Healthy eating and living a more health-conscious lifestyle, in general, has become more and more popular over the past years. Indeed, people today are investing in their own health and wellness, which is evident in the many diets that have become popular recently. And while it’s crucial that we become more critical about the food that we include in our diets when it comes to healthy eating and nutrition, it’s also important to consider what food or drinks we should be eliminating or reducing in our diets.
Considering that energy drinks are one of the most popular drinks in the United States, it’s worth examining how healthy these drinks actually are. To help you out, we’ve prepared a quick run-through of everything you need to know about energy drinks in hopes of figuring out whether or not you should keep them in your diet.
What Are the Differences between Energy Drinks and Sports Drinks?
Now, one thing we have to talk about is the difference between energy drinks and sports drinks. While these two types of drinks are quite similar, it’s easy to see why people might be confused about them.
Sports drinks are flavored drinks that contain minerals, electrolytes, and carbohydrates. Some energy drinks even contain nutrients and vitamins that can help make them healthier. The main purpose of these types of drinks is hydration. This is why they are commonly used when people are engaged in sports or are exercising.
Energy drinks, on the other hand, were made for imparting energy. They achieve this through the use of caffeine, sugar, and sometimes even guarana. This ingredient is derived from the seeds of the Guarana plant, and acts as a stimulant, and also contains caffeine.
Are Energy Drinks Healthy?
If you look at things at face value, energy drinks should be good for you as they give you a quick energy bump. This is especially true when you consider that there are diet or low-calorie versions of many popular energy drinks. However, the truth is a little more complicated than that.
To put it simply, not all energy drinks are bad. However, you have to be wary about the ingredients in the drinks you are consuming. Many of them contain loads of sugar and can be potentially harmful to people with diabetes. Indeed, having too much sugar can also be bad for your health, as it can mess up your body’s ability to manage your blood glucose levels.
You’ll also want to be careful about the amount of caffeine that you are consuming. You’ll want to stay well under 400 mg of caffeine, as going above this amount can cause side effects like anxiety, insomnia, and irritability. The key here is moderation; just make sure that you are consuming the right amount of energy drinks, and you should be fine!
Healthier Alternatives for Energy Drinks
Now, there are still healthier alternatives for energy drinks. If you need a small energy bump in the morning, coffee is always a decent option. We’ve actually talked about the health benefits of drinking coffee, so if you want to know more about that, you can subscribe to our free health newsletter. Green tea and black tea are both good options as they carry a decent amount of caffeine.
Conclusion
We hope this article has helped shed some light on energy drinks. Remember that everything is fine in moderation, and drinking one energy will not completely derail your diet. Just be sure to manage your sugar and caffeine intake properly to avoid any complications!
We understand that making the change to live a more health-conscious life can be quite difficult but worry not, as The Skinny is here to help you on your journey to a healthier and happier life. For more health advice, be sure to subscribe to our free health newsletter today!
