Energy drinks

[JoSac]

I like to drink energy drinks even though i know they really dont do anything. But i like the one rockstar. And it seems when i drink it and then do energy work i can really feel some sensations. Does anyone else notice this?

[Tom]

Rockstar is my favorite brand. The original is my favorite, but the ones with juice tend to be 50% juice. Yes, I'd even tend to agree with you that with a good caffeine buzz the energy work will tend to be easier ... but you get the same effect from vigorous physical exercise.

[ButterflyWoman]

Be careful with that stuff. Caffeine in high doses can do really bad things to you, and it absolutely is addictive. It takes about three days to detox from a caffeine addiction, and you'll have a headache for almost the entire three days. Aside from the addiction, caffeine can have other unfortunate effects on your body, including giving you heartburn/reflux and even heart palpitations (I get both of those things if I overindulge in the stuff).

Sorry to sound like a schoolmarm, and I like a nice caffeine hit as much as anyone else. ;) I just wanted to put the "caution" out there.

[JoSac]

no i know what your saying, it is true.But i try not to drink too many (there pretty expensive). but thnks for the input


JS

[Tom]

Rockstar runs about $2.50 for a 16 ounce can where I live, and a 20 ounce bottle of Coke is usually $1.35 now. The Rockstar has more than just caffeine and sugar. It has herbs in it, and milk thistle seems to be fairly unique to Rockstar ... it is good for your liver.

Actually, the biggest problem with energy drinks is that they tend to be more acidic even than regular soda, and it is acidity which etches your teeth rather than sugar. Sugar tends to get broken down by bacteria in your mouth which form acids which then do the job of etching your teeth. In conclusion, you may want to rinse your mouth out with water after you drink a Rockstar. :)

Just to be funny, though ...

http://www.energyfiend.com/death-by-caffeine/

"How much of your favorite energy drink, soda, or caffeinated food would it take to kill you? Take this quick test and find out:"

In my case, it says: "Gulp down 85.31 cans of Rockstar and you're history. "

Not very practical, and definitely expensive.


Here’s the answer: IT’S HOW MUCH YOU HAVE TO HAVE IN YOUR SYSTEM AT ONE TIME.

Yes, it means that it’s practically impossible to kill yourself with caffeine. Practically. Don’t actually try it! After 1 gram, you’ll be a sad panda. If you manage to even challenge the number, you’ll be a schizophrenic, crazed panda, or a passed out panda. And if you’re passed out, you might get your wallet stolen.

A pharmacist told me that I start causing damage to my vascular system at 250 milligrams. I was asking because my plan was to start donating blood and I wanted to know about the safety factor for anyone who'd receive blood from me.


A 16 ounce can of Rockstar contains 160 milligrams of caffeine.

Rockstar is a popular energy drink with a balance of vitamins and herbs. The drink includes a number of variations - the original formula, a diet version (sweetened with Ace-K and sucralose), Rockstar Juiced, Rockstar Juiced (Guava flavor) and Rockstar Energy Cola.

Note that Rockstar (Original) also contains 50mg of Guarana (in a 16oz can). Guarana also contains caffeine (typically at 8%-22%).

The drinks come in three sizes - an 8.4 oz "bullet" can, 16 oz, and a large 24 oz can. The 24 ounce version contains 240mg of caffeine.

And don't forget ... as I said before, if you want the benefits of drinking these things without the caffeine and price, try exercising regularly.

[ButterflyWoman]

I wasn't talking about caffeine killing you. I was talking about its addictiveness and about the fact that even moderate amounts can give some people problems (like acid reflux and heart palpitations and anxiety attacks if you're prone to them). ;)

I certainly agree that it would take a great deal to kill you. If it was that easy to kill yourself with caffeine, I would have done it ages ago, I'm sure (I used to really abuse the stuff).

[Tom]

And I said that caffeine starts to cause problems at 250 milligrams. Not 250 milligrams / day ... just 250 milligrams in your system at one time.

[ButterflyWoman]

I can get a severe reflux reaction from less than that, sometimes. A single cup of coffee can do it if it's prepared the wrong way. Ugh.

[Jonathan2525]

Hello all,

I didn't know that caffeine could cause acid reflux; I thought it was coffee that caused it (meaning other ingredients in coffee like some acids that coffee has). I just saw in Wal-Mart that they now have a brand of instant coffee that claims that 90 % of the acidic compounds have been neutralized. Haven't tried it and I don't remember the brand though.

Rock Star Energy Drink has Taurine 1000 mg and reasonable amounts of B vitamins. However, the original flavor has a lot of sugar and the herbs Tom mentions are there to pretty-up the label. They don’t do anything as they are in too low an amount and not standardized. Which means that the active ingredient that is supposed be contained in those herbs is probably none. Take milk thistle for example, the recommended dosage is between 200 and 500 mg daily standardized to around 80% Silymarin (active ingredient). The amount on Rock Star is 20 mg of un-standardized extract. If you like Rock Star you should probably get one that is sugar free at least.

[Tom]

Caffeine increases production of stomach acid.

There is a type of coffee from India with no acidity, and it is easier on the stomach while still tasty, but unless you get it decaf (eww) it still causes more stomach acid.

The reason why I like Rockstar is that it works for me while other energy drinks are just expensive soda. The taste is good, too, except for the sugarless ones which I can't drink except by mixing them with juice.

[Triot]

Drinking lot of shot and battery, only experiencing progress. Vegetables
are healthy, so potato chips are healthy to. Have these spiritual food
programs ever been firmly investigated and verified that some products
delay or is an obstacle to anything?

A couple of years ago the newspaper printed here that potato chips
could lead to cancer. Suddenly the sales of potato chips dropped by
..think it was 40-60%. Bet if they wrote that it was dangerous to eat
apples at certain times at day, people would be more careful about
eating apples. :roll:

[CFTraveler]

Actually it was reported (a while ago) that apples were sprayed with alar which is a carcinogen. I don't know if sales dropped but I remember getting more serious about buying organic.

About diet and such, I think diets are useful for general health, but IMO they don't have a lot to do with spiritual development, because even if you do something noble like becoming vegetarian to spare the animals it has an ego-massaging effect. So I think you should eat whatever fulfills you, whether it's for health, or for how you feel in your position in the universe. But don't expect spiritual development as a reward- I don't think it works like that.

JMO, of course.

[ButterflyWoman]

Caffeine increases production of stomach acid.

Yeah. :( I believe it also has some effect on the sphincter muscle at the top of the stomach, so that it relaxes and more stomach acid can make its way out (or maybe I'm thinking of something else...).

Well, I had a cup of coffee this morning. I make my own espresso (on the stove top). Espresso actually has less caffeine than people think, as a lot of it is destroyed by the steam, apparently. Mmmmm. Cafe au lait.... Generally, one cup of my own coffee isn't enough to cause a problem (unless it's brewed coffee, then it can be problematic).

I don't actually know how much I have to consume to set off the heart palpitations. I definitely avoid having enough to find out (palpitations are mostly harmless but they're incredibly uncomfortable and downright frightening at times).

I don't want anyone to think I'm against the consumption of caffeine. I just have significant problems with caffeine and it's partly due to having seriously overindulged in the stuff when I was younger, so I like to remind people that while it's mostly harmless, too much is bad for you. That's what too much means. ;)

[Tom]

It helps to eat some food when you take caffeine. It is easier on your stomach if you have something for the acid to digest other than your stomach itself.

Caffeine sublimates when heated, like dry ice.