What's Inside
Energy Drinks
Energy drinks are beverages whose intended use is to enhance the energy of the consumer. They may contain a variety of vitamins and minerals, caffeine, taurine and other ingredients. Some of the ingredients you may find in energy drink beverages include:
- B- Group Vitamins: B-group vitamins are essential nutrients that play an important role in energy metabolism.
- Caffeine: Caffeine is an ingredient in many beverages—including energy drinks —which has been consumed by humans for thousands of years. It occurs naturally in many plants or their seeds or fruits. Among the common sources of caffeine are coffee beans, tea leaves, cocoa beans, kola nuts and guarana. The caffeine levels found in energy drinks are generally less than or equivalent to the amount found in coffee when compared on a per ounce basis. For many individuals caffeine at levels found in energy drinks can boost alertness and performance.
- Taurine: Taurine occurs naturally in the human body and is involved in many of its vital functions. Some studies indicate that taurine may have antioxidant properties. Other scientific research suggests that taurine may play a role in promoting health by binding together with waste substances to accelerate their excretion from the body. Taurine also naturally occurs in a wide variety of foods such as scallops, fish or poultry.
- Glucuronolactone: Glucuronolactone is a carbohydrate which naturally occurs in the human body and is involved in metabolic processes. Some studies suggest that it may support the body in eliminating waste substances. It is present in different foods and beverages such as grains and red wine.
- Guarana: Guarana is a shrub or small tree which grows in South America. Extracts of the plant, fruit or seed of the fruit may be used to provide flavor and also may contain caffeine and other compounds.
