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Sports Drinks: How Much Caffeine Do They Have?
I was shocked last month when I was reading labels on sports/energy drinks (for an article I was writing) that most didn't have the milligrams of caffeine anywhere on the package. I searched for it, trust me. At first I thought it was my 40-something eyes failing to see the small print. But I pulled out my reading glasses and confirmed this lack of labeling.
What I did find out while reading the ingredient list on these cans/bottles is that pretty much the advertising term 'energy' on drink packaging is synonymous with 'caffeine.'
Apparently food companies are only required to list the caffeine content if the caffeine is added as an actual added ingredient, like it is to many energy drinks, instead of as a component in another added ingredient like tea extract or an herb.
I know some of you are probably saying, who cares how much caffeine is in it, bring it on! But take it from me, the amount of caffeine could be a problem to someone sensitive to its stimulant effects (I'm thinking people with Irritable Bowel Syndrome or people with a tendency toward low blood sugar after the caffeine surge, etc.) Enviga, for example, has around 67 milligrams of caffeine, AMP Energy has 71 milligrams and Red Bull has 80.
Just thought you should know...
Related Topics: Technorati Tags: sports drinks, energy drinks, caffeine, healthy diet
What I did find out while reading the ingredient list on these cans/bottles is that pretty much the advertising term 'energy' on drink packaging is synonymous with 'caffeine.'
Apparently food companies are only required to list the caffeine content if the caffeine is added as an actual added ingredient, like it is to many energy drinks, instead of as a component in another added ingredient like tea extract or an herb.
I know some of you are probably saying, who cares how much caffeine is in it, bring it on! But take it from me, the amount of caffeine could be a problem to someone sensitive to its stimulant effects (I'm thinking people with Irritable Bowel Syndrome or people with a tendency toward low blood sugar after the caffeine surge, etc.) Enviga, for example, has around 67 milligrams of caffeine, AMP Energy has 71 milligrams and Red Bull has 80.
Just thought you should know...
Related Topics: Technorati Tags: sports drinks, energy drinks, caffeine, healthy diet
9 Comments:
Very Interesting about the caffeine. Also, how much Sugar is in them and other Cr*p..? Some people who are trying to lose weight are drinking these along with their new gym-membership blissfully unaware of the impact. Why can't we just drink Water?
Actually most do tell you how much caffeine. Thats bc most people who purchase them want to know how much "zing" they are paying for. Its good marketing to say that XYZ energy drink has 200mgs caffeine. I personally do use the drinks, I use a caffeine pill. 250 mgs each tab. I use them for my cardio workouts as caffeine has a glucose sparing effect and can help me train harder and longer. I also pay about 3 cents per tab vs the 2-4 bucks for a starbucks or XZY energy drink....
Some of the "energy they think is coming from the caffeine is actually from all of the herbs that have thrown into the cauldron. Ginseng,taurine, Guarana, Ma Huang, etc. Think, people, think!
This concerns me greatly as my children take a sport drink like Gatorade with them to their Sporting events, games, and practices. I don't think children should have caffeine in their diet and prefer that they take water with them, but they love the sport drinks. Any suggestions?
I'm so angry that the sports drinks companies are making so much money from kids and teenagers, making their products appear to be "cool" drinks. Last year my 18 year old son had 2 Red Bulls, about 30 minutes apart. Suddenly, he was terrified and told me that his hear was racing! I called the paramedics. His blood pressure was 191/100! I plan to contact a local congressman to help regulate these drinks to be more restrictive and not sold to minors so easily. These drinks are as dangerous as alcohol.
Sport drinks and energy drinks are not the same thing. Sport drinks (Gatorade, Powerade, etc.) contain carbs and electrolytes to replace those lost in vigorous exercise; energy drinks may contain those things but usually don't contain replacement electrolytes and instead include caffeine and sometimes herbal ingredients. That's why it's so important to read the labels!
My experience with POWERADE has been good as well - there is no caffein in it and it contains B vitamins. Lemon-lime is best in my opinion - it addresses stomach issues as well as electrolytes. Good day.
i'm 12 years old and when I drank a monster energy drink I couldn't sit down, paced back and forth and heart rate was 138/82 or close to that. I went to the er and that was what I called a ten thousand dollar energy drink. Advice-never drink energy drinks for as long as you live. Once my friends heard this they never wanted to drink energy drinks either. Same with mountain dew. It's the caffeine
Energy drinks shouldn't be consumed by teenagers. However, there is no age limit to purchasing the product. Therefore, lack of control exists.
Energy drinks are like any other substance--if you abuse it, you suffer the side-effects.
Personally, I'd never recommend someone mixing energy drinks with alcohol; but it is popular with college students.
I do work for an energy drink company. I ask consumers to drink the beverage responsibly. Over consumption is why Americans are overweight, alcoholics become alcoholics, etc. The key word is to CONSUME a considerable amount.
Someone wrote above that her child had 2 energy drinks in 1-hour. Let us take a step back and think about it: how is that the companies fault? It says on the can "Limit 3 per day". Why would you allow the child to drink 2 in 1 hour?! That leaves 1 can for 23 hours!
Consume responsibly. Energy drinks grow, soda sales drop. Bottom line: They are only getting popular every year, you have to limit your intake.
Remember, you always have choice. Drink decaf coffee, sugar free energy drinks, or just gatorade. No one is putting a can in your hand alongside a gun and say, "DRINK!".
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