Pop into almost any 7-11, CVS, or convenience store, and you’ll see the refrigerated section filled with assorted flavors of Celsius. The top-selling energy drink on Amazon, Celsius has taken over the market from brands like Red Bull, Monster, and other sugar and caffeine enhanced energy drinks that once dominated the market. While this “natural” energy drink still contains 200mg of caffeine, almost twice the amount in a cup of coffee, the boost in Celsius comes from the alternative plant-based ingredients like Guarana and Green Tea, which offer other health and fitness benefits as well. Plus Celsius contains no added sugar.
In addition to Celsius, there are other naturally caffeinated, low or no sugar energy drinks on the market, promoting sustained energy and mental focus without the caffeine jitters. Accelerator Active Energy, endorsed by football and Swifty fan favorite Travis Kelce, also gets its caffeine boost from Guarana and Green tea, along with Yerba Mate, a thermogenic blend said to boost metabolism and burn more calories.
“Many energy boosting, focus-inducing beverages on the market today do contain the same amount of caffeine that you would find in a cup of coffee, but the addition of ingredients that calm the nervous system reduce the ‘jitters’ associated with caffeine, and therefore can make the user feel more focused”
-Sarah Herrington, MS, CNC, CPT
Other energy drinks have added adaptogenic and nootropic ingredients like Ashwagandha, Gaba, and L-Theanine, known for their cognitive and stress reducing benefits. Many of these ingredients are also sleep inducing and relaxation enhancing. Adaptogens support the body’s response to stress, including the stimulation from caffeine, while nootropics enhance cognitive function such as memory, focus, and mental clarity. Drinks like BioLift, Kin Spritz, and MTE have been formulated and are marketed to promote those benefits.
“What sets these energy drinks apart from a cup of coffee with the same amount of caffeine,” says health and performance coach, James Cunningham, “are the additional ingredients that can have a more sustained impact on energy and focus. The adaptogens and nootropics can help reduce the crash that many people experience after consuming caffeine, making these drinks a more gradual and consistent energy boost. Plus, the unique blend of ingredients in these drinks can work differently in the body than caffeine alone, providing a more holistic approach to energy and focus.”
So if coffee has you in its crash and burn grips, the next time you’re looking for a boost before your workout or afternoon meeting try one of these alternatives. You might not get the jolt you’re used to, but nor the jitters. What you will find is a calmer, healthier, and perhaps more productive source of energy. If nothing else, all these beverages are a delicious and refreshing pick-me-up, and a better alternative to the soda or or sugary drink you might be swigging now.
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