Energy drinks can be a lifesaver if you have a long day ahead of you or need a little pick-me-up in the middle of the day.
However, the majority of energy drinks contain unhealthy levels of caffeine, too much sugar, and other undesirable ingredients.
So I went shopping and found lots of organic energy drinks, zero-calorie drinks, and drinks made with natural, healthy ingredients like stevia.
Stevia is a sweetener that is used in place of sugar. It is available as a powder or liquid and is made from the leaves of the Stevia rebaudiana plant.
Stevia has been incorporated into beverages since 2008 as a replacement for other sweeteners and to assist in reducing sugar levels. The extract has a GRAS (Generally Regarded As Safe) status from the FDA in the USA.
Let’s have a look at what stevia is and what energy drinks contain this precious ingredient.
What Is Stevia?
Stevia is a bushy shrub that belongs to the sunflower family and is also referred to as Stevia Rebaudiana Bertoni. All 150 of the stevia species are native to North and South America.
It is also known as calorie-free sweeteners, which can be used to consume fewer added sugars while still feeling satisfied by the sweetness of food.
In comparison to table sugar, Stevia is 200 to 300 times sweeter. To provide the same amount of sweetness as other common sweeteners, it typically needs 20% less land and a lot less water.
Stevia in some ingredient labels also known as:
- Stevioside
- Rebaudiosides A, C, D, E, and F
- Steviolbioside
- Dulcoside A
Benefits of Stevia
Using Stevia as a sweetener has the potential to have substantial health advantages over sucrose or table sugar.
The following are the health benefits of Stevia:
- may reduce the risk of diabetes
- weight control
- reduce the risk of pancreatic cancer
- help lower blood pressure
- prevent allergies
Side Effects of Stevia
Stevia extract has been deemed safe by safety studies, but there is still more research to be done.
Depending on how much is consumed, nonnutritive sweeteners may have a negative effect on a person’s health.
Let’s have a look at some of the side effects of stevia:
- kidney problems
- abdominal cramps
- nausea
Main Ingredients of Energy Drinks
Caffeine, B vitamins, and sugars are some of the main components of energy drinks.
Let’s investigate a few of them in detail.
Caffeine
The jitters you experience after consuming energy drinks are primarily brought on by caffeine. T
Caffeine is a natural stimulant that energizes us, boosts our mood, and stimulates the central nervous system.
Each brand of energy drink has a different level of caffeine. While some energy drinks contain a lot of caffeine to give you a significant energy boost, others have less.
The FDA recommends 400 milligrams per day – roughly four or five cups of coffee – as the safe level of intake for healthy individuals.
Sugar
There are many sugar-free energy drinks on the market today if you’re trying to avoid sugar.
Eating too many sweets can have a number of negative health effects. As a result, it’s best to select an energy drink without added sugar or, at the very least, stay away from them.
The American Heart Association (AHA) recommends a stricter added-sugar limit of no more than 100 calories or 24 grams of sugar per day for the majority of adult women and no more than 150 calories or 36 grams per day for adult men.
Vitamins
Vitamins are mostly present in all energy drinks. Some would have basic vitamins like vitamin C or E, while others would include a bunch of B vitamins.
The maintenance of well-being and good health requires the intake of B vitamins, the building blocks of a healthy body that can have a direct impact on your energy levels, brain function, and cell metabolism.
The vitamin B complex may aid in controlling infections and assisting with or facilitating:
- cell health
- energy levels
- eyesight
- brain function
- digestion
- proper nerve function
- hormones and cholesterol production
- cardiovascular health
Antioxidant properties are present in vitamins A, C, and E. This means that they have the power to counteract dangerous molecules known as free radicals.
Energy Drinks With Stevia
Zoa
One of the most potent and highly regarded energy drinks on the market is called Zoa. You will receive the necessary energy boost without consuming the sugary calories that are typically present in energy drinks.
It contains green tea and coffee leaves, which account for 160mg of caffeine. Additionally, it includes BCAAs and other crucial vitamins such as ascorbic acid, camu camu, and acerola.
The Zoa energy drink also contains Stevia and has a lot of electrolytes in addition to being sugar-free.
Rogue
The nutritional ingredients in Rogue energy drink can increase your focus and energy.
It also has a lot of other healthy ingredients, including vitamins and nutrients like L-theanine and choline-L-bitartrate, along with 175mg of caffeine, 5 calories, and no added sugar.
There is also Rebaudioside A in it (from Stevia Rebaudiana Leaf).
Rowdy
One of the hippest energy drinks on the market is Rowdy Energy.
A typical 473mL can of Rowdy has 90 calories, 18g of sugar, and other ingredients like several B vitamins, stevia extract, and energy blends in addition to 160mg of caffeine.
Bai Boost
2009 saw the launch of Bai beverages in Princeton, New Jersey, and in 2016 the brand joined the Keurig Dr. Pepper family.
The most notable ingredients in a single can of Bai Boost are citric acid, coffee and tea extracts, stevia leaf extract, and erythritol.
Bai Boost also contains 110mg of caffeine, 1 g of sugar, 10 calories, and natural flavors.
OCA
OCA Energy is a reliable vegan energy drink free of dangerous chemicals.
It is powered by a cassava root extract made from tapioca that contains about 120mg of caffeine.
The ingredients in this drink are all natural; it has about 60 calories and some sugar, alongside organic stevia.
Celcius Stevia
Celsius Live Fit is a specially formulated pre-workout beverage that combines healthy energy with essential vitamins.
This Celcius brand is naturally caffeinated and sweetened with a blend of erythritol and stevia.
Each flavor has a low sodium content, 200 mg or less of caffeine, no sugar, aspartame, or artificial flavors.
Is Stevia Safe?
Stevia was outlawed in the United States in 1991 as a result of early research that suggested it might cause cancer.
Following a second study that contradicted the first, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in 1995 permitted the importation and sale of Stevia as a food supplement but not as a sweetener.
Many businesses argued to the FDA that stevia should be classified as “Generally Recognized as Safe” like artificial sweeteners.
Although Stevia is probably just as safe as artificial sweeteners (if not safer), there aren’t many long-term studies that have been done to examine its effects on human health.
REIZE (10 out of 10)
With only 50 mg of caffeine, REIZE provides a tremendous energy boost that will enable you to get through the day without crash or jitters.
It may not contain Stevia but is sugar-free. Also, it’s loaded with taurine, ginseng, and B vitamins which aid in energy production.
You can get REIZE home delivered for as low as $1 per drink.
Try REIZE now!