| Heal!
Liquid Energy: We Rate The Latest Energy Drinks
by Drex Earle, Ph.D.
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With the latest craze of high-energy
beverages hitting the market, it’s no surprise that
many consumers are overwhelmed and in some cases even confused
by the different options they have to choose from. And though
many of the energy drinks today are similar in their ingredients,
they are easily differentiated by packaging, size, flavor
and pure punch. This month at austin FiT magazine, we decided
to take on the daunting task of testing 13 different varieties
ourselves, with an objective report on size/volume, supplemental
benefit, flavor and real kick (ratings for taste and energy
are scaled from 1 to 5; 1 being poor and 5 being excellent).
Important Disclaimer:
Of course we do not advocate drinking more than two energy
drinks in a single day, much less 13. However, after our little
taste test, we had so much energy we wrote this feature in
10 minutes while running around Town Lake.
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| From
the makers of Mountain Dew, AMP is essentially
a less carbonated, sweeter version of
its soft drink cousin. Made from many
of the same ingredients as the Dew,
including high fructose corn syrup and
brominated vegetable oil, AMP also contains
guarana, taurine, ginseng, caffeine,
B vitamins and a bad aftertaste.
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| ARIZONA
RX ENERGY |
23.5
fluid ounces |
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| This
turned out to be a behemoth of an energy
drink and the best value to boot ($.99).
The instructions recommended James Bond-style
treatment — best shaken, not stirred
— and though we found the kick
a bit lacking, the taste clearly made
up for it. Among the tastiest of the
bunch, it reminded us of a fruit punch
Capri Sun with a hint of Jelly Belly’s
tossed in. We all agreed this would
be a healthy and delicious non-carbonated
breakfast drink.
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| From
the makers of Mountain Dew, AMP is essentially
a less carbonated, sweeter version of
its soft drink cousin. Made from many
of the same ingredients as the Dew,
including high fructose corn syrup and
brominated vegetable oil, AMP also contains
guarana, taurine, ginseng, caffeine,
B vitamins and a bad aftertaste.
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| A native
of San Juan, Ciclon has at least one
thing going for it — unique Puerto
Rican flair. Yet the rest of it is pretty
run of the mill. It contains the usual
peppy ingredients, conventional form
factor and a standard price tag. The
kick was definitely above average, but
the taste was not. It reminded us of
the dentist office, with a scent eerily
similar to grape-flavored flouride.
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| Made
by Snapple, Elements Energy drink purports
itself as a mind fuel, though we were
not convinced. After experiencing the
Agave Cactus flavor, which had a strange
similarity in smell and flavor to shampoo,
we found ourselves even less unimpressed
with its punch. Mostly water and high
fructose corn syrup, Elements is essentially
a glorified soft drink with ginseng,
taurine and B vitamins.
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| HANSEN'S |
8.3
fluid ounces |
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| With
a radioactive, almost ecto-plasmic green
hue, Hansen’s frightened us a
bit upon first pour. Unfortunately the
taste was equally scary. If cough syrup
or medicine-tasting seltzer water sounds
appetizing, than this one belongs in
your fridge. Hansen’s did have
some incredible punch, however. By far
and away the most energizing, this should
be reserved only for those needing a
serious re-charge.
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| One of
the first clones of Red Bull on the
energy drink market, KMX is unfortunately
less impressive. With many of the same
ingredients, it does differeniate itself
on taste, with a mellow mixture of fruity
flavors reminiscent of Orange Hi-C.
Aside from conjuring up memories of
elementary school lunches, KMX did not
provide any kick worth mentioning.
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| Sporting
a frantic look and peculiar branding,
Lost energy drink even advertises that
it’s not FDA-approved. Replete
with the usual additives, it takes many
cues from the far superior Monster,
incorporating L-Carnitine, ginseng and
a distinctive vanilla aroma. Overall
we found it to be a little too sweet,
almost syrupy — like a gigantic
caramel apple or an over-sized cream
soda.
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As
many bar patrons believe, mixing energy
drinks with alcohol is an option to make
partying last all night. While the popularity
of this practice seems to have risen dramatically,
health experts suggest the mix may have
some adverse effects.
The latest research
shows the combination does not make users’
buzz feeling last any longer or counteract
the alcohol in the drink. In September 2004’s
Alcoholism:
Clinical and Experimental Research,
a Brazilian research team at the Federal
University of Sao Paulo found that alcohol
with energy drink ingestion was similar
to the effects after alcohol ingestion alone.
The findings suggest that energy drinks,
at least in the tested doses, did not improve
performance or have significant differences
from drinking alcohol by itself.
