Energy drinks and exercise

[Penny]

I've heard people say that drinking coffee before a workout can help boost your metabolism. Is the same true for energy drinks? I know that these drinks are suppose to provide you with a high dose of caffeine, so wouldn't this be even better before a workout than coffee?

[anne]

I imagine that they would provide you with a similar boost because I think most of them contain Guarana, which, if I'm not mistaken is supposed to be even stronger than caffeine in coffee, so I imagine it would provide you with the quite the jolt. That being said, I don't know if it's a good idea to have energy drinks before you workout. I tend to stay away from those products...they kind of scare me a little.

[Ron]

I actually like energy drinks more than I like any other kind of "wake up" beverage. I don't drink coffee or tea or any other type of stimulant. I find that one energy drink right before I exercise does help me to improve my workout and I feel pumped the entire time I do it. I don't think that energy drinks are as bad as so many people think. Like everything in this world, when you take or do something responsibly, rarely is there a problem with it.

[Gina]

I guess energy drink would be good to take before a workout like coffee. That said, if you are going to drink them, make sure that you don't combine them with other forms of caffeine. Also, if you already happen to be taking a diet pill with stimulants, it's probably best to skip the energy drink.

[legendarytroy]

Be careful with energy drinks. I would't make them a regular part of your daily diet. I wouldn't use them as an exercise performance booster or you might become dependent on them to workout. There's nothing wrong with getting a boost of encouragement, but I wouldn't make drinking these a habit.

[ffviifan]

I would be careful with energy drinks, especially if you are sensitive to stimulants or if you are already taking other diet pills with stimulants in them. I'm okay with a cup of coffee in the morning, but I find energy drinks too much. I had one once and I wasn't only jittery but I had a terribly rapid heartbeat, it freaked me right out.

[Penny]

Thanks for all the opinions! I'm not really bothered by caffeine so I think I'm gonna give an energy drink a try. Are all energy drinks the same? Or is there one better than the other? Does anyone have a recommendation?

[Beth]

I'm not a proponent of energy drinks. Personally I think they should be banned. It really concerns me when I see people, especially teens, drinking the stuff down like pop. I'm all for a little pick me up to get me going, but I think we should all start paying more attention to the amount of caffeine we drink and consider what it is doing to our bodies.

[treehuggertodd]

I'm not a proponent of energy drinks. Personally I think they should be banned. It really concerns me when I see people, especially teens, drinking the stuff down like pop. I'm all for a little pick me up to get me going, but I think we should all start paying more attention to the amount of caffeine we drink and consider what it is doing to our bodies.

I agree with Beth. If you are looking for a boost for your workouts, it is far safer to have tea or coffee, if you feel you must have some sort of caffeine super-charge.

That said, instead of feeling that you need to drink or eat something to get the boost, why not try motivating yourself other ways. You are likely to perform at your best when you are feeling good. There are other ways to achieve this than caffeine.

[suzie]

I guess energy drink would be good to take before a workout like coffee. That said, if you are going to drink them, make sure that you don't combine them with other forms of caffeine. Also, if you already happen to be taking a diet pill with stimulants, it's probably best to skip the energy drink.

I respectfully disagree. At least with coffee, you're getting caffeine with antioxidants and only 1 calorie (assuming you're drinking it black). Energy drinks are not only hugely full of stimulants, but they don't have the "health" benefits and they're filled with sugar and artificial colors, flavors, and sometimes sweeteners. No way is that good for a diet or a workout