I agree that the Five Hour Energy shots are the best in terms of price, also the fact that it doesn't have quite as much caffiene and even comes in decaf (not completely without caffiene, but much less than normal).  I am a vegetarian, so I can't get B12 from my diet.  The doc gives me B12 shots when I need them, but my blood level still stays low.  The 5 Hour shots give me good, productive energy for days without interfering with my sleep.  My only problem comes when I take the energy shots INSTEAD of sleep when things get crazy.  As usual, nothing is foolproof to a sufficiently talented fool. 

I must be one of the few people who have never had an energy drink. However, I do have my large mug of coffee when I awaken! Thanks for the comments about ginger, rice and peppers!

What about performance foods, like Gu gels, Clif shot blocks, Accelerade and other brands like that?  They combine some type of sugary syrup with caffeine and electrolytes, but some flavors don't have any caffeine.  I'd like to read an article comparing those.

I agree with uzerswa, the 5hr energy shot is the best. You dont get that razzy feeling, nor do you get the crash at the end. The only side effect I have felt is the "niacin flush" early on, which is not unpleasant, just warm.

No caffeine is good for you, so energy shots can't be good for you!  If we eat correctly and get enough sleep we wouldn't need caffeine.

Now I have to admit I'm a total hypocrit and drink coffee all the time.  But I shouldn't! 

The studies that said that caffeine dehydrates you were flawed and have been disproven.  You can look up more recent studies that correct for the timing of the urine sampling that occured with the earlier studies. 

I'm sorry.  I just hate how the one little "caffeine dehydrates you" factoid gets endlessly parroted.  If you don't drink or eat enough fluid, then you will be dehydrated, but not because of a couple of cups of coffee and a diet coke.

i'm a fan on the 5 hour energy shots. i will take half a shot before my lunch workouts on monday, wednesday and friday... it seems to give me what i need to push myself a little harder. tuesdays and thursdays i will go without, but the workouts aren't as much cardio. i'm a fan of tea too but the shots don't make me pee as much :).

Wow, the shots work for cardio workouts, If my workout would improve I might consider trying it

I've only used these 2 times, specifically when I needed to be UP for early morning meetings (and I am not an early morning meeting kind of guy) AND i don't drink coffee, so... it was a good tool for that specific purpose, but I wouldn't want to use them on a recurring basis.

I tried several different brands and had little or no effect!  I get a better kick from my am cup of coffee, B-complex vitamin and an occassional soda.  It is easier on the pocketbook too! 

ENERGY DRINKS ARE GLORIFIED DRUGS AND IT IS JUST ANOTHER WAY TO HOOK PEOPLE!!!! THEY SHOULD BE BANNED.  I CHALLENGE ANYONE DRINKING THEM TO TRY AND STOP FOR 7 DAYS. BET YOU CAN'T DO IT!!!

YES YOU ARE  HOOKED.

Pamalamas - No problem!  I tried them didn't like them so I don't take them.  It has been well over 7 days, more like 7 weeks since I tried the last one.  Not everyone who tries them is or gets hooked!

I've never had much luck with energy drinks.  They don't give me the energy I want, just keep me awake if that makes sense.  I never want to, say, workout or clean the house after a drink.  It'll just keep me up a little while longer than usual.  I still drink them from time to time if I woke up early that morning but don't want to be asleep by 10:30 that evening but as for getting an actual boost of energy, it doesn't do it for me.

Oh and as for it being a drug that hooks people, I don't agree.  It doesn't seem to be any more habit forming than coffee or Diet Coke.  Like I said before, I drink them from time to time and I've gone well over 7 days without one even times that I've drank them once or twice a day for a few days.  I'd think you'd have to be a pretty weak minded individual to get addicted to an energy drink but then again, people will get addicted to just about anything.

I tried one and I bought it at the Dollar store. Yes, they have them there. They are $1 each. I don't recall the brand, but I've seen it at higher end stores. I didn't like it. It made me to jittery and I did feel like I was on a drug. I haven't had one since! I also had 3 cups of coffee once which gave me the same effect. I didn't like it! I rarely drink coffee now too. If I have regular coffe, I stick to 2 cups max or opt for decaf since I can't tell the difference taste wise.  