Even though the combination
does not create a long-lasting mood boost,
the mix does result in users drinking longer.
Emily Swanzy, a graduate assistant for the
Alcohol and Drug Resource Center at Texas
State University, knows the consequences.
“There are stimulating effects of
the energy drinks that make people believe
they can drink more and not be as intoxicated,”
she says. Since carbonation speeds up the
absorption of alcohol, it gets the alcohol
into systems faster.
Fatigue is also
one of the ways the body tells itself that
it’s had enough to drink, and since
energy drinks can prevent people from feeling
sleepy, more alcohol could be consumed as
a result.
In fact, Red Bull’s Web site even
acknowledges that some consumers mix alcohol
with their product. However, according to
their site, there is “no reason why
Red Bull Energy Drink should not, like any
other drink, be mixed with alcohol as long
as people do not underestimate that alcohol
consumption might impair their mental and
physical activities.”
While research is
ongoing for definitive answers, some safe
conclusions are to pace alcohol intake and
be mindful of caffeine sensitivity —
a factor which could make energy drinks
and alcohol a foolish combination.
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Monster
is exactly as its name implies —
a powerhouse of flavor and energy, and
clearly our favorite choice. Loaded
with almost every supplement available
(L-carnitine, caffeine, guarana, inositol,
taurine and vitamin C), it also uses
glucose, sucrose and maltodextrin as
sweeteners, instead of lower-grade sugars.
Most comparable to Red Bull in taste
and kick, Monster provides about twice
the volume for the same price.
| Taste
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Kick
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| RED
BULL |
8.3
fluid ounces |
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As the
official pioneer of the energy drink
revolution, we have to give Red Bull
its props. Despite the laundry list
of imitators, it is still a beacon of
energy drink hope, the one by which
all others are measured. With a timeless
taste and an enduring kick, Red Bull
is not only a worthy primer, but one
that will forever remain atop our short
list of favorites.
| Taste
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Kick
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| If this
drink were truly a rockstar, it would
definitely be a one-hit wonder. Aside
from praising itself as the first 16-ounce
energy drink to hit the shelves, Rockstar
has little else going for it, particularly
if you have taste buds. However, out
of all the drinks we tested, this was
the only one with milk thistle, an ingredient
that has been suggested to curb hangovers.
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| SOBE
NO FEAR |
16
fluid ounces |
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| Though
Sobe No Fear’s slogan is “The
Toughest One On The Shelf,” we
found it to be the “Toughest One
To Test.” With one whiff —
a mixture of musty armpits and wet dog
— it literally took all the courage
we had to even take a sip. At least
Sobe got one thing right — you
have to have “no fear” to
let this one pass your lips.
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According
to the labeling, Vamp is designed to
fill your veins, provided you’re
immortal — a little weird, but
funny nonetheless. Surprisingly, this
one was a big hit with us — its
bloody red color, Cherry 7-Up taste
and vampire bite all delivered on its
ridiculous branding. The only complaint
was that it was a little heavy on carbonation,
something that would likely cause fang
decay if consumed regularly.
| Taste
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Kick
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ARGININE
- An amino acid, obtained from the hydrolysis or
digestion of plant and animal protein.
CYANOCBALAMIN
- Otherwise known as vitamin B-12, essential for
the production and regeneration of red blood cells
and the proper functioning of the central nervous
system. Improves concentration, memory and balance,
while also relieving irritability. Also, vitamin
B-12 is necessary for proper utilization of fats,
carbohydrates and proteins in the body.
PYRIDOXINE
- Aids in food assimilation, protein and fat metabolism,
especially the breakdown of essential fatty acids.
Also known as vitamin B-6.
CREATINE
- A nitrogenous organic acid, found in the muscle
tissue of vertebrates mainly in the form of phosphocreatine.
Supplies quick energy for muscle contraction.
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GINSENG
- Derived from an eastern Asian dried root used
to improve overall energy and vitality, particularly
during times of fatigue or stress.
GINKGO
- A deciduous tree native to China having fan-shaped
leaves and fleshy yellowish seeds with a pungent
odor. The male plants are often grown as ornamental
trees.
GUARANA
- A dried paste made from the seeds of a Brazilian
climbing shrub containing tannin and caffeine. Used
in making an astringent drink.
L-CARNITINE
- Chemical that shuttles electrons in the mytocondria
of muscle cells to produce adenosine tri-phosphate
(energy).
TAURINE
- A colorless, crystalline substance, formed by
the hydrolysis of taurocholic acid. Found in the
fluids of animal muscles and lungs. |
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