Top Five Energy Drinks for Students
Now that we have officially passed the one year quarantin-iversary, the physical and mental toll is more evident than ever in college students across the US. Plus it’s finals season, so Liza Cheharovska presents her top five liquid boosters
With online school, unemployment, and isolation many students are feeling burned out or drained. But even while feeling down, life goes on so people turn to quick boosters, like coffee and energy drinks. Monsters, Red Bulls, and 5-hour Energy are known all too well, it feels like a new brand of energy drink comes out every month so how do they work and what’s really the best way to get through a tiresome daze.
Energy drinks contain caffeine, and often sugar. Caffeine stimulates the brain and blocks the binding of adenosine molecules, the bonding of those molecules to certain receptors are what causes a feeling of tiredness. And sugar distributes glucose throughout your body which converts into energy.
A large caffeine intake can cause effects like nervousness, insomnia, and increased blood pressure. The recommended amount of caffeine per day is no more than 400mg. Drinks containing a lot of sugar have an effect on weight, heart, and liver, as well as accumulate to cause lifelong health issues.
If energy drinks aren’t really your thing, there’s more natural alternatives. Coffee or espresso are the most traditional sources but there’s also: black tea, green tea, guaranno, bananas, salmon, eggs, beets, B12 supplements. Those are just a few things that help the body boost energy. But beware of newer products like caffeine inhalers recently produced by HealthCape that advertise a healthy alternative to coffee because of inhaler effects on lungs.
Now that we know the effects and alternatives, here’s my top five energy drinks for tired college students:
1. Bai Bubbles
This energy booster comes in the form of flavored sparkling water, with a range of flavors and only 5 calories and 1 gram of sugar, this energy drink deliciously delivers a low-additive caffeine spike.
2. Matchabar Hustle
Now this one is perfect for green tea drinkers, while containing 4 grams of sugar and 40 calories it also has 120mg of caffeine which is even more than a standard cup of coffee. Matchabar creates vegan and non GMO options. It’s a bit intense so use it in case of finals.
3. Zevia Zero Calorie Energy
Zevia is well known for making 0 calorie, 0 sugar sodas, and they brought the same technique to energy drinks. While being sugar free these little cans hold 120mg of caffeine.
4. ZOA Energy
ZOA has 100 calorie or 0 sugar options and a variety of interesting flavors. Packed with amino acids, vitamin B, and 160mg of caffeine, it’ll definitely make you feel more awake and keep you energized for longer. Personally I opt in for the lemon-lime flavor but other options include: wild orange, pineapple coconut, and wild berry.
5. Guayaki Yerba Mate
This product is low calorie, low sugar, and provides about 85mg of caffeine, they have different flavors to choose from and with a lower caffeine content then the rest of the drink on the list, it still has a strong energy kick and is a better option for people who would normally choose tea over coffee.