The people I am saying who get Hooked are the ones who are drinking them on a regular basis, not someone who just gives them a try! They are the ones that need to stop drinking them for a time to see if they can stop!

I like to drink a cup of tea, I usually have one cup a day but it can not be the decaffeinated kind.  I rarely drink coffee as it really makes me jittery and give me a bad headache.  If I need a little extra boost I will drink a Diet Mt. Dew or Diet Pepsi Max, maybe once every other week.  I have never tried these energy shots as I would be afraid they would make me jittery and give me a headache like Coffee does.  I did take a sip of my son's Red Bull...NASTY!!!

pamalamas, anyone can get hooked on anything.  We're people.  People are prone to addictions because having a chemical crutch is easier than dealing on your own.  My brother is an alcoholic, I am an occasional drinker.  I have friends that can smoke occasionally, while I cannot without launching into a pack-a-day habit.  It's not about what's addictive, it's about what your drug of choice is.  I believe what you were trying to say in your all-capped generalized anti-anything-you-don't-like billboard is that energy shots are bad for you when taken in excess.  Kind of like, oh, i dunno...anything else?

Are you aware that Diet Beverages may contain Aspartame which when it enters your body will automatically be changed into FORMALDYHYDE, WHICH is basically curing your body parts before you die?  Embalming is not being done to a great extent due to this issue!  Just For Your Information.

Oh for the love of bob, could you please stop, pam?  We're not talking about diet drinks.  Now you're just soapboxing things we already know about things we don't care about, just to shoot off your mouth.  I'm sure there's an anti-sugar pep rally somewhere you could be attending.

Pamalamas, it's a hoax.

http://www.snopes.com/medical/toxins/aspartame.asp

I'm not advocating aspartame or anything, but there's no point arguing against it based on false info.

Just sayin'...  :)

...actually, i think panalamas post with the all caps and everything is a bit dramatic, but ultimately correct.  im not saying that you cant quit, but it has already proven that caffeine is an incredibly addictive drug, any serious coffee drinker that has tried to quit and has experienced the headache knows this. when you consider that some of these have up to 250mg of caffeine in one down-the-hatch dose, that's pretty extreme.  now, im a professor, and i have to say, it is extremely alarming to see how many of my students opt for an energy drink EVERY SINGLE MORNING at 8am.  they are all bt the ages of 18-24 and this is their breakfast for four years.  i hear a lot of people posting saying theyve tried it and such, but i think we really need to consider the extent to which youth and even young professionals are using these substances - they're not just trying it.  it's different among the h.s. and college crowd.  not only do people drink these DAILY they also drink them with alcohol (along with their ADD meds) in order to keep from passing out.  the result: increased likelihood of alcohol poisoning, and college campuses have seen a lot of this.  trust me.

I heard that regular use of these powerful energy shots can causes tiny holes in the aorta or other blood vessels. I don't know if it's true, but I haven't tried any of these energy things yet just to be safe.  I am not a morning person and I don't tend to get the recommended amount of sleep either, but on days where I am really dragging, I'll have some coffee. I drink green tea daily and I find that it helps for days when I'm not super tired. Definitely a healthier choice.

as for what i'd personally like to post... does anyone besides me find it odd that we live in a society where we all consider ourselves to have "accelerated lifestyles," our youth think they "need" more than coffee to get a bachelor's, our little ones are prescribed speed in order to sit still in school, and we all are so exhausted that even Snickers Candy Bars come with added energy (oh yes, "Snickers Charged")?  Apparently "the hunger inside us" has grown.  So, America's fatter than ever before and consuming more stimulants than ever before.  I generally find that contradictions like this point to an extreme disconnect in lifestyle and values.  What do y'all think?

