VIEWS ON ENERGY DRINKS: red bull, monster, etc.

what are your views on energy drinks, such as red bull and monster?

do you like them?
do you think they are unhealthy drinks?
how often do you drink them?
are the low-carb energy drinks better than the regular?

I used to be against drinking them... until I tried Red Bull.. now and then when I need a pick-me-up, I'll drink a low-carb Red Bull or a JAVA monster (i see it as a quick alternative to iced coffee!)

Red bull is actually ilegal in several countries. Not sure why, but it is (which I assume means it's BAD)

I don't drink them often, but if I'm feeling groggy, I'll have one because I don't like coffee.  I prefer AMP, because it tastes better.  They have low sugar options but I think they contain aspartame and of course there are disputes about how those affect your health and stuff

Just because it's illegal in some coutnries doesn't mean its bad. Pretty weak basis for an argument imo...

I still don't think red bull should just be treated like another drink option. Caffeine is highly addictive, so..drink enough caffeine, and your performance will suffer every time you AREN'T on the caffeine.

That being said, the sugar free red bull is indispensable for me during finals weeknights.

i won't drink the sugar free/lo carb ones because i think the fake sugar and aspartame is probably one of the worst things in these drinks or any other items.  i'd rather drink the regular stuff.  i was drinking probably a red bull a day (c'mon people have numerous cups of coffee a day and it's nothing- i don't like coffee) but i tried to lay off it because 1. i dont' like being addicted to caffeine and 2. it adds up $ wise.  if your only having it now and again (like i do now) i don't see anything wrong about it.

 

I drink the monsters or rockstars (the "diet" versions) only when they are on sale or if i just want something carbonated. I do not think they have any nutritional value at all but some taste good.

I've always felt the benefit of energy drinks was far more in the person's head than what they were putting in their body.  Most commercial products, brand names especially, are sold on the basis of what they make you think they do, rather than what they actually do.  Marketing, in a word.

But then, I've never been especially "picked up" by caffeine or any other energy-boosting supplement.  I'll still pass right out without thinking twice after a cup of coffee.  The only thing that ever worked as an energy booster was a decent diet and a modicum of exercise - longer lasting energy with a better performance value (as in, I actually do better work).

Some say that energy drinks can cause heart irregularities, but nothing has yet been proven.  They should not be combined with alcohol or drunk after strenuous exercise since that can also possibly, although not yet proven, cause heart irregularities.

Personally, I don't drink them.  I had about 1/3 of a can once when they were given out for free on my uni campus several years ago.  I happily took one and went to class.  About halfway through class, I started to get a headache and my vision started to blur.  A few minutes later, I couldn't see anything to one side.  I had to actually turn my head to see things.  I left class, headed home, and called my roommate to come looking for me if I didn't turn up.  I then spent the next two days in bed with a migrane.  I'd never had such a severe headache before and haven't had another once since. 

eat balanced meals and get plenty of sleep and you shouldn't have to drink any energy drinks

Original Post by wvumaniac13:

eat balanced meals and get plenty of sleep and you shouldn't have to drink any energy drinks

Agreed.

yea, i agree to certain extent, but you can't deny that in some instances (i'm a college student), there are definitely days where it is just not possible to get plenty of sleep or eat totally balanced meals, and a little extra umph is needed to finish a project at 4:30 in the morning... 

that said, i think most of the energy sare terribly unhealthy and definitely try to stay away from them, and tend to only go for them around midterm/finals week.

 

 

They are the current fad and definitely not a good thing.  I have personally never had one other than a couple of red bull/vodkas (which I thought were vile). 

Caffiene has serious negative affects on me.  When I was in college, the fad was the caffiene pills, no-doz and the like - probably the precursor to all the drinks. 

I got my freshman dorm box (full of sample sized goodies) there was 2 No-Doz in it.  Well, I kept it and around finals I decided to take one.  That morning for my final I was soooo sick I could barely make it to class - I felt like I was going to vomit any second (and I did, after a while), I was sweating, and my hand was shaking so bad I could barely hold a pen.  I think I made like a 32 on that final.  Yeah, that was a great idea.  :/

Original Post by wvumaniac13:

eat balanced meals and get plenty of sleep and you shouldn't have to drink any energy drinks

 BINGO!

i'll drink a low carb Monster once in a blue moon (seriously, like not even once a month). i've had sips of Amp and Full Throttle and they tasted good, but i never bought them for myself. i think these drinks honestly taste straight-up artificial and aren't healthy. i don't drink the Monster for the caffeine or pick me up though, just because sometimes i just feel like having one (and the caffeine is a plus if i'm groggy). but i never force energy drinks just because of the caffeine factor of them. and they make me feel fuller (more full?) too (obviously because of the carbonation. i can barely ever finish a whole can at once).

I will probably get hated for this, but it's my diet and it works for me so that's fine. I will drink the sugar free Rockstars or Amps maybe a couple times a week, usually just in the afternoon at work. It keeps me going, but I drink it more as an appetite suppresant. It takes me all afternoon to drink them and it keeps me from eating more. So usually if I have a bigger lunch, I'll drink one that afternoon. And just in case anyone says "just drink water," i do and drink it along w/ the energy drink. i don't think it's a big deal unless you are having them every single day and can't get by without one.

um interested to know where they are illigal,  i know when i lived in denmark i did not find red bull but thats because no drinks can be sold in cans its an enviromental thing.  so not sure about the rest of scandanavia,  i live in prague and i see red bull everywhere, but we only have two energy drinks,  they are not so big over here,  i drink the sugar free red bull like two times a year, i like the taste.

I have been known to drink a sugar-free Red Bull or two in my day.....I hate to drink hot drinks during the summer and drank one or two at work every day in place of hot coffee.  Now that I get more sleep and more exercise I don't need the energy boost as much!  I think that they are probably like anything else - better in moderation.

I have one every day! I drink "Rip-it's" the sugar free ones. 0 calories, 0 carbs. I have two cups f coffee in the mornings. Then a bowl of Fiber one around 10 or 11. Then an hour or so after my cereal I crack open a Rip it. I have a hard time drinking carbonated things so it takes me hours to drink it so I usually end up just carrying it around with me. Sometimes I don't finish it until 4 pm. But as long as I have one I dont eat for that time. Which is OK because I always tend to eat the most at night, but if I don't have a rip it I aways end up eatng even more at night. Having an energy drink every day keeps me going, keeps me active, and saves me hundreds of calories every day. I love them!