Bodybuilding energy drinks are very popular among athletes and bodybuilders, as they provide much-needed energy during long training sessions. However, not all energy drinks are suitable to be consumed by bodybuilders, especially if they are looking to increase their energy levels. The reason why some energy drinks can be consumed by athletes and bodybuilders but not other people is that some energy drinks can contain harmful substances that can endanger the health of an individual undergoing intensive physical activity.
Therefore, it is important to choose energy drinks wisely when it comes to your energy needs during training or competition. As much as possible, choose energy drinks that contain natural ingredients like green tea or caffeine, which are found to be safe for the body. Moreover, energy drinks that contain natural ingredients are also more effective in providing energy than energy drinks that use synthetic substances. If you want to consume energy drinks that are particularly formulated for bodybuilders, be careful of the ingredients that you are consuming.
Choosing the Best Energy Drink For Bodybuilders
Choosing the best energy drink is not always easy because of the ingredients that these types of drinks contain. The best energy drink for bodybuilders is one that contains natural ingredients, does not cause a great deal of side effects, and contains none of the preservatives found in most energy drinks.
If you choose an energy drink for bodybuilding with these guidelines in mind, you should be able to choose an energy drink for bodybuilders that will give you the energy that your body needs as well as give you the results that you want. In addition, when choosing an energy drink for bodybuilders you want to choose one that contains ingredients that will boost your metabolism so that you can build muscle while burning fat.
Check the Sugar Content in Your Energy Drinks
Checking the sugar content in energy drinks is a necessary part of an athlete’s lifestyle. Energy drinks are designed to give you extra energy, which can be beneficial when working out hard, but they can also increase the sugar levels in your blood and affect your blood sugar.1 The ingredients listed on the bottle or the label of a certain energy drink can vary from one to another, but there are typically a lot of different sugars and artificial flavorings that make up the product. Because of this, knowing that sugars are good for you and how to consume them will help your body get the most out of the energy that you put into it.
It would be good to know what exactly is in the drinks that you are consuming. If you are drinking a sports energy drink, you might not realize that it contains a combination of carbohydrates and protein. Most sports drinks contain added sugar in the form of high fructose corn syrup, both of which have been shown to contribute to diabetes.2 High fructose corn syrup is made by using corn syrup as a cheap alternative to sugar and is typically used to make dark-colored sodas and other high sugar items.3 High fructose corn syrup increases your insulin levels because it makes you crave more food, which leads to you eating more than you should. You should therefore avoid energy drinks with high fructose corn syrup.4
Another type of sugar commonly found in energy drinks is synthetic sugars. This may not sound like a big deal but when you look at the nutritional labels of many of the drinks you see that the amount of sugar that is contained is close to that of a sugar cube.
Many of the foods that we consume contain high amounts of simple sugars. These can be listed as natural or organic ingredients and sometimes they will also state “no artificial ingredients” on the product label.5 Although this sounds like a good thing, there are still harmful side effects associated with these types of ingredients. Natural sugar such as honey or maple syrup does not provide you with a high amount of calories. However, complex sugars such as glucose syrup provide you with an excess of calories that can lead to weight gain and excessive amounts of fat being consumed.6
You may think that by avoiding all of the sugar in your diet that you will be cutting out calories but this is not the case. Sugar is usually added to foods to give them a better flavor and extend their shelf life, therefore, it is not always the sugar that you are cutting out of your diet that is making you gain weight. Sugar is often combined with high-calorie fats such as butter and is even found in some energy drinks. Energy drinks are typically made with caffeine, another calorie-providing product. While caffeine does provide some extra energy, it can also have negative effects such as bloating and can actually raise your blood pressure.
Disadvantages Of Energy Drinks With High Sugar Content
Here are the other dangers of high sugar content in energy drinks.
- High sugar content can lead to tooth decay. When there is an accumulation of bacteria in the mouth, it can lead to cavities and gum diseases. High levels of acid or bile salts can also cause damage to the enamel of the teeth.
- High sugar content can also lead to diabetes. Overconsumption of energy drinks can increase your risk of developing Type 2 diabetes.7 This is because when your blood sugar rises, your insulin level also rises. High levels of insulin can cause your body to make too much of the hormone insulin, which can eventually lead to diabetes. This can also lead to heart problems, stroke, and other health complications.
