Energy drinks are generally caffeinated, and the caffeine brings out your inner extrovert self by relieving you of your stress and replenishing your energy levels.
Regarding energy drinks, it won’t be wrong to say that all the magic lies in their composition. Brands formulate their products to cater to the consumer’s needs and keep them coming for more.
Composition of Energy Drinks
Although brands have different recipes but the components used in them are primarily similar, and some of them are listed below:
1. Caffeine
Caffeine is known for its stimulating properties. It boosts performance levels to a large extent. This is because it can block adenosine receptors responsible for making you feel fatigued.
Moreover, caffeine can also considerably improve your mood, which gives birth to the idea that perhaps it is due to the positive effects of caffeine that most people tend to close deals or talk over a cup of coffee.
2. Taurine
Taurine is an amino acid, naturally produced by the human body. It helps regulate energy levels in the body as well as the heartbeat.
The taurine used in energy drinks is the manufactured kind, and because the human body produces taurine itself, there is no need for it to be taken as a supplement.
3. Guarana
Guarana is a plant native to the Amazon that is rich in antioxidants and contains caffeine. It is added to energy drinks to elevate the effects of caffeine.
Many think the caffeine in guarana has a more substantial effect than the regular caffeine in coffee.
4. B Vitamins
Vitamin B complex is a group of vitamins found in most foods naturally and has multiple health benefits like helping turn food into energy.
The B vitamins are one of the most widely used supplements, and they are each listed below:
- niacin (B3)
- folic acid (B9)
- riboflavin (B2)
- cyanocobalamin (B12)
- pyridoxine hydrochloride (B6)
- pantothenic acid (B5)
5. Ginseng
Ginseng is a herbaceous plant that has been used as a medicinal herb for centuries, and it is believed to relieve stress, promote memory and increase energy.
6. L-Carnitine
L-carnitine is an amino acid that occurs naturally in the liver and kidneys. It plays a part in boosting the metabolic rate and increasing energy levels.
It can also act as a thermogenic, increasing your stamina and endurance levels during an arduous workout routine.
7. Sugar
Sugar is the main ingredient found in most energy drinks and is used in copious amounts to enhance the flavor of energy drinks.
This is another reason why excessive consumption of energy drinks can be dangerous because excessive sugar intake is linked to issues like obesity and diabetes.
8. Antioxidants
Antioxidants are molecules that help the body gracefully recover and prevent damage from free radicals.
Vitamins C, E, A (aka retinol, beta-carotene), and selenium are all antioxidants, with Vitamin C probably being the most popularly used in energy drinks.
Antioxidants help prevent illness and cellular damage. However, a person wouldn’t want to depend on energy drinks for a healthy dose of antioxidants since the amount used in energy drinks is quite minute.
Generally, most vitamins are flushed from the body when taken in excess, but Vitamin A can build up in body tissues and cause liver damage when consumed in excess; hence always be mindful of the nutritional value of energy drinks.
9. Glucuronolactone
It occurs naturally in the human body when the liver breaks down glucose. It is a compound found in the connective tissue and is believed to aid in detoxification.
It is used in energy drinks to help prevent glycogen depletion by obstructing other substances from depleting glycogen supplies in the muscles.
10. Yerba Mate
Yerba Mate is a natural source of caffeine. It is believed that the type of caffeine in yerba mate doesn’t produce adverse side effects like caffeine and guarana.
11. Creatine
Creatinine is a substance that is naturally created by the human body, but it can also be obtained through sources like meat.
Creatine is responsible for supplying muscle energy and is usually found in energy drinks. However, consuming it in excess can lead to kidney damage.
12. Inositol
Inositol was previously considered a B vitamin, but it has since been removed from this classification because the human body can produce its supply without the need for supplementation.
It is a carbohydrate that is formed by the breaking down of glucose.
Energy Drinks include inositol because it aids the nervous system and helps in serotonin modulation. Inositol is usually found in fruits, beans, grains, and nuts.
