Red Bull

There are two versions of Red Bull available in Canada. One is the original Thai version. It’s being sold as a vitamin B supplement beverage. But it does also have caffeine in it. It’s sold in a 5-ounce brown glass bottle and looks kind of like medicine. In fact, it’s sold as a non-prescription medicine in Canada.

Then there’s the Austrian version. This one is sold in more than 100 countries worldwide. It also has vitamins, caffeine and other additives. It’s carbonated and sold in a can. This one’s sold as a natural health product in Canada.

The Austrian version sponsors sporting events in the US and Canada. On their website they make these claims:

• Improve performance.
• Improves concentration and reaction speed.
• Improves vigilance.
• Improves emotional status.
• Stimulates metabolism.

Other energy drinks

The energy drink distributors say their target market is active people. They have hyped-up slogans and claims on their websites. Here are some examples:

• KMX Energy Drink - "Ignite the mind"
• Hype Energy - "invigorates", "refreshes the body", "performance and endurance are enhanced"
• Bomba Blue Energy - "Excite your mind, excite your fantasy and excite your chances."
• Guru Energy Drink - "Vitality. Ideal for workouts", "Stamina. Great in bed."

But before you have an energy drink, know this...

Nutritionists Street Cents spoke to have concerns about energy drinks and how popular they are.

“Energy drinks have more sugar and in general they are not recommended immediately pre-activity,” says one nutritionist. “Nor are they recommended during a competition or workout because they will draw more fluid into the gut. A high sugar concentration will do that and it will cause more discomfort, more gas and bloating and sometimes diarrhea.”

Plus, carbonated drinks, as many energy drinks are, are more filling than non-carbonated drinks. So carbonated drinks aren’t as good for athletes because they wouldn’t be able to take in enough liquid fast enough.

Energy drinks aren’t the best choice for inactive people either. They’d be taking in a lot of calories that they may not be burning off.

As far as caffeine goes, different people deal with it differently. It can make you anxious and jittery. If you’re doing an activity, it may actually make you perform worse. Also, taking in caffeine at night may make it harder to sleep. That can turn into a vicious cycle. That lack of sleep would cause a lack of energy.

“What do they replace in the diet?” asks one dietician. This dietician says people are looking at energy drinks as a fuel source and forgetting about good nutrition. She says the drinks may “keep you going” but generally they don’t “contribute to daily nutritional requirements.”

So what should you do to increase energy?

Energy drinks can be good for a pick me up. But they aren’t a solution for someone who always feels like they need more energy. The experts Street Cents spoke to have the following advice for people looking for real consistent energy:

The keys to having energy and avoiding fatigue are proper hydration, proper nutrition and sufficient rest.

One nutrition expert puts it this way, “Having energy is really contingent on getting in enough fuel, whether that’s liquid and/or solids, and getting in enough liquid across the board. People need to look at what their underlying diet is like because all the energy drinks in the world won’t make up for a crappy eating plan.”

Another nutritionist offers these suggestions, “…food options like a ‘power shake’ made of blended milk, yogurt and fruit. Because it is a more balanced food source that would have carbohydrates and also good protein and calcium. I would also suggest a handful of mixed nuts, yogurt or a piece of fruit. All these options are more efficient and complete source of energy because they have food energy and they also are nutritious as they have fiber and essential vitamins and minerals.”

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