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| Not My Kinda Energy |
Last year
19-year-old Alex Morris went into cardiac arrest and was immediately pronounced
dead from a cardiac arrhythmia when he arrived at the hospital. His mom is now
suing Monster Energy Drink, which she believes was a culprit in Morris’s death.
She’s not
alone. Anais Fournier’s family also sued Monster after she drank two 24-ounce
cans of this popular energy drink and died. Monster claims Fournier died of natural
causes. However, a CBS report claims
energy drink-related deaths have doubled over the past four years, which
doesn’t look good for manufacturers.
Just as
disturbing, I’ve read about a trend popular among young people to mix energy
drinks with vodka for a fruity alcoholic beverage that’s easy to consume, so
quickly knocking back several drinks isn’t a problem. This stimulant/
depressant evokes a cocaine/ heroin combo: a pleasant high followed by a
miserable crash, addiction, and worst of all, potentially death.
I don’t
want to sound alarmist here. If you’re healthy, drinking a Monster, Red Bull,
or 5-Hour Energy probably won’t send you to the hospital. But neither is it the
safe and even healthy beverage manufacturers want you to believe.
Make these
energy drinks an expensive habit and you’re setting the stage for a roller
coaster of energy highs and lows, addiction, adrenal burnout, and other health
problems.
Why are Energy Drinks So Popular?
According to
the New York Times, energy drinks are
the fastest-growing segment of the beverage industry. Underlying their popularity
is a sleep-deprived, overworked, adrenal-fatigued, chronically stressed
population looking for a quick fix to gain energy and get through a hectic
morning or afternoon.
Marketers
do one heck of a job marketing these drinks. The name alone proves enticing. I
mean, who doesn’t want 5-hour energy?
(Me! I do.) Monster and Red Bull likewise suggest always-on, always-focused
personalities ready to energetically tackle anything with gusto. Adding guarana,
taurine, and other healthy-sounding nutrients gives these drinks a healthy halo
effect.
Let’s be
honest though: you’re not drinking this stuff for its nutrients or supposed
other benefits. No, you’re buying energy drinks for their caffeinated jolt.
Indeed, a study in the journal Nutrition
Reviews found the primary boost in energy drinks comes from caffeine. The
other stuff: not so much.
Energy
drinks resonate with people – let’s be honest: mostly kids, teenagers, and
college students – who don’t like coffee’s taste but need that caffeine boost
to keep them going. Manufacturers appeal to that demographic by claiming energy
drinks are safer than coffee.
Sorry, I'm
not buying that. Along with naturally occurring caffeine, coffee is loaded with
antioxidants. In small amounts, coffee can be beneficial and healthy.
Energy
drinks, on the other hand, come loaded with chemicals, added caffeine, and
sugar or artificial sweeteners. Their innocuous fizzy fruity taste makes them
very easy to overdrink. Ultimately they lead to a miserable crash that leaves
you reaching for another can as a pick-me-up.
Listen,
I’m not suggesting you abuse caffeine in any form. A cup of organic dark roast
can provide a great pre-workout boost, but guzzle caffeine in any form
throughout the day and you elevate your stress hormone cortisol, impede solid
sleep, and ultimately trigger the same spikes and crashes these energy drinks
create.
Digging Deeper for Fatigue Culprits
We’ve all
been there. Maybe you juggle two jobs while cramming for midterms. Or you’ve
got the boss from hell yelling at you to meet end-of-quarter quota after a
sleepless night because you fought with your boyfriend.
Everyone
has energy crashes, but constant fatigue can suggest underlying issues. Rather
than masking these problems with energy drinks and other caffeinated beverages,
determine what creates these daily energy lags.
I get it:
it’s much easier to avoid that question and simply reach for another Red Bull
or hit up Starbucks for a second grande, but doing so only prolongs and
exacerbates what could be a serious problem.
I’ve found
these 7 strategies can help end the energy-drink habit and reduce crashes to
give you a nice, steady all-day energy:
1. Get
off the caffeine merry-go-round. If you need it, have one cup of organic coffee and switch to green
tea. You’ll still get a mild caffeine boost coupled with calming theanine and
fat-burning EGCG.
2. Do
breakfast correctly. A
low-fat blueberry muffin with your morning Starbucks crashes your blood sugar,
leaving you doubly fatigued and reaching for a late-morning caffeine and sugar
boost. Start your day with protein for steady, sustained energy. I love protein
shakes because they’re fast, easy, and healthy. Simply blend MediClear SGS
Chocolate http://jinifit.com/shop_detox.html with unsweetened coconut or almond milk
and frozen berries for a delicious breakfast that keeps you full for hours.
3. Eat
blood sugar-balancing meals and snacks. While fast and convenient, a slice of pizza or fast-food burger will
spike and crash energy levels. Opt instead for protein, healthy fats, and fiber
at every meal. Easy options include a chicken Caesar salad (hold the croutons),
a gluten-free wrap, or pre-cooked wild salmon over spinach leaves and olive
oil.
4. Aim
for eight hours of sleep every night. Many people compensate for a crappy night’s sleep with a morning Red
Bull or gargantuan “extreme jolt” coffee. Among its countless benefits, deep
uninterrupted sleep optimizes growth hormone (GH) and fat-burning hormones.
Make eight hours’ sleep a priority. It’s that important!
5. Address
adrenal health. Constant
fatigue oftentimes suggests adrenal burnout. Your adrenals weren’t always meant
to be “on,” and over time they become burned out constantly secreting hormones
like adrenaline and cortisol. Caffeine, alcohol, prescription drugs, and
nutrient deficiencies are among the culprits that seriously knock your adrenals
out of whack. If you suspect adrenal fatigue, work with an integrative
practitioner to develop a dietary, nutrient, and lifestyle plan.
6. Stay
hydrated. While they
might provide a temporary boost, energy drinks during a workout ultimately
dehydrate you, crash your energy levels, and offer no crucial recovery
benefits. Sip filtered water while you’re lifting or bursting. Consider an
electrolyte-replenishment formula to relieve fatigue, cramping, soreness, and
other workout impediments.
7. Try
these healthy alternatives. Even
when you do everything correctly, sometimes you’ll need a burst of energy to
carry you through your workout. Elevate™ from Thorne Performance http://jinifit.com/shop_performance.html can give you a mental and physical boost
to pull you through those last few sets or mile. Its herbal formula contains almost no caffeine or sugar to
safely help boost energy and endurance during strenuous physical exercise and
training without crashing.
References:
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| Fitness expert and strength coach Jini Cicero, CSCS, teaches intermediate exercisers how to blast through plateaus to create incredible transformations. Are you ready to take your fitness to a whole new level? Find out now! Take Jini's "Are you Ready?" Quiz at www.Jinifit.com. © 2011 Jinifit, Inc. |
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