13. L-Theanine
L-Theanine is an amino acid known to calm the brain and enhance concentration.
This amino acid is found in tea leaves in a high concentration.
It is used in energy drinks to counteract some of the side effects of caffeine. it eases the jitters caused by caffeine and enhances concentration
14. Ginkgo Biloba
Ginkgo biloba is believed to help with memory retention, concentration, and blood circulation.
However, it is not very effective in energy drinks since the amount used in the composition is meager.
15. Artificial Sweeteners
Most energy drink brands have launched sugar-free versions of energy drinks that cater to health enthusiasts and diabetics. Hence artificial sweeteners are used to elevate the taste of energy drinks.
The artificial sweeteners are Aspartame, Sucralose, Ace-K, and some alcoholic sugars.
16. Quercetin
Quercetin is a known vasodilator that opens blood vessels to allow increased blood flow to the body, which is helpful with endurance and stamina.
17. Food Colouring and Preserving Agents
Besides the active ingredients in energy drinks, other additives are found in energy drinks that act as preservatives. some of them are mentioned below
- Sodium citrate – acidity regulator
- Citric acid – preservative and adds a citric flavor
- Sodium benzoate – preservative
- Potassium sorbate – preservative
- Caramel color – food coloring
- Benzoic acid – preservative, prevents mold
- Sorbic acid – preservative
- Sodium hexametaphosphate – an emulsifier
- Gum arabic – stabilizer
- Calcium disodium EDTA – preservative and sequestrant
- Potassium benzoate – preservative
- Brominated vegetable oil – emulsifier
- Monopotassium phosphate – buffering and neutralizing agent
- Ester Gum – an emulsifier
- Yellow 5 – artificial coloring
- Yellow 6 – artificial coloring
- Red 40 – artificial coloring
- Blue 1 – artificial coloring
Easy Tips for Becoming More Social
Here are some tips that will aid you in shedding your introverted persona and connecting with more people:
1. Be a good listener
Everyone likes to be seen and heard. The best way of connecting with others is by actively listening to what they say and offering your undivided attention and genuine interest.
2. Compliment Others
Your kind words can sometimes make someone’s day significantly better, and they can also open the door to a new conversation.
But make sure you’re being sincere and pay attention to what you genuinely like about a person so you won’t appear duplicitous.
3. Get involved
If you want to put yourself out there, consider finding a social hobby, participate in activities you enjoy, and help you become more involved.
4. Find Time For Your Loved Ones
Spend time with your friends and family, laugh, talk, and reminisce.
Sometimes spending time with your friends and family can provide enough comfort to reach out to other people without the insecurities holding you back.
5. Spend Time With Your Friends
If you’re an introvert, try spending time with a friend, invite them to your house, so you feel more comfortable, and start a conversation.
6. Try New Things
Expose yourself to a new environment. Step outside your comfort zone and exercise your social skills.
7. Connect with People
Human connection is an integral part of your life, but it is quite hard for some people; remember, it is a gradual process that won’t happen overnight.
Here is a table showing simple ways to become more social:
| Social Life Problems | The way of Change |
| Lack of confidence | Believing in yourself is the key to being confident. Please don’t sell yourself short or compare yourself to others; everyone has their strengths and weaknesses. |
| Staying in your bubble | Always following the same old routine will make you comfortable, but it would also prevent you from experiencing new things and meeting new people. |
| Avoiding people | Meeting new people can help you make new connections and form new relationships. |
Conclusion
Although energy drinks improve your mood by leaps and bounds by relieving stress and energizing your body and mind, it is not likely to make you social.
To be more social, you have to change your personality traits. Still, in some cases, intoxication can cause you to open up more than you usually would, but that is unlikely to happen while consuming energy drinks.
The purpose of energy drinks is to keep you energized, but if your mood improves as well, that is an added benefit, not the primary objective.