Submitted by: Steven A Johnson

One of the most recent fads in America has been energy drinks. They are mostly taken by high school and college students needing a little extra boost when writing 10 page papers or studying for big exams. It turns out most energy comes from two main components: caffeine and sugar. Many energy drinks have about as much caffeine as found in a cup of coffee or more. Energy drinks have about 80mg of caffeine where as a 12oz. can of pop contains only 18-48mg.

Energy drinks were first popular in Asia. A Japanese company released the first energy drink in 1962. The main ingredient is that drink is taurine and is still commonly used in energy drinks today. The first energy drink that came to the United States was actually a cola called Jolt Cola to which they added a whole lot more caffeine and sugar. It was introduced in the 1980s and quickly became the drink of college campuses. Red Bull became the fastest growing company and started distributing to the U.S. in 1997. Revenues doubled every year as the drink became more and more popular.

There are a number of ingredients that can be found in many energy drinks. Here are a few and what exactly they do to the body. The first is Ephedrine. It is a stimulant that works on the central nervous system and is commonly used in decongestants and weight loss products. The next is taurine. This is an amino acid that helps regulate the heart beat and muscle contractions. Carnitine is also an amino acid designed to aid in fatty acid metabolism. Ginseng is a root that many people believe can aid in reducing stress and boost energy levels. The next common energy boost ingredient is actually B-Vitamins. They can convert sugar to energy and improve muscle tone. The last ingredient is ginkgo biloba which comes from the seeds of the ginkgo biloba tree and has been thought to enhance memory.

Caffeine actually works by blocking the effects of adenosine which is a chemical in the brain that is involved with sleeping. The neurons in the brain begin to fire when adenosine is blocked. The brain is tricked into thinking the body is in an emergency and initiates the body s fight or flight response. When this happens, adrenaline is pumped into the body and the heart beats faster and your eyes dilate. It also causes the liver to release excess amounts of sugar into the blood for energy. Dopamine, a pleasure chemical in the brain also increases. The increase of dopamine and sugar makes you feel like you have more energy.

However many people swear by these drinks full of caffeine and sugar, health experts warn us about them. Caffeine can actually cause some kind of dependency when taken for long periods of time. When caffeine and sugar are taken in large doses at once, the effects can wear off and you can have what many people call a crash . Some people get irritated, headaches, and other minor pains during this crash . Health experts tell us not to avoid energy drinks altogether but to limit the intake of them and check the ingredients. Instead of worrying about all the caffeine and sugar in most energy drinks, try Hypershot by ALR. It s a new type of energy supplement that creates a mild euphoria with a boost of youthful energy.

About the Author: Steven Johnson is interested in maintaining a vital, active, and healthy lifestyle. For more information on health and energy products, as well as other life-enhancing nutrients, please visit his website

Alternative Health Supplements.

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