firing in your brain. As they fire, they produce adenosine as a byproduct.

Essentially, adenosine tells your brain when the body is tired. Your nervous system is actively monitoring adenosine levels through receptors.

Normally when adenosine levels reach a certain point in your brain and spinal cord, your body will begin to fall asleep or start getting tired.

Caffeine is almost identical to adenosine.

After you’ve consumed and absorbed caffeine, your brain can’t tell the difference between the two. Caffeine effectively blocks adenosine from doing its job and tricks the brain into staying alert. It starts to work after about 15 minutes and can last up to 6 hours, depending on your physical and chemical makeup.

Not only does it make you more alert, but it also aids in releasing the “happy” hormone, dopamine. So you’re happy, alert and aware.

Caffeine has been shown to help increase work output and quality. It’s also been seen to improve memory creation and retention when it comes to “declarative memory”, the kind students use to remember lists or answers to exam questions.

According to the FDA, the recommended limit for caffeine is 400 mg per day for healthy adults. Keep your caffeine intake in moderation to reap its maximum benefits.

Here are the benefits of caffeine:

  • improved alertness
  • improved brain memory
  • improved energy levels
  • improved physical performance
  • replenished muscle glycogen
  • increased stamina
  • reduced kidney stone formation
  • helps prevent weight gain

On the other hand, overconsumption of the stimulant may lead to the following side effects:

  • heart palpitations
  • nausea
  • vomiting
  • headaches
  • hallucinations
  • insomnia
  • nervousness
  • dependency

Are energy drinks good for you?

There are mixed opinions about energy drinks.

If you’re drinking energy drinks once in a while and in moderation, it may not be bad at all. Obviously, if you’re consuming too much, you’re bound to suffer side effects.

The secret is to drink energy drinks in moderation to reap its benefits. I’d say one serving a day is not bad – it’s enough to keep you energised and focused for the entire day.

Learn more about the side effects of energy drinks in this article.

Alcohol and Energy Drinks (AEDS)

Mixing alcohol with any other drug can be risky, but mixing energy drinks with excessive amounts of alcohol can place your body under even more stress.

As you consume more alcohol and become intoxicated, you may lose track of the number of drinks you’ve had, which can further increase the risk of caffeine toxicity.

Are they safe for children?

Energy drinks are not safe for children.

Although these beverages typically contain around the same amount of caffeine as an instant coffee, and sometimes less, caffeine is not an ingredient that is advised for children.

Young people have a lower caffeine tolerance and are therefore more vulnerable to the negative effects of caffeine.

It is up to individual companies to self-regulate and decide whether they want to promote their drink to children, and of course, different companies take a more responsible approach in this regard than others.

Still, young consumers should keep out of energy drinks!

Government Regulations

Energy drinks in Australia are tightly regulated and must comply with the Australia New Zealand Food Standards Code.

The amount of caffeine they can contain is strictly regulated by the Australian Government at no more than 80mg of caffeine per 250ml, or the same as a 250ml cup of instant coffee.

This means the majority of these drinks contain the same, or lower levels of caffeine as a cup of instant coffee, and less than half the levels found in a standard espresso.

For example, a standard 250ml can have 80mg of caffeine, and a standard cappuccino contains an average of 160mg of caffeine.

The Food Standards Code regulates what ingredients can be added to the product, and how much caffeine can be included.

In addition to this, advisory statements need to go on the label, such as the daily maximum amount, not being suitable for children, pregnant and lactating women and those sensitive to caffeine.

Negative Press

As already mentioned, energy drinks are often attributed with dangerous outcomes at times unjustly.

In regards to negative press, it must be said that it is mostly scare-mongering without just cause and research.

In November 2012 the FDA had received a total of 60 “adverse event” reports related to Monster and Rockstar drinks (two of the leading brands) since 2004—an average of six or seven a year.

By comparison, the FDA receives thousands of such reports about aspirin each year and hundreds about coffee. Few care about coffee-related caffeine overdoses, which are much more common, but an energy drink overdose can make the headlines.

Marketing Boost

To date, corporate beverage marketing has largely focused on a young male demographic. In addition to extreme sports, scantily clad young women have been used to successfully target and attract this audience.

What has happened with energy drinks and the sports industry was something that marketers could not have foreseen.

As these beverages grew more and more popular, sports advertising and content marketing have taken on a life of their own, to the point where the content Red Bull produces generates massive revenue in its own right.

Red Bull and similar corporate brands have a diverse cache of sponsored athletes and also run their own events which provide them with more control over advertising and produce revenue in their own right.

The Future of Energy Drinks

This industry is still relatively new, constantly adapting to the current market.

