Common Energy Drink Ingredients

There are claims (yet not substantiated) of individuals with Bipolar Disorder suffering from worsening significant mania as a result of several days of consuming STRONG energy drinks. However, it’s not necessarily recognized if this was as a result of particular component or a combination of ingredients.

The main active ingredient in the majority of energy drinks is caffeine, although many also include diverse amounts of taurine, guarana plus ginseng. Other ingredients incorporated only in select energy drinks, include carnitine, ginkgo biloba, royal jelly, bee pollen and inositol.

Stimulants such as guarana and ginseng can enhance the effects of caffeine. Guarana specifically, contains caffeine (1g of guarana is virtually the same as 40 mg caffeine) and could significantly increase the total caffeine in an energy drink.

Adverse effects related to caffeine ingestion in quantities of 400 mg or more include nervousness, irritability, sleeplessness, increased urination, unusual heart rhythms (arrhythmia), decreased bone levels, and tummy upset. Energy drinks also contain increased sugar.

Caffeine

Based in the seeds, fruits and leaves of over 63 plant varieties, caffeine is a neurological system stimulant appearing in nature that has the effects of temporarily warding off sleepiness and restoring alertness, with 90% of adults in North America drinking caffeine every day. The three most generally extracted sources are the Coffea arabica (coffee bean), Cola acuminate (kola nut) and also Camellia sinensis (tea leaves) plants. Coffee beans, the most common resource for caffeine, contain 1-2% caffeine. See Caffeine Side Effects

Guarana

Also known as Brazilian cacao, Guarana is derived from the fruit seeds of plants native to regions of the Amazon. The berries tend to be small, bright red, and contains black seeds. The seeds are mashed and mixed with water to create a paste that can be added to beverages. Brazil manufactures several brand names of soft drink coming from guarana extract which contain zero added caffeine. Every one varies considerably in flavor, some with hardly any natural guarana berry taste. See Guarana Side Effects.

Taurine

The content of taurine in energy drinks may not be declared. However among energy drinks that report these facts, the content of taurine runs from 300-4000 mg/L, with the majority of products reporting taurine content on the higher end and is a frequent ingredient in many commercial energy and sports drinks. Taurine is an protein that is synthesized in the liver and brain and it is obtained in various meats, fish and dairy food. Taurine is stored mostly in skeletal muscle mass however is also found in the retina and also blood. At physiologic levels, taurine is reported to function in bile acid conjugation, calcium control, carbohydrate metabolism, platelet aggregation and retinal photoreceptor process. Additionally, taurine is documented to possess antioxidant benefits. See Taurine Side Effects

B Vitamins

B Vitamins are a complex of eight water soluble natural vitamins which are active in cell metabolism. See B Vitamins Side effects.

Ginseng

Based on Traditional Oriental Medicine, Ginseng (an herbal root). See Ginseng Side Effects.

Ginkgo Biloba

A tradition herbal compound made from a unique tree with no close living relatives. See Ginkgo Biloba Side Effects.

L-carnitine

A naturally occurring protein. See L-carnitine Side Effects.

Arginine

An amino acid which is referred to as a growth hormones releaser and a precursor of the crucial compound nitric oxide. See Arginine Side Effects.

Maltodextrin

A sweet polysaccharide, Maltodextrin is a fairly frequent additive to a variety of foods. See Maltodextrin Side effects.

Inositol

An almost tasteless carbohydrate which has a little sweetness. See Inositol Side Effects