Training & Nutrition - Red Bull

I'm just curious.

Is a drink like Red-bull good for fuel? It's got carbs and stuff, but it's also got some caffeine which could be dehydrating..

Someone gave me a case of this stuff as a gift since I'm out riding all the time...

Here is the info :

Per 250 ml can:

Calories: 110
Total Fat: 0
Sodium: 200mg (8%)
Total Carb: 28 g (9%), Sugars 27g
Protein: less than 1 g

Niacin: 100%
Vitamin B12 80%
Vitamin B6 250%
Pantothenic Acid 50%

Ingredients: Carbonated Water, Sucrose, Glucose, Sodium Citrate, Taurine, Glucuronolactone, Caffeine, Inositol, Niacinamide, Calcium-pantothenate, pyridoxine HCI, Vitamin b12

I'm sure the more intelligent posters below will tell you "hell no". Way to much caffine. Besides, the stuff is way over priced when compared to other sports drinks. Of course it sounds like you got it for free. When you run out, just drink a cup of coffee and a coke and all you'll be missing is the Taurine.

Red Bull is just that bull. It's a way over priced drink that doesn't offer much at all. If you drink coke and Gatorade on a ride that should care of anything that Red Bull is supposed to do. Besides, I've used this combination and works well for me. Over 60% of TDF teams use de-carbonated coke as part of their arrary of drinks. I find if I drink Coke about 10 minutes before a really stiff hill it really gives me a boost. It's the only drink I know of that I would call a pure energy drink - lots of calories and caffeine.

You should experiment with various drinks and find what you like - I'm sure what you will end up using regularily won't be Red Bull,Rock Star or other high price energy drinks.

It's really just expensive crap, and the carbonation isn't usually a good idea while riding.

All you need is something with sugar and electrolytes. Gatorade, Hammer Heed, Accelerade, whatever.

OJ is the best ;) ... acidity may be a problem though.

Gatorade is amazing stuff though. It really counts when you are doing long long hours working... which i suppose helps with biking too!

I wouldn't drink them during a ride, but there is good evidence that caffine can improve endurance (not coffee though), so maybe before.

Red Bull's biggest problem is that it tastes like ******** garbage.

Try those 5-hour energy vials.

I wouldn't drink them during a ride, but there is good evidence that caffine can improve endurance (not coffee though), so maybe before.

Why not coffee? Caffeine is caffeine.

http://www.jeffgalloway.com/nutrition/nancy/coffee.html
http://blog.washingtonpost.com/checkup/2008/06/is_coffee_a_health_food.html

Yes, coffee does effect some people so that they get an upset stomach, but that is not because the caffeine in coffee is somehow different from other sources.

As for Red Bull, you could probably fit it into your nutrition but there are likely better choices. As somebody already said, if you got it for free then having a can for a ride won't hurt you. But I probably wouldn't go and spend money on more of it once you are out.

Red Bull's biggest problem is that it tastes like ******** garbage.

Nah, it tastes fine. But why bother buying redbull. You can get 4L of coke for the same price you can get .25L of Red bull....

Why not coffee? Caffeine is caffeine.

http://www.jeffgalloway.com/nutrition/nancy/coffee.html
http://blog.washingtonpost.com/checkup/2008/06/is_coffee_a_health_food.html

Yes, coffee does effect some people so that they get an upset stomach, but that is not because the caffeine in coffee is somehow different from other sources.

I can't find the source, but its out there.. basically a study done (locally, the only reason I know about it) that showed caffeine had a positive effect on performance, but could not be reproduced w/ coffee... :rolleyes: doesn't make sense to me either. not saying this is 100%... but something I've heard & read.

I like to pour a small can into my 100oz camelbak on longer rides. If I drink it straight out of the can while riding I often get side aches.

Red Bull is just that Bull.

I can't find the source, but its out there.. basically a study done (locally, the only reason I know about it) that showed caffeine had a positive effect on performance, but could not be reproduced w/ coffee... :rolleyes: doesn't make sense to me either. not saying this is 100%... but something I've heard & read.

It's probably because coffee doesn't have the calories that your body can use when the caffeine spikes metabolism.

It's probably because coffee doesn't have the calories that your body can use when the caffeine spikes metabolism.

....neither does pure caffeine.

BTW - More recent studies indicate that caffeine does not dehydrate during exercise. – TF

some people drink a flat coke for the boost when preforming... when it's flat it doesn't give you the gas.

