Making Smarter Choices in Energy Drinks

With no shortage of energy drinks available in the market today, how do you know which to choose? Several important aspects to take into consideration when choosing an energy drink include:

Calories
Amount of sugar
Amount of caffeine
Other ingredients

If you are following a diet that requires you to count calories, beware of how many calories an energy drink can contain. And what form are these calories in?

Energy drinks can contain large amounts of sugar. If you are diabetic or otherwise sugar sensitive, consuming energy drink high in this ingredient may not be in your best interest. Look for energy drinks that are low in sugar or contain a sugar substitute.

Energy drinks often contains one or more stimulants that can be harmful if taken in excess. The most common stimulant found in energy drinks is caffeine. Often times, the amount of caffeine is far in excess to that found in a cup of regular coffee. Energy drinks often list caffeine as guarana or verba mate.

What other ingredients does the energy drink contain? Common ingredients include: Vitamin B, taurine, and ginseng. Some people might have adverse reactions to such ingredients, and some ingredients may be addictive.