Energy drinks: the good and the bad
We’ve all been there before … sitting in class, watching time tick away slowly and would give anything for a little boost of energy. Many students have resolved this problem by turning to energy drinks.
It seems like everyday I see more and more people chugging an oversized can of some kind of energy drink.
Some people drink them to get an extra kick before their workout while others do to help them get through the day. That fast-acting sugar rush is just what they need to get them on their toes.
Red Bull, Full Throttle, Rockstar, Vault … these energy drinks can almost always be seen in the hands of college students all over campus. All these products are very effective, but what most people don’t realize is that they are not healthy for you at all.
Most energy drinks are crammed full of caffeine, added sugar and hundreds of calories. If you ask me, that kind of defeats the purpose of gaining energy.
Many of these drinks also lead to excess fatigue and the body seems to “crash” after a short amount of time. They do not usually last more than a few hours, so many people just crack open another one to keep up the boost.
I’ve seen many people chug two or three in just a matter of a couple of hours, but what they are not realizing is that they are putting all kinds of unnecessary junk into their bodies.
People need to understand that there are better and healthier ways to obtain their energy.
The energy drink industry is rapidly growing as well as the research on these products and healthier alternatives are beginning to become more common in the market.
Most healthy energy drinks do not contain any caffeine or added sugars and have a low amount of calories.
They also last twice as long as the “sugar-packed” energy drinks and do not lead to fatigue. I also think they taste much better than most of the other drinks.
One of these healthy alternatives is called Advanced Cell Therapy, or A.C.T. I commonly consume this drink throughout the day and it easily gets the job done.
This may be the best choice if you want to get away from consuming those unhealthy energy boosters.
It’s a “no-brainer” to me. If I am going to get the same result, then I am going to take the healthier route.
So next time you pop open a giant, oversized can of liquid energy, take into account everything that comes with it.
There is no doubt that we all get worn out at some point during the day, so the best advice I can give is to go with a healthier energy drink to get that extra kick.
Oh yeah…and don’t forget to eat your Wheaties.
Andrew is a senior studying biological sciences.
Columnists' opinions do not necessarily reflect the views of The Spectrum