Do Energy Shots Really Work?
Tuesday July 14, 2009
You've probably seen (or regularly drink) energy shots. These tiny 5 ounce bottle contain a mix of caffeine, vitamins and other ingredients that are supposed to, well, give you energy. According to a New York Times article, the energy shot market is about $700 million and rising. These shots are expensive, but do they work?
Sure. If you put enough caffeine in a drink, it will keep you awake. Coffee drinkers have known that for years. Energy shots typically have plenty of caffeine to do the job. That part seems certain, as certain as your morning coffee. But the claims about the vitamins and other ingredients -- those are a bit shakier. Take the vitamin B that the energy shot makers add in. Yes, if you are vitamin B deficient then you are likely to suffer from fatigue and lack of energy; but the thing is that very few people are vitamin B deficient (vegetarians may be an exception if they aren't careful about nutrition). In other words, while it is true that certain B vitamins can give a person energy (if they are deficient), you probably don't need any extra.
So are energy shots worth it? At $3-4 each, they are expensive, but no more so than a fancy cup of coffee. They may have less sugar than a flavored latte. So, I guess if energy shots are your choice to get through your work or your day, it is just about the same as choosing coffee (my "energy beverage" of choice). Whatever works.
More on Coffee and Health
Sure. If you put enough caffeine in a drink, it will keep you awake. Coffee drinkers have known that for years. Energy shots typically have plenty of caffeine to do the job. That part seems certain, as certain as your morning coffee. But the claims about the vitamins and other ingredients -- those are a bit shakier. Take the vitamin B that the energy shot makers add in. Yes, if you are vitamin B deficient then you are likely to suffer from fatigue and lack of energy; but the thing is that very few people are vitamin B deficient (vegetarians may be an exception if they aren't careful about nutrition). In other words, while it is true that certain B vitamins can give a person energy (if they are deficient), you probably don't need any extra.
So are energy shots worth it? At $3-4 each, they are expensive, but no more so than a fancy cup of coffee. They may have less sugar than a flavored latte. So, I guess if energy shots are your choice to get through your work or your day, it is just about the same as choosing coffee (my "energy beverage" of choice). Whatever works.
More on Coffee and Health
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My problem with energy shots, drinks, and even strong coffee is that they all upset my stomach in a seriously disruptive way. I’m not sure why this is. Luckily, I found an alternative to energy drinks that doesn’t upset my GI tract and is also calorie-free– it’s a patch called the Spot-On Energy patch. They are doing a free trial if anyone is interested.
I’ve recently been having one of these energy shots in the morning. – Tried them on an empty stomach, made me feel a bit like I’d feel if I drank a coffee on an empty stomach. But if you have one after a meal they do provide a nice little boost, I think they’ve gotta be a better option than drinking one of the larger sugar filled energy drinks, which mash your insides up!