The market is forecast to continue growing strongly over the next 5-10 years, which is partly attributed to a greater understanding of the benefits and safety of these drinks,  increased research, growing consumer awareness, and the debunking of scare-mongering reports.

Greater Transparency, Smarter Consumers

Beverage companies are increasingly displaying their ingredients clearly on their packaging.

Furthermore, many countries already have or are in the process of passing legislation to ensure that companies include all ingredients and nutritional information on any packaging; as well as including a recommended dose.

This is already the law in Australia.

Healthier Options

There is a growing demand for healthier ingredients and the introduction of natural ingredients in most consumable products, and certainly in the food and beverage markets.

This is already manifesting itself with the growing popularity of sugar-free energy drinks as discerning consumers try to limit their intake of refined sugar.

More Mature Marketing

Marketing in the past has been focused on extreme sports, the sexualisation of women and sporting events generally targeting youths.

However, the client base has expanded and so the marketing concepts need to expand also.

There is still a social stigma to consuming energy drinks that could be addressed by a more inclusive approach to branding and marketing.

More Choices

From branding to styles of energy drinks, the industry is starting to offer more variety.  

“Innovations in energy drinks have a direct impact on the consumption pattern of consumers, as consumers are seeking new, efficient drinks which are more suitable to their needs and lifestyles,” said Faisal Ghaus, Vice President of Technavio.

The future of these stimulating beverages may include an increase in different products, including canned/ bottled options, energy shots, and powdered energy drink mixes such as REIZE.

Our Vision (A Revolution)

At REIZE, we believe that energy drinks are ready for a revolution. The customer base is maturing, now it is time for the industry to follow suit.

Below are the 8 ways that REIZE aims to revolutionize the industry.

Versatility and Choice

Mix your energy drink just the way you like it.

With REIZE, you’ll have the freedom to choose the strength and the method of mixing.

You can go cold and smooth (with water), cold and fizzy (with sparkling water or lemonade), brewed hot (with boiling water) or energise juices, cocktails and other fizzy drinks.

Sophistication

Caffeine is an ingrained part of life in Western countries, but there is a social stigma for people that prefer to get their caffeine from energy drinks.

We think this is wrong and we aim to change this with our unique product and the content that we produce.

In the future, when you’re at a business meeting or out with friends, no one would bat an eyelid at somebody ordering a REIZE energy drink, which would be made to the customer’s preference and served in a nice glass or mug.

Sophisticated people never drink from an aluminium can anyway!

Mature Marketing

We can’t promise that we’ll always stick to this one, we do love to be a bit silly at times, but we aim to create an inclusive brand that appeals to men and women of all ages and NEVER excludes any minority group. We know that energy drinks aren’t just for 18-year-old males, it’s time for the industry to grow up.

Personalised

Nobody ever hears from the owners of energy drink companies, they all keep so private. What do they have to hide?

Here at REIZE we want to get to know our customers, and we are enthusiastic about drinks, so you will be seeing a lot of me through various forms of communication.

Value

We don’t think energy drinks should be so expensive, so we aim to deliver them at a lower price than all of the competition.

Sugar-Free

While there are other sugar-free energy drinks, we aim to make them more popular than the sugar-filled variety.

Too much sugar has been shown as very detrimental to your health, so we offer a sugar-free energy drink that is so delicious that you won’t even miss sugar.

Lightweight and Portable

REIZE is an energy drink that you can carry with you anywhere you go.

It comes in a light 4 g sachet that’s easy to carry around wherever you go. All you need is something to mix the powder with and you’re good to go!

Free Home Delivery

Other products are home-delivered. Why not energy drinks?

That said, you can have REIZE delivered to your doorstep for as low as $1.

All About REIZE (What You Should Know)

TRY REIZE TODAY!

REIZE is Australia’s and New Zealand’s first powdered energy drink. It is an on-the-go convenient energy mix that is set to change the way people get their energy drinks “fix.”

REIZE is convenient, portable, versatile, sugar-free, lightweight and less than half the price of the popular “ready to drink” energy drink beverages. It comes in convenient 4g sachets that mix with water, soda water, soda, juice, or even with your favourite alcoholic beverages for those nighttime pick-me-ups.

It is sugar-free and contains caffeine, taurine, ginseng and a mix of B vitamins.

Offering free home delivery since 2014, REIZE made history in 2016 by becoming the world’s first energy drink members club, with a monthly delivery of your preferred number of energy drinks, ready to drink fresh when you want them.

REIZE is revolutionary, not only because of the product itself but because of the way we deliver it to your home, the price we deliver it for and the great customer service and effort that goes into making sure that every customer has a great experience.

Go try REIZE today!

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