Energy drinks to avoid and embrace

Health and nutrition expert Aimee Raupp advises on which energy drinks we should avoid and which to embrace. 

Aimee points out that that FDA and the Federal government have raised real concerns about the health effects of these energy drinks. In fact, energy drinks are not FDA regulated because their sold as nutritional supplements, not food so that’s why they can exceed the FDA-mandated 71 milligrams of caffeine. 

Which beverages should we stay away from? Aimee says to avoid the following energy drinks at all costs. These are the most popularly sold energy drinks in the United States:

• Red bull
• Monster
• Rockstar
• Full Throttle
• Sobe No Fear
• Amp

These drinks are filled with unhealthy additives, artificial ingredients, sugar, and caffeine. And the reaction to consuming these beverages can be  alarming – after consuming one of these, your body will go into overdrive – pupils start to dilate, heart rate increases, and all you want to do is move, move, move (and not in a good way!). These drinks can also cause a lack of mental focus and increased hunger.

On the flip side, there are a number of “good” energy drinks that provide positive health benefits, and Aimee recommends the following:

• Cellnique: 
• Sambazon: 
• Steaz: 
• Scheckter’s Organic Energy

Of this group, Aimee’s top pick is the Cellnique because it’s the lowest in added sugars and the ingredient list here is quite clean and super naturally energizing. Regardless, all of these choices are organic and contain energizing sources like acai, yerba mate and guarana.