I had an exhausting day yesterday. After a fairly intense workout in the morning, I had a 9 a.m. rec basketball game. The contest was close until the very last second. I didn’t get home until close to 10:30 because of the closeness of the game and the number of fouls at the end, which stopped the clock.
I went to bed sometime in the early hours of the following day after taking a shower and winding down because a friend of my wife was over kibitzing and left close to midnight.
I had an early morning appointment with my trainer, despite my body telling me not to go. I didn’t get out of bed until there were just a few minutes left before I had to leave the house because I was trying to get as much rest as I could for my body.
As a consequence, I was unable to consume anything. I felt like I needed an energy boost to get through the workout given how hard my trainer pushed me.
I glanced over to the glass vending machine behind the check-in station when I arrived at the gym. I quickly came to the conclusion that an energy drink was exactly what the doctor ordered…
I bought a drink with a lemon flavor called Turbo Tea and consumed the 18 ounces quickly. I felt like a rock star right away. I got the boost I was looking for from the 90 mg of caffeine, ginseng, and guarana, and I was also able to keep my energy up throughout the entire workout.
Now, in most cases, my trainer kicks my back to the max. However, today I sprinted through the workout and defeated it, not the workout. I completely attribute that to the energy drink.
Therefore, the issue at hand is whether or not energy drinks are harmful to your health.
Well, as with anything else, excess is bad, but if you need a boost from time to time, this or any approved energy drink is fine.
These energy drinks are typically nothing more than sugar, caffeine, and taurine on occasion. The majority have around 80 mg of caffeine, which is the same as how much caffeine is in a cup of coffee.
When the caffeine, sugar, and taurine wear off, many people experience a serious crash as a result of the ingredients. But this shouldn’t happen for an hour or two, depending on how much you ate.
Therefore, drinking energy drinks on occasion does not harm your body if you need a quick boost to get through a workout.
Energy drinks can cause problems when consumed frequently or in conjunction with alcohol.
Due to the ingredients’ ability to dehydrate, it is suggested that you drink no more than one per session and drink plenty of water afterward. By doing so, you can avoid dehydration and provide your muscles with the water they need to grow during your workout.
In terms of alcohol, it is increasingly common to combine energy drinks with alcoholic beverages in order to counteract the effects of the energy drink on alcohol consumption. This is similar to applying the brake and gas pedals to your vehicle. Your body doesn’t know how to behave, just like your car doesn’t know what to do. And because of the high from the caffeine, many people don’t realize how drunk they are and drive, putting themselves and others in danger.
In conclusion, energy drinks can be beneficial to your body by providing you with the alertness you may be lacking, but only in moderation. You shouldn’t rely on these kinds of stimulants to get through a workout or a game, like you wouldn’t with anything else. Instead, make sure you’re getting enough sleep and eating well.
You’ll get the energy you need to compete at the highest level from that, above all else.
Stay active!