- High sugar contents in energy drinks can also cause weight gain. This is because when you regularly consume energy drinks, your blood sugar and insulin levels rise very quickly. When this happens, your body releases a large amount of insulin to help push food into your muscles and fat cells. Unfortunately, your body tends to take in more than it can handle, thus the extra sugar is stored as body fat. In time, excess sugar in your body can lead to diabetes, which is known to be the root cause of obesity. Moreover, excess sugars in your body can also contribute to atherosclerosis, which is a condition that commonly occurs in the arteries, resulting in hardening of the arteries and heart attack.
The main disadvantages of energy drinks with high sugar contents do not only affect your weight and eating habits. Energy drinks are also known to have bad effects on your skin. This is because when you regularly consume energy drinks, your skin becomes drier and more prone to acne breakouts. Acne is known to occur when the sebaceous glands produce too much sebum, a natural oil produced by the skin. High levels of sugar in your body, coupled with the high production of sebum, can result in acne breakouts.
It’s important to note that energy drinks should be taken responsibly. They should not be overused for purposes such as recreation or driving. While energy drinks can be highly effective, you should not abuse them. Excessive consumption of energy drinks may also result in hyperactivity, poor judgment, and even mental instability.8
Importance of Natural Ingredients in Energy Drinks
The consumption of energy drinks is very popular with bodybuilders and other athletes engaged in strenuous exercises. These products contain stimulants such as caffeine, guarana, ephedrine, and others that can increase the heart rate and blood circulation and give you an intense workout within a few minutes. The potential side effects of this product should be taken into consideration before purchasing. You must do some research on these products to understand the benefits of natural ingredients in bodybuilding energy drinks.
It has been found that energy drinks are not effective for bodybuilders and athletes. Studies have shown that the benefits of energy drinks are more for recreational users rather than professional athletes. Some of the common side effects of these energy drinks include nervousness, anxiety, and headache. However, these side effects can subside after a period of use.9
If you choose to consume energy drinks as part of your daily routine, make sure you buy them from reputed companies that can guarantee their natural ingredients. This will ensure that you get the right ingredients in your daily dose. The natural ingredients are made from fruits like passion fruit, kola, raspberries, and others. These natural ingredients are effective in giving you energy without causing any side effects.
Natural ingredients found in energy drinks can help you stay focused throughout the workout session. You will notice that you don’t get tired easily especially if you drink red wine with it. The concentration level of your brain also rises due to the presence of natural ingredients in energy drinks. Therefore, you will find that you can work for longer periods of time without taking any breaks.
The natural ingredients in energy drinks will improve your immunity, which is very helpful if you want to ward off diseases. You should also be aware of the fact that natural ingredients are highly beneficial for your health as well. There are a number of people who have been using such products for years but have not seen any major health problems due to their consumption. However, this does not mean that the products work as they claim.
Some companies advertise about the effects of energy drinks on the body but fail to mention the effects on the mind. People who want to take energy drinks to give them extra zest during the day should keep in mind all the health benefits that it provides. They should also remember that these products should be consumed in moderation because they have different levels of concentration. The amount of concentration can be increased if one chooses to take it in large quantities rather than consuming it in small quantities. One should also know the factors that affect the concentration level of energy drinks so that one can avoid drinking too many energy drinks.
Image Credits
Unsplash / April 19, 2017
Insider / September 14, 2016
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2 “The sweet danger of sugar – Harvard Health.” https://www.health.harvard.edu/heart-health/the-sweet-danger-of-sugar Accessed 21 Jun. 2021.
3 “High-Fructose Corn Syrup: Just Like Sugar, or Worse? – Healthline.” 3 Jun. 2018, https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/high-fructose-corn-syrup-vs-sugar Accessed 21 Jun. 2021.
4 “High-fructose corn syrup: Any health concerns? – Mayo Clinic.” https://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/nutrition-and-healthy-eating/expert-answers/high-fructose-corn-syrup/faq-20058201 Accessed 21 Jun. 2021.
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7 “Type 2 Diabetes – Symptoms, Causes, Treatment | