How Energy Drinks Can Help You Stay Energized

In today’s fast-paced world, staying energised throughout the day is getting more difficult. With work in the early morning and other commitments in the afternoon and the demands of our modern lives, some of us struggle to find energy and motivation during the day and sometimes we feel so drained and in need of something to get us moving. Finding ways to help you stay energised and on top of things all day is essential whether they are long-term or short-term solutions.

Natural Ways to Boost Your Energy 

There are many ways to increase your energy and feel good all day. Drinking plenty of water, avoiding stressful situations and just trying to stay positive can help your mood and help you stay awake. But, it’s not like we purposely seek stressful situations and sometimes we can’t stay positive, so here are some more tips on how to keep your energy levels all day long.

• Sleep – getting enough sleep is crucial for your mood and your energy levels. We all want to stay at night and watch TV, but it doesn’t help us. We need sleep. The amount of sleep you need can vary from person to person and you know yourself, but make sure that you get the required hours of sleep that you need to feel like yourself during the day. 

• Workout – regular physical activity can significantly boost your energy levels and your mood. You don’t have to go to the gym, you can do yoga, pilates or even take a walk every day. This will release endorphins that leave you feeling more alert and help you combat stress and fatigue. Incorporating a daily workout as a habit is going to help you a lot.

• Eat well – it goes without saying that nutrition plays a crucial role in keeping energy levels steady. Fruits, vegetables and proteins will provide the necessary nutrients that your body needs to function optimally. Eat your breakfast every morning, because it’s better to start the day with your stomach full so that your brain can focus on the more important things at work, rather than being focused on food.

Sometimes though, even when you sleep well and maintain a healthy diet, your energy levels will drop and there’s nothing that you can do about it. When that happens, we try to find other ways to stay awake and focused such as having one too many cups of coffee or eating something sweet to give us a little bit of sugar rush. 

Energy Drinks 

When coffee fails you, and you still feel like you’re gonna fall asleep, this is where energy drinks come into play. There has been a significant increase in people who decide to take an energy drink when their energy levels are dropping and they struggle to pay attention to their commitments and just feel tired.

Ingredients 

•  Caffeine – caffeine is the primary ingredient in energy drinks. It stimulates the nervous system and provides a temporary boost and energy. 

• Sugar and Sweeteners – many energy drinks are full of sugar and artificial sweeteners however, some are sugar-free which might be a better option if you want to avoid certain health problems.

• Amino Acids- some energy drinks also contain amino acids which are believed to enhance mental and physical performance and that’s why some athletes drink energy drinks.

Benefits 

• Boost of energy – as caffeine is one of the main ingredients in these drinks, drinking them will help your mind stay awake and focused during demanding tasks, or just through a long day. When drinking them in moderation they are ideal for when you’re feeling sleepy, tired and can’t finish your work.

• Physical performance – since energy drinks are filled with vitamin B which gives you energy, drinking them before a workout will help you with your performance and endurance. 

• Improve your mood – when you’re tired you’re not in a good mood. Since your energy levels go up after drinking this type of drink your mood will significantly improve and you are ready to take on everything. 

Disadvantages 

• Addictive – these drinks can become very addictive, especially when children or teens drink them, but it can also happen to adults, so it is better you use them occasionally when you’re in absolute need of an energy boost.

• Health risks – if consumed often, energy drinks can lead to various health issues like high blood pressure and other sorts of heart problems. If your heart starts beating faster because of an espresso or two, you’re going to experience the same thing with energy drinks.

Making Informed Choices 

There are going to be times when you’re not able to keep your eyes open and the only way to open them is to drink something to make you feel better and that’s okay. When consumed moderately, energy drinks will help you go through the day more easily and will keep you on your toes, but don’t overdo it. 

Is it safe to drink energy drinks every day? Not really. While they can be quite helpful when you’re really tired, drinking them each day will not help you in the long run, since not only can you get addicted to them, but also excessive use can lead to some serious health issues. It has become increasingly popular to mix these drinks with alcohol, especially among uni students and that is a major health concern. If you experience heart palpitations when drinking just an energy drink, that will increase when mixing alcohol with it and it can lead to a variety of health problems.

The bottom line is that energy drinks can deliver on their promised benefits and will help your brain and body when you’re feeling tired and when you’re sleep-deprived. They are a tempting solution to a very frequent problem and will temporarily solve it.  What is important is that you approach them with caution and awareness of their potential disadvantages and don’t get used to them. They shouldn’t be the best solution to your tiredness and your low energy. First, try to bring your energy up in a natural way and if nothing works, then resort to drinking one to help you finish your tasks.