I like red bull with a shot of jagermeister in it before I go see a band. But when I ride my bike I drink some pretty strongly brewed black tea or matte beforehand.

....neither does pure caffeine.

ok..was just a thought

I like the taste, get em at costco for pretty cheap.
Or get the rockstar or monster energy drinks. Same crap but you get twice the amount for the same price.

only use energy drinks for all nighter study sessions, i never get near it any other time, specially during sports. De-carbonated coke as a sport drinks, interesting, Im assuming since the carbonation is gone than theres no sodium bicarbonate left, which takes out the bad affect on the bones. I might try this sometime. thanks for the info

de-carbonated coke still contains phosphoric acid though, no?

"Phosphoric acid, used in many soft drinks (primarily cola), has been linked to lower bone density in epidemiological studies." - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Phosphoric_acid

http://www.google.co.uk/search?q=phosphoric+acid+bones

The real problem with Red Bull is the caffeine. Caffeine gives you a short burst of energy, but then it also causes a drop in blood sugar and the loss of longer term energy.

Now, this is not to say I know everything, but caffeine does lower blood sugar (this is the cause of the 'jitters').

technically if you just keep dirnkiing caffeine throughout the race you wont hit the low blood sugar and crash untill after right?? Same with taking lots of sugar through a race. But then i bet this has bad health defects or something in the long run heh.

technically if you just keep dirnkiing caffeine throughout the race you wont hit the low blood sugar and crash untill after right?? Same with taking lots of sugar through a race. But then i bet this has bad health defects or something in the long run heh.

I am not completely sure, but I think it does still keep your blood sugar low... you just do not notice it until after you are off the caffeine high. It is like drinking coffee I guess. The more you drink in the morning the bigger your crash is later.

What about those 5-hr power things?

The real problem with Red Bull is the caffeine. Caffeine gives you a short burst of energy, but then it also causes a drop in blood sugar and the loss of longer term energy.

Now, this is not to say I know everything, but caffeine does lower blood sugar (this is the cause of the 'jitters').

Mayo Clinic web site:

"Caffeine: Does it affect blood sugar?
Answer
Short-term studies indicate that caffeine impairs insulin action but not necessarily blood sugar (glucose) levels in young, healthy adults."

http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/blood-sugar/AN01804

The only effect I found with a search showed that it may INCREASE the blood sugar levels for those with type II diebetes.

TF

Mayo Clinic web site:

"Caffeine: Does it affect blood sugar?
Answer
Short-term studies indicate that caffeine impairs insulin action but not necessarily blood sugar (glucose) levels in young, healthy adults."

http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/blood-sugar/AN01804

The only effect I found with a search showed that it may INCREASE the blood sugar levels for those with type II diebetes.

TF

Remember those are "short-term" studies and conducted on young healthy individuals. It does not show the effect that is caused when blood glucose levels are lowered with exercise and cannot be replenished because of the impaired insulin action.

Diabetes is another can of worms.

The five hour things have more than caffeine, such as b vitamins. Caffeine almost gives you a 'high'

Remember those are "short-term" studies and conducted on young healthy individuals. It does not show the effect that is caused when blood glucose levels are lowered with exercise and cannot be replenished because of the impaired insulin action.

Diabetes is another can of worms.

The five hour things have more than caffeine, such as b vitamins. Caffeine almost gives you a 'high'

Do you have sources showing a lowering of blood sugar? - TF

What about those 5-hr power things?

I tried some on some longish-ish weekend jaunts. (By longish-ish, I only mean 40 miles or so.)

All I can say for sure is I didn't fall asleep.

Remember those are "short-term" studies and conducted on young healthy individuals. It does not show the effect that is caused when blood glucose levels are lowered with exercise and cannot be replenished because of the impaired insulin action.

Diabetes is another can of worms.

The five hour things have more than caffeine, such as b vitamins. Caffeine almost gives you a 'high'

Insulin lowers blood sugar. Therefore, if caffeine impairs insulin sensitivity, the expected effect would be to raise blood sugar, not lower it.

Glucagon is the hormone that stimulates glucose release and synthesis. Caffeine has no significant effect on glycogenolysis nor gluconeogenesis.

I was told that the Coke the pro's are drinking in Europe is not the same as here in the States. US Coke has High Fructose Corn Sugar in it and supposedly HFCS is not allowed in soft drinks in Europe so Coke over there has real sugar in it from beets.

HFCS is not a good immediate energy source.