People use energy drinks to boost their mental acuity and focus. The ramifications of pulling an all-nighter to finish a project or catch up on a TV series are felt the next day. Alternatively, if you want to beat the 2:30 slump, a serving of energy drink will perk you up and help you finish your task faster.
To combat the afternoon slump, a serving of energy drinks may seem like a smart idea. But, why do energy drinks leave you weary and sluggish?
Caffeine and sugar are two elements in energy drinks that can give you a burst of energy but will leave you weary after they wear off. When you consume them, your body produces more adenosine, a sleep-inducing substance, and less orexin, a wake-up neurotransmitter.
If you don’t get the burst of energy you need from energy drinks, it’s because the contents aren’t as effective as you believe they are.
Do energy drinks cause fatigue?
Energy drinks, indeed, cause fatigue.
Energy drinks are the second most common dietary supplement in the United States, after multivitamins. Energy drinks were originally targeted at athletes who required a boost of energy to perform at their best, but they have since grown in popularity among individuals of all ages.
You’ll find hundreds of energy drinks branded as either a beverage or a nutritional supplement if you stroll down the grocery aisle. These beverages help users avoid daytime drowsiness, weariness, hangovers, and lethargy by making them more alert and invigorated after consuming them.
Despite the fact that research demonstrates that energy drinks can aid boost brain function and performance, many people believe the advantages are just temporary.
Why do energy drinks make me tired?
The caffeine and sugar in energy drinks make me tired.
Whatever method you choose to stay hydrated, whether it’s red bull, coffee, or any other energy drink, you shouldn’t feel fatigued, right?
After all, the key constituents in energy drinks, caffeine, and sugar, are stimulants. They provide your brain quick energy and alertness, allowing you to concentrate on the work at hand rather than the rest you should be getting.
How does sugar make you tired?
Sugars are to blame for your tiredness after drinking energy drinks. They occur in a variety of forms (glucose, sucrose, fructose, and so on), so if sugar isn’t listed on the product label, look for alternative names.
Now let’s see what makes you tired when you eat sugar?
- Sugar depletes your nutrients. Sugar’s fructose and glucose require a lot of resources from our bodies to be oxidized and metabolized. As a result, sugars eliminate a portion of the nutritionally better foods from our diet, depriving our bodies of their advantages. A large portion of these nutrients is required to maintain our organs active and energetic.
- Sugars damage your mitochondria. In our energy drinks, the majority of us eat refined sugar. Refined sugar can harm our mitochondria, which are responsible for converting energy from our diet into energy that our cells can utilize. This process does not occur when mitochondria are destroyed, and the body does not receive the energy it requires.
- Sugar lowers orexin. A carbohydrate is a sugar. It is quickly digested and hence gives immediate energy. However, as soon as the sugar’s influence wears off, you get tired. Because glucose lowers orexin levels, this happens. Your body loses control of its energy levels when orexin levels are low, and you become easily weary and drowsy.
Avoiding sugary energy drinks is the solution. But there are occasions when even that isn’t enough. Even if you’ve tried sugar-free energy drinks, you can still be fatigued for no apparent reason.
I have added a YouTube video showing how sugar can cause sugar crashes.
How does caffeine make you tired?
You’ll find hundreds of energy drinks branded as either a beverage or a nutritional supplement if you stroll down the grocery aisle. These drinks help users avoid daytime drowsiness, weariness, hangovers, and lethargy by making them more alert and invigorated after consuming alcohol.
Despite the fact that research demonstrates that energy drinks can aid boost brain function and performance, many people believe the advantages are just temporary.
Now, let’s see why caffeine makes me tired immediately?
- Caffeine is a diuretic. Caffeine encourages you to urinate more if you drink more than 4-5 cups of coffee every day. Its diuretic properties might result in dehydration. Fluid loss is important for a variety of biological processes, including keeping you active and awake. That’s why, as soon as you drink another cup of coffee, dehydration sets in, and your energy levels plummet.
- May have developed caffeine tolerance. The immune system is not involved in coffee sensitivity. Instead, it’s a digestive issue that amplifies caffeine’s influence on your endocrine system. This results in an excess of adrenaline and symptoms such as jitteriness and sleeplessness. As time passes, caffeine doesn’t work the way it used to work when you start taking it for the first time.
- Caffeine blocks adenosine receptors. Caffeine works by inhibiting adenosine receptors, which makes you feel awake. The neurotransmitter adenosine is in charge of your sleep. You don’t feel drowsy when its receptors are inhibited.That does not, however, imply that the body is no longer making it. When your body has more adenosine than the caffeine you’ve taken can manage, or when the caffeine wears off, you’ll feel drowsy as a result of all that created adenosine and inhibited adenosine.
- The body reacts differently to caffeine. Even five shots of espresso may not be sufficient for some persons suffering from anxiety and sadness. One shot of espresso, on the other hand, maybe too much for certain caffeine-sensitive folks. Caffeine may or may not be effective for you, depending on your health problems. In this instance, a doctor’s examination would be preferable.
What else is in an energy drink?
There are various chemicals in energy drinks that make them appealing to customers. Here are a few of the more popular ones, along with what they do for mental acuity.
Guarana
Guarana is a Brazilian native plant and it’s about the size of a coffee berry. This berry is regarded for its medicinal powers. However, because of its caffeine level, it is a common component in energy beverages.
Guarana seeds have four to six times the caffeine content of coffee beans, according to research. Guarana has 3-4 percent caffeine, whilst Arabica beans have just 1-2 percent. Although it is mentioned among the components, guarana is not classified as a caffeine source. This suggests that consumers ingest more caffeine than they realize from energy drinks.
