Training & Nutrition - What's everyones opinion on energy drinks? ie diet rockstar

How does everyone feel about energy drinks, particularly Diet Rockstar? From what I can tell it has some artificial sweetner, but is really just a bunch of b vitamins and an "energy blend" that consists of taurine, ginko biloba, caffeine, and guarana, etc. I never drink them while running, biking, or swimming or for performance, just in order to stay awake. Like if I'm closing at work and have been up since 5 am, I'll have one and sometimes I'll have one in order to stay awake in my afternoon class. Also if it helps I am a 23 yr old male who eats well and exercises plenty, and I always try to get at least 6 hours of sleep, but no more then 9.

They will make you kamikaze right into the middle of your afternoon every time. From what I can tell, it's mostly different kinds of sugar (and vast quantities of them).

The best way to "stay up" throughout the day is eating in smaller, balanced portions and avoiding large lunches (especially those that are carb-heavy). Eating fruit such as apples and bananas helps as well, and drinking tea is recommended (though I drink coffee; it tastes better).

They will make you kamikaze right into the middle of your afternoon every time. From what I can tell, it's mostly different kinds of sugar (and vast quantities of them).



Diet Rockstar is sugar free... The buzz is from the caffeine.

I don't have a can in front of me, but I'm pretty sure that they use sucralose as a sweetener. My big question is what's the difference between a cup of coffee/tea with a B vitamin and a diet rockstar, besides price? I did buy some super B vitamins, but it made me pretty jittery when I took it.

I stopped drinking energy drinks when it felt like my Kidney was going to explode...

I have gotten some weird stomach reactions after drinking one from time to time, normally just gassy.

I've had much more consistent energy levels since I stopped drinking caffeine and sugar. You're much better off if you can function without depending on them. You said you're 23, I am also; healthy people our age shouldn't need energy drinks to stay alert throughout the day.

Mental stress and diet play a large role in alertness and energy levels. Hypoglycemia is becoming more common; if you develop it you will be tired throughout the day. Your mind can become fatigued just like your body if you don't give it rest once and a while (no thoughts), this can also lead to tiredness.

Here's a good video on the effects of various food additives on mental health (http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=2963728494205235281&ei=jN_FSdTAFKS2qAPIpszbAQ&q=msg&hl=en&dur=3)

Both coffee and Rockstars have caffeine, but the coffee doesn't have a mega dose of B vitamins. Bad for the kidneys, and competely unnessecary. In one can, there's something like 3 or 4 times the recommended amount of B vitamins. My kidneys get very sore if I drink Rockstars, or even take B-50 or B Complex pills.

Of all the energy drinks out there, I would say Diet Rockstar is the best tasting and healthier(?) choice. You have to realize, though, that the energy obtained from them are not only coming from caffeine, but from extremely overdosed vitamins, taurine, and other synthetic whathaveyous.

Being that energy drinks of this sort are fairly new, little to no long term affects of this sort of regular consumption are known. This is particularly stressed on taurine and those other 'energy' additives other than vitamins. As for the vitamin content, I pretty much look at drinking an energy drink in the same way as chugging half a flinstones vitamins bottle: delicious, but countereffective.

Bottom line: Wait ten years from now when results start pulling in from energy drink 'victims'.

My opinion: I'm not really a huge fan of them. I don't drink coffee or pop, or anything that has caffeine in it on a regular basis. If my mind is feeling scrambled and I'm trying to do my homework later in the evening, I'll drink some tea which helps me focus.

Physically I don't notice much benefit when I drink caffeine-loaded drinks.

I don't think the drinks are that good for you (my opinion, don't know if it's proven), just like how I don't think pop is good for you. I'd rather have a glass of OJ or some green tea.

I drink coffee, mostly because it tastes good. If I need energy, I eat nuts. I don't think coffee has any detrimental long-term effects, though I wouldn't be the least surprised to find out that energy drinks do. I've tried switching to tea numerous amounts of times, and I can't stand the taste of it.