I think the moral of the story is all things in moderation.  I don't like using this stuff either, but if it's that or falling asleep behind the wheel after a 12 hour shift, I'll take a decaf energy shot any day.  Just beware, us caffiene freaks get....twitchy.  Muahahaha!!!!!

And Bree, you make, of course, an excellent point.  Americans are apparently excellent at dissociating what they do with any but its immediate consequences.  I don't exclude myself from that, either.

I really enjoy FRS. It's not a shot, but a concentrated mix. It gives you energy without a lot of caffeine and contains Quercitan, which is a great antioxidant. It also contains only 15 calories.  Does anyone else drink FRS?

Energy drinks and coffee and the like never give me any energy. I think I might have some kind of tolerance? Even though I never drink them because they dont work? I dunno.

But I dont get why the article is stating to drink coffee instead of an energy shot. Its the same thing without the vitamins, pretty much, depending on what size coffee and how many you drink. Caffeine is caffeine. I dont see the point of ragging on energy shots if youre advocating the alternative of coffee which isnt so much better. 'Should have just left that part out and just kept the sleep part.

Mz Understood I have taken them for 30 days straight and then not taken them for 2 weeks waiting for the next payday... no headaches no shakes it seems that the only thing i'm hooked on is chicken....., fried, baked,strips, doesn't matter you know the drill 

Coffee has antioxidants. With all the junk food we eat, we may even need B vitamins. I don't sleep (bad insomnia) so I eat something with peanut butter and/or sugar around 2 or 3 pm. If I drink a whole cup of coffee, I spread it out over about an hour and a half, sipping slowly. It really helps me get to my exercise class! Hot chocolate also helps (in winter). I sometimes put about 1/4 cup coffee in my hot chocolate and I prefer the taste of the mixture. I can't have a lot of caffeine due to my anxiety. Again, sip slowly, not all at once, makes it last longer, I also read this on some website from a dr. It helps the caffeine stay in your system, but you are not jittery due to the low dose! My son used to take 5hr but stopped when he quit his second job. Now he drinks mostly sugar free diet drinks and very few sodas.

I like the 5 hour Energy shot.  I work full-time.  Oh at around 2pm or 3pm I like to have the energy shot if I have plans to accomplish many things in my evening.  I like it because it does not interfere with my sleeping habits at night like coffee in the afternoon.  Not too mention my Dr. wants me to cut back on my coffee intake in the AM to no more than 2 small cups, which is generally all I have time for.  Seriously, though I lead a busy life.  I have my house cleaning and grocery shopping saved up for the evenings and need something to get me through the rest of my day after a very full day on the job.  I will continue to use the energy drinks on an occasional basis when needed.  Bottom line - I like em!

efergusonlvn, you read my mind when you said, "Oh for the love of bob, could you please stop, pam?  We're not talking about diet drinks.  Now you're just soapboxing things we already know about things we don't care about, just to shoot off your mouth.  I'm sure there's an anti-sugar pep rally somewhere you could be attending." 

Thank you!

I'm with divamaker -- bring on the chicken!  I can live without the energy shots :)

Whether or not one becomes addicted to caffienated beverages and the like really depends on one's individual biochemistry.  Tendency towards addiction is an variable that seems to have something to do with nature (genetics) and something to do with nurturance, but remains highly complex and individual.  Likewise, susceptibility to the side-effects of caffiene (and any other substance, for that matter) is highly variable.

Personally, I'm highly susceptible to caffiene addiction (not to mention the unpleasant gastrointestinal effect of caffiene intoxication) -- so I avoid concentrated sources of caffiene.  I used to avoid it entirely, but I'm a little more relaxed now.  Nonetheless, I steer clear of the shots.

Besides, most of the energy shots taste more or less like burning tires.  Like petoueo says, 'caffiene is caffiene' -- and I like my caffiene with a little more flavor :D

Well, efergusonlvn, You want me to get off my soapbox, if everyone got off their Soapbox it would be a pretty quiet world would it not?  I don't make a comment out of thin air!  I am a well read, well educated individual with 38 years in the health and wellness industry and a substantial medical background, quite a few more years knowledge than you I am sure.  Your anti sugar pep rally comment, get the book Sugar Blues, read it and get back to me with your take on that information.  You need to look into what brainwashing is all about. You have been brainwashed like the rest of us in one area or another.

