Depends on what you're drinking!

You see them everywhere; those canned or bottled beverages sold in convenience stores, gas stations, and even mixed into drinks at bars and nightclubs. Yes, the energy drink craze is upon us, but are these drinks right for you?

At first glance, you might think not. Most energy drinks are marketed primarily to people between the ages of 18 and 30 as a stimulant, which is why they have names that convey strength, power, speed, and sexuality. There's nothing subtle about these heavily carbonated beverages. They're designed for an audience that's looking to feel a buzz, and they oblige by offering large amounts of caffeine, tons of sugar, and harsh herbal stimulants like the Brazilian herb guarana.

If you're like most people, you too could use an energy lift on occasion, so you may be tempted to try one of these aggressively-named drinks, but you might just get more than you bargained for. Some popular energy drinks can contain the equivalent of more than 3 cups of coffee in one can. That may please the skateboard crowd, but that much caffeine can raise your blood pressure, make you dehydrated, and cause a lot of intestinal discomfort.

Some energy drinks can also contain more than 22 teaspoons of sugar per can. That's enough to have you flying up to the ceiling, but when you finally come down, you'll have to deal with the fact that you just consumed over 400 calories.

And here's something else you should know. Some canned energy drinks are loaded with sodium to pump their stimulants into your system faster. And, in order to feel anything from these sugary, hyper-caffeinated drinks, you must drain the whole can - up to 24 ounces! All in all, it's a perfect recipe for a bloated stomach and a couple of hours of jittery nerves, followed by an energy crash that can leave you feeling even more exhausted than you did before you drank the product. That may be acceptable to a young, hyperactive thrill-seeker, but what about the rest of us?

The great news is that the market is beginning to see the first of a new generation of energy drinks, which healthy ingredients that can deliver smooth, long-lasting energy, sharper focus and concentration, and better performance at work or at play. And this new generation of energy drinks is delivering these benefits without the jitters, the calories, or the energy crash that can come with those sugary, hyper-caffeinated canned energy drinks. This is accomplished by the use of key nutrients that, in the right combination, can provide healthy energy for everyone. Here's what you should look for in a world-class energy drink:

• Vitamin B12 - Often called the "energy vitamin," vitamin B12 is important for the development of red blood cells that carry vital oxygen to your cells.
• Niacin (vitamin B3) - Important for energy production, it also helps to remove toxins from the body.
• Vitamin B6 - Assists in proper nervous system function, and is essential for the body's production of DNA, protein, and new cells.
• Folic acid - Supplies methyl groups, special body chemicals that are required for its energy reactions. Also, folic acid works together with vitamins B6 and B12 to reduce harmful levels of homocysteine, a body chemical that is a known risk factor for heart health.
• Taurine - Used by the body to process electrolytes, this amino acid also helps regulate nervous system and muscle function, and supports brain and heart health.
• N-acetyl-L-tyrosine - Required for smooth and efficient transmission of nerve impulses. It has been shown in studies to promote positive mood, and to support memory, alertness, and focus.
• Green tea extract - Contains theine, a naturally time-released, gentler acting form of caffeine. Green tea also contains the soothing amino acid L-theanine, and studies have shown that green tea helps the body to burn fat for energy production, and that's a great bonus!
• Glucuronolactone - A natural detoxifier, glucuronolactone has been clinically shown to reduce sleepiness and sleep-related traffic accidents, and has been reported in studies to improve mental performance, memory, concentration, and reaction time.
• L-phenylalanine - An essential amino acid, L-phenylalanine helps to brighten mood, enhance memory, alertness, and learning ability and has been studied for its appetite-controlling properties.
• Standardized goji juice - GoChi, a standardized juice from the Asian goji berry, has been clinically shown to increase energy, reduce fatigue, sharpen mental alertness, focus and concentrate, and improve athletic performance. Research studies on goji's bioactive Lycium barbarum polysaccharides (LBP) have suggested mechanisms by which goji can help the absorption and prolong the effect of the key energy nutrients discussed above.

Labels: Energy, Focus, Performance