After performing daily hectic tasks, one needs a break to relax and recharge all the lost stamina. Some people opt for coffee while others like to consume energy beverages for this purpose; different people have different preferences.
Even though coffee has been a prioritized way for people to make all the fatigue go away; the new generation has been switching toward a more modern method. Energy drinks, after all, we cannot ignore the trend!
However, the growing trend of energy drink consumption has given rise to many questions; one being whether energy drinks really do what they say, which is, to make you less tired.
As far as this question is concerned, the answer is quite simple, yes, energy drinks make you less tired if you drink them the right way.
Do you still have confusion? Well, let’s explore the topic deeper and come up with a fact-based answer!
Does Caffeine Actually Make You Less Tired?
Caffeine is a powerful ingredient that is added to energy drinks as a stimulant.
The way caffeine works are quite amazing; it reduces fatigue by blocking the site of receptors of adenosine by attaching itself to the receptors of adenosine, leaving no place for the adenosine molecules.
It’s to be noted that when you work the whole day, so adenosine molecules start accumulating in your brain. Adenosine is what makes you feel drowsy and sleepy. The action of caffeine on adenosine provides you with an alerting and refreshed feeling.
There are many benefits of caffeine, besides the one mentioned above, caffeine also has the following benefits:
- Caffeine makes your metabolism quicker.
- It reduces hunger.
- Caffeine can aid you with better focus and concentration.
- Caffeine also improves your memory.
- It also improves mood.
It’s evident that caffeine can aid you with a good and decent amount of energy. However, there is a certain limit on caffeine consumption, which is around 400 mg. If you overdrink caffeine then you might experience a few side effects which are mentioned below:
- Restlessness and shakiness.
- Insomnia.
- Headaches.
- Dizziness.
- Fast heart rate.
- Dehydration.
- Anxiety.
- Dependency.
Ingredients in Energy Drinks
How effective an energy drink works for reducing your tiredness and fatigue is based on the ingredients present in the energy drink.
Most energy drinks have similar ingredients such as sugar, caffeine, taurine, etc., but the brands also make use of some distinctive ingredients which are meant to provide you with a refreshed sense of energy by reducing your fatigue.
Following are a few common ingredients in energy drinks, which have unmatchable benefits:
Taurine in Energy Drinks
We all need energy. Whether we’re powering through a workout, powering through a workday, or powering through life in general, our energy levels largely determine how successful we are at accomplishing our goals.
Your energy levels are largely determined by your physical and mental health. Which can be affected by everything from diet and exercise to stress and sleep. But you can also supplement your energy levels by taking certain supplements.
One of the most common energy-boosting supplements is Taurine. It’s a natural molecule found in the body. It’s a type of amino acid and is important for the health of the heart and brain
It has several functions in the body, but one of its best-known roles is as a powerful energy booster.
Guarana in Energy Drinks
Guarana, a rich source of caffeine, is a traditional drink in many cultures, but it has only recently been gaining interest as a fitness supplement.
Guarana contains caffeine, which has been shown to improve health, and it also contains other compounds such as tannins, which may have ergogenic effects of their own.
Its powder has been used as a traditional medicine in Brazil and it has been shown to help improve physical performance, especially in endurance sports such as running and cycling.
It’s most commonly consumed as a beverage, but can also be added to food or taken as a supplement.
Many popular energy drinks contain Guarana, so energy drinks containing Guarana can affect your physical and mental health positively.
Being a rich source of caffeine, it can actually make you active and alert.
Vitamins in Energy Drinks
Have you ever felt so tired that you could barely function? Energy is the primary way we function in our lives and perform the tasks that make us happy.
When our energy levels are low, we do not feel like doing much of anything. For some people, feeling tired is a normal part of life and they just accept it as part of getting older.
However, you can do certain things to boost your energy such as vitamin consumption. Many energy drinks offer you a wide range of important vitamins.
We all know that vitamins are good for you, but did you know that certain vitamins can give you more energy? Vitamins B and C are the most well-known energy vitamins.
Vitamin B is a complex group of vitamins that includes B1, B2, B3, B5, B6, B7, B9, and B12. Vitamin C is a water-soluble vitamin that has been shown to improve energy levels.