I'd like to know if all the people bagging caffeine and aspartame, etc, use bluetooth headsets, hold cellphones up to their ears, drive cars and breathe in the fumes, eat margarines with processed products in, have microwaves and wrap things in plastic sandwich wrap, etc.  I think you get my point!!

Here in NZ we have Red Bull and V and a few of the other very small vials of heinous shots.  Those I don't like, but V (diet, oooh, that aspartame, mmmm, yummy, imagine what it's doing to me?  Better than all the botox - and let's not forget the silicone in Revlon "colour-stay" cosmetics ...) is great tasting and has a good little kick. 

For those not into aspartames, I also drink Amway XS energy which has inert sweeteners in it, instead of aspartame, is about the same cost (RRP not specialled) of a 250ml can of V, and also comes in a caffeine free.  But horses for courses ...

We live in modern times and some things can't be helped.  For those with a true intolerance to phenylalanine of course diet drinks are going to be bad, but by and large, we put so much crap into our systems and live with so much crap these days a diet drink ain't gonna kill me by itself!!  JMHO.

If your looking for an energy drink that has good value you need to check out a product called "Verve".  It is packed with natureal vitamins and minerals.  There is a one shot available with caffine but you can get a juice without.  I've been using Verve for about 2 weeks and I feel great.  It keeps my energy level up and there's no crash effect. 

If you want more info you can write me at lolo522@live.com.

I tried 5 hour energy while I was driving home one night from Las Vegas.  It was 8 at night and I still have about 4 hours of driving to go.  I took the shot at Backer and it lasted for most of the drive.  I was about 20 minutes from home and I realized I was starting to get tired more so than I normally am.  Fortunately we arrived home without a problem but I decided that from that point on I would not drive so late at night and the energy drink works, but is not something I want to depend on for any reason.

My thoughts are if you need an energy shot then you really need to think about what you are doing that keeps your body from having the energy you need.  Are you getting enough sleep, are you eating the right foods, are you just trying to be like all those trendy people out there drinking the energy drinks.  Come on, just once I would love to see people be themselves and not like the Parris Hiltons and other that they so badly want to be like.

Take care of your body, and mind the right way and you won't need the energy shots.

LOL - I love how eclectic you are jimmyz!  Well, we'd all better give up our careers, and give up getting up early to try to fit exercise and making kids lunches and housework in before hitting the freeway to beat the traffic to get our parking spot so we can go to work and do a full day pleasing our clients and employers  because we need to pay the bills before repeating the exercise in reverse to get home to get tea on (unless you cheat like me and put the crockpot/slow cooker on before you leave in the mornings) and do the animals (if you're horsey or farmy like me) and hear the kids homework, music lessons, finish cooking tea, try to talk to hubby (IF he's there, we both do shiftwork) ... you get the drift.  I would LOVE to not need to artificially stimulate my body, but needs must when devil drives ..... Shame we don't have any Amish communities in NZ, it seems hugely tempting to get up with the dawn and retire with the dusk - instead I have floodlit stables and arena, nannies and a career which allows me to feel useful to society (we're in law enforcement) rather than having my brain atrophy while waiting for the kids to come home.  Even my mum wishes she'd been braver and gone to work earlier than she did when we were growing up.  JMHO.

OH HOW SIMPLE LIFE WOULD BE IF WE WERE NOT SO MATERIALISTIC!!!

NEED OR WANT SHOULD BE A QUESTION WE ASK BEFORE WE BUY OR CONSUME ANYTHING!!!

True - so you live in a mud hut with hemp clothes and no sandals burning peat to cook over?  I make no apologies for embracing modern life - I lOVE our 52" plasma, cable tv, my dressage and my horse trailer.  My kids love their playstation AND playing ball in the yard.  They also love camping, the outdoors, hunting ... I Like working and enjoy what I do but I DON'T like HAVING to work to earn extra $$ to make up what my husband pays in child support to his former wife, but hey, that's life.  If I have to work I might as well enjoy it and a few fruits of my labours too (and no, we don't live rich).

