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Got any questions about all the goodies you find in energy drinks? Hopefully I'll answer them.

Why would I want to drink all of these high-priced beverages
A valid point. Are you a student? Work late nights? Party hard? If you answered yes to any of these, energy drinks are what you need. Have as many as you want, and you won't go over the BAC limit and you'll be awake enough to drive. They help keep you awake and get more out of life. Besides, they're not highly priced. :P

Where's the best places to get these drinks?
I'm not too sure about the rest of the world, but in Australia most service stations (gas stations) stock a small range (normally expensive though) and your local 7-11's. Some energy drinks are going mainstream now, like Red-Eye and Dirty Dog which you'll find in Woolworths and other supermarkets. This is really sweet because they're nice and cheap and can get them wherever you are. If you know of other outlets, please let me know.

 

Guarana (Gurana)

What is guarana?
Guarana (or guaraná as it's properly known as) is a herb that grows in the Amazonian jungle, South America. Traditionally guarana was used in herbal teas in Brazil and is still widely used in drinks. The part that manufacturers use are the seeds of the guarana plant which are then ground up and shoved into our drinks. Guarana's active compound is guaranine, which is very similiar to caffeine (some sources say identical). Guarana also contains theophylline, theobromine and tannic acid.

What's better for me, guarana or coffee?
While I will not dispute the wonderful effects of caffeine on our bodies, it does have some side-effects. Coffee stresses our bodies out, causes anxiety and the down after the high is often low. Guarana has none of these side-effects and is actually benefical (See What good is guarana?). From personal experience, caffeine seems to have a quicker action on the body, waking you up much faster than guarana, which provides slow-release power (but once the guarana kicks in, it works better than caffeine.). Another benefit is that guarana doesn't interfere with the sleep process (some say it actually gives you better quality sleep), and is non-habit forming. Note that I have also read conflicting information that says that guarana's active ingredient is caffeine, rather than guaranine.

What good is gurana?
You may be wondering, why the hell do I need yet another drug coursing through my veins. Well for starters guarana comes from a herb and is actually rather good for us. Guarana promotes stamina, endurance and general body soothing (good for late-night craming or OC). It is said that guarana stimulates the brain, relieves stress and increases concentration. Other benefits of guarana is that it is a diuretic, which can help with fluid retention as well as relieving stress and anxiety. This isn't even mentioning guarana's very potent stimulant qualities >:)

 

Yerba Mate


What is yerba mate?
Yerba mate (or maté as it's properly known) is another Amazonian herb. The active drug in yerba mate is called mateine and it comes from the leaves of the yerba tree. It's commonly infused as a tea in Argentina, where it's the national drink.

What is mateine? What does it do?
Woah, slow down there big fella. Firstly, mateine is an xanthine, and a damn fine one at that. It is not habitual or addictive in any way. In a weird kinda way, mateine actually promotes better sleep, rather than worse sleep (what caffeine does to you). Mateine reduces blood pressure and does not increase heart rate as caffeine does. Other effects mateine has is as a anti-rheumatic and a stimulant to the central nervous system.

 

For some more info on guarana and yerba mate, check out the following links:

• http://www.guarana.com.my/
• http://www.healthfree.com/herbgarden/yerbaxan.htm
• http://www.symmetrix.ch/Public/guarana/
• http://www.botanical.com/botanical/mgmh/g/guaran43.html

Disclaimer

Always remember to enjoy in moderation. I am not a doctor, nor qualified in anyway to give medical advice so if that's what you're after please see the proper person. Please check for any warning labels on the drinks to see what the recommended maximum amount is for a day. Most drinks state that they should not be consumed by diabetics or pregnant women, unless under medical supervision. People with heart conditions or those sensitive to caffeine should also be careful.