Carbs in Energy Drinks
The primary source of energy for our bodies is Carbs. They do not only fuel our muscles by providing them the energy, but they also help in building the muscles, and hence these carbs also increase athletic performance.
Not only our muscles, but our entire body needs carbs for energy, including our brain and consuming carbs can actually affect our brain.
Sugar is an important ingredient of most energy drinks, being a carb it also provides the body with quick energy.
It’s important to note that if you consume sugar more than is required, then it can actually have certain negative after effects.
Do Energy Drinks Help With Less Tired?
Energy drinks can make you less tired if you consume them within a particular limit. The ingredients present in energy drinks perform the actual magic when consumed in the right way.
For instance, caffeine and sugar, which are stimulants, work in such a way that they alter the normal functioning of the brain.
Caffeine increases the energy level by reducing the levels of adenosine in the brain, hence making you more active and alert.
On the other hand, ingredients such as sugar raise your blood sugar level, which alters your mood and makes you feel less tired and more pleasant.
Many energy drinks contain herbs such as Ginseng and other traditional medicinal herbs which have the power to increase your energy and hence reduce your fatigue.
Why Do Energy Drinks Make You Tired Instead of Energized?
Would it not be weird to know that energy drinks, which are meant to provide you with energy can actually make you run out of energy?
To much of our surprise, energy drinks can actually make us tired.
Are you wondering how? The ingredients present in energy drinks have the ability to alter how your brain functions.
For example, where caffeine within a limit positively affects your brain, the same caffeine can have negative effects on your brain when you do not drink it in the right way.
When you regularly consume a high amount of caffeine, so the adenosine receptors in your brain increase.
In order to get the same effects as before, you have to consume more amount of caffeine than usual and if you consume the regular amount of caffeine, then you actually feel tired.
Other than this, energy drinks containing high levels of sugar can actually make you tired after giving you a spike of energy for a short span of time.
When you consume sugary energy drinks, your blood sugar rises quite quickly and you feel energetic, however, soon after a short time period when your blood sugar level goes down then you start feeling the after-effects of energy drinks which are tiring.
If you ever experienced this, then you most probably experienced a sugar crash!
How Long Does an Energy Drink Last?
Normally, caffeine stays in your system for about 10-12 hours, which means that an energy drink will have its most effects on you for 5 to 6 hours of consumption.
Therefore, if you’re someone with low caffeine tolerance, I think you should not consume energy drinks with high amounts of caffeine.
Do Energy Drinks Keep You Awake?
Energy drinks can help in keeping you awake by reducing your fatigue. The higher the caffeine content, the more awake you’ll feel. However, make sure to not cross your caffeine limit per day of 400 mg.
Following is the caffeine content of a few energy drinks:
| Energy Drinks | Caffeine Content |
| Red Bull | 147.6 mg |
| Monster Energy | 163.3 mg |
| Rockstar Energy Drink | 160 mg |
| Bang Energy | 300 mg |
Does Red Bull Make You Less Tired?
Red Bull is likely to make you less tired because of the basic ingredients it contains such as caffeine, Vitamins, and a high amount of sugar.
Many of the ingredients present in Red Bull energy drinks work as stimulants which have a positive effect on your brain and they make your fatigue go away.
Are There Any Benefits to Energy Drinks?
There are several benefits of drinking energy drinks. A few of them are:
- Increased focus.
- Reduced fatigue.
- Better metabolism.
- Reduced hunger.
- Improved vision.
Why do you feel better after an energy drink?
Energy drinks can make you feel better because of the stimulants they contain, such as caffeine and sugar.
Both of these ingredients can have a positive effect on your mind. Caffeine can reduce your fatigue, whereas, consumption of sugar can make your mood better.
Final Verdict
- Energy drinks are beverages that contain certain stimulants which can alter the way your brain works.
- Ingredients such as caffeine, Ginseng, Vitamins, and sugar present in energy drinks can reduce your fatigue and hence make you more active and alert.
- Therefore, you can say that energy drinks are supposed to make you feel less tired, and give you energy!
- However, make sure to keep your energy drink intake in check as these drinks can negatively affect your brain and make you tired.