Taurine
Taurine is an amino acid found in meat, fish, and dairy products and is counted to most energy drinks because it promotes brain growth, optimal muscular procedure, and improved athletic performance.
Taurine has no negative side effects when used at normal levels. The quantity of taurine in an 8 ounce can of energy drink is too little to provide any obvious therapeutic benefit.
Ginseng
Another exotic-sounding component in many energy drinks is ginseng. Panax ginseng root extract is recognized for enhancing brainpower and bolstering the immune system. Ginseng’s anti-cancer effects are also being studied in clinical trials. It, on the other hand, has nothing to do with improving physical performance.
Although excessive ginseng can induce diarrhea and headaches, the quantity contained in energy drinks is far too little to cause any harm. If you’re on a blood thinner like warfarin, though, you should avoid ginseng-infused energy drinks.
Alternatives of Energy Drinks to Stay Awake
Avoiding energy beverages like coffee and red bull is the greatest method to wake up and stay energized without the risk of jitters and unexplainable weariness.
Here are a few caffeine-free and refined sugar-free natural beverages to help you remain awake and work on your dreams:
- Wheatgrass juice
- Coconut water
- Green tea
- Decaf coffee
- Sugarcane juice
- Lemon water
Do not sweeten your beverages with sugar or artificial sweeteners if you prefer them sweet. Honey, agave nectar, and stevia leaves are examples of natural sweeteners.
You can also read the article Best Energy Drink Powders For A Night Shift to discover which energy drinks may be suitable for you.
Best Energy Drinks to Avoid Fatigue
In my opinion, paying great attention to the ingredients beverages that cause fatigue and just consuming drinks that you know you can tolerate would be beneficial.
I suggest choosing energy beverages that are sugar-free and contain less caffeine, such as the following.
| Energy Drink | Calories | Sugar | Caffeine |
| Advocare Spark | 15 | 0g | 120mg |
| Arbonne Fizz | 15 | 0g | 55mg |
| GG Energy | 0 | 0g | 100mg |
Advocare, Arbonne, and GG Energy are low in sugar and energy. They are low in caffeine and sugar, so the risk of suffering from an energy crash is low. Despite that, energy beverages include artificial ingredients and should be consumed in moderation.
Advocare Spark
Caffeine Content: 120mg
Sugar: 0g
Calorie Content: 15 calories
Price: $54.99
Advocare Spark is a low-calorie, sugar-free powdered energy beverage with only 4g of carbs.
“Vitamin and amino acid supplement” is how Advocare Spark is represented. It is still an energy beverage, despite the fact that it is labeled as a supplement. Combine eight fl. oz. Mix Advocare Spark with eight fl. oz. of water to prepare a regular energy drink.
Advocare Spark includes a respectable amount of caffeine and a low amount of sugar and calories, so it will not cause much fatigue.
Advocare Spark extends the finest deals on its official website. This energy drink brand is also obtainable in online marts, such as Amazon and eBay.
Arbonne Fizz
Caffeine Content: 55mg
Sugar Content: 2g
Calorie Content: 15
Price: $57.00
Arbonne claims that its by-products are vegan, cruelty-free, and gluten-free. Arbonne nutrition products do not incorporate gluten-containing ingredients in their formulation.
Arbonne Fizz Energy is a powdered energy drink that is available in a 5.7g stick. Each stick of Arbonne Fizz has 55mg of caffeine, 2g of sugar, and 15 calories in it.
With its low caffeine and sugar content, it is unlikely to cause any type of crash. For those who don’t want to avoid sugar, Arbonne Fizz is also available in a sugar-free version.
Arbonne Fizz is available for acquisition on Amazon and eBay, as well as on Arbonne’s own official website. However, keep in mind that if you purchase something online, you’ll have to expend for shipping.
GG Energy
Caffeine Content: 100mg
Sugar Content: 0g
Calorie Content: 0 calorie
Price: $35.99 (120 servings)
GamerSupps’ GG energy drink is a decent energy supplement made particularly for gamers and eSports participants.
This nootropic energy drink provides gamers and athletes with a nourishing and enough supply of energy during gameplay. It’s a tasty energy drink that gives you a boost while also keeping you cognitively engaged and fit.
GG energy drink is made out of a unique combination of features. It retains 100mg of organic caffeine, as well as vitamins, minerals, and nootropics. It also doesn’t include any sugar, so wouldn’t cause any crashes.
As GG Energy only retains 100mg of caffeine and zero sugar, it is unlikely to cause a crash.
GamerSupps GG is available in an assortment of flavors on its official website, with easy entrance and a manageable interface. It’s also attainable on Amazon, eBay, and Gamerbulk.
You can check the article Best Online Energy Drink Deals to know more about other energy drinks.
Final Verdict
Energy drinks are intended to give you energy, and although they may provide a temporary boost, are the effects of vitality drinks on the body actually depleting your mental and physical energy? “Absolutely, yes!” the science indicates. One of the long-term adverse effects of energy drinks is fatigue.
Energy drinks might help you remain awake when you have a lot of work to do. However, your vitality will quickly dwindle, and you will get lethargic and sluggish. Choose healthier beverages with additional advantages if you wish to avoid coffee and sugar. These will help you focus and stay energized for a longer period of time.
Other Articles:
- Best Energy Drink Powders For Workout
- Do Energy Drink Powders Supress Your Appetite?
- Best Energy Drink Powders For Weight Loss
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