I guess what I'm trying to say is horses for courses, pamalama - don't slam people for liking this stuff.  Live and let live - or live and let us die early from our lifestyles!!!  It is a discussion about a product and the merits or otherwise thereof, it was you who turned it into a holier-than-thou dissertation!!!!!!!  :)

PS:  Mind you, I suppose if we ALL were less materialistic I wouldn't have a job as there would be no avarice and no burglars!!!

Have you heard the saying: THOU PROTESTITH TOO MUCH !!!!  You have caught the materialist bug!!!   You really could survive without your TV Playstation etc.   But why would You?  I would not call my comments Slamming, just my opinion which is just as valuable as yours!

lol - I could live without quite easily and have done many times. But finding myself in this life I live, I might as well have them.  Having purchased, they are there, so there is no gain from giving them up!  We are a simple family, we don't live flash but do enjoy some of the trappings.  I think what I was getting at is that modern life necessitates some of the "energy" boosters.  Having said that, I'll bet a Victorian farmer in his shirtsleeves trudging behind a plough endlessly wouldn't have minded a pop or two of extra Vit B, Guarana, etc!!!  Having created the life we live (modern that is, not necessarily my own per se) these extra boosts are a welcome "evil" ... no worse than those days of taking "the snuff"!!!  To whit, we still call one of the wrist bones the snuff box - I have yet to find a part of the anatomy known as the Caffeine boost!!  ;)

Sorry - to qualify - no FINANCIAL gain (other than dropping a fe amperes in power consumption) from giving them up.  We talk, laugh, discuss, etc - our entire life doesn't revolve around these things but was more by way of example. 

trolling. blah how annoying.

anywhoo, i love energy shots. not the drinks (i have never got any boost from them that i could tell?) but specifically the 5hr energy and i have tried others but dont really care for them either. im a picky woman lol.

sometimes when i have a 10 or more hour workday then come home to my kids i cant/dont want to sack out on the couch and i will take these and take care of business at home. at one point i used to just take the b vitamins straight out of the bottle. b vitamins are good sources of quick energy.

i didnt care much for this article. i dont think it was too indepth past "caffiene is bad" and then dont do drugs lol.

it is GREAT for ppl who have the will power to shun caffiene and everything else "wrong" but there are many more of us who like our caffiene and dont care to change. period. im not smoking crack or anything geez. i cant AFFORD to take a 5hr every day but it is great for those days i feel super tired or lazy and need a kick in the butt. i go to walmart and buy 2 for $4.68 once a week or so. yeah thats a little pricey but i LIKE it!

i LOVE cc and have been here for quite awhile but sometimes CC gets a little preachy for my tastes. this seems to be one of those times. this did not seem like a real "study" or comparison. better idea? have people who LIKE them try different ones and really compare them. they are not created equal, i promise.

dont knock it till you try it....

and dont judge me till you walk a mile in my shoes .....

:-) :-)

When do so many of these forums become political?

Original Post by: uzerswa

One of my favorite energy shots has to be 5 hour energy because of the fact that it's chocked full of vitamin B and has little of everything else, isn't too pricy (depending on where you go), and doesn't cause you to crash at all. It feels like you literally just took a nap. However, I have a very sensitive system and sometimes get the reverse effect. This is something for energy shot users to keep in mind.

Perhaps eating things like peppers, rice (since it contains niacin), ginger or other foods that heat up your metabolism is a better option if someone is looking for a caffeen free option for energy, but doesn't have time to nap through out the day.

I don't get why people don't just take No Doze, it's a heck of a lot cheaper.  I drink iced tea also.

Strange Pam..if you are so lacking in materialistic tendencies then why are you posting online on a computer, which is of course, very materialistic and not necessary to your simple life in a mud hut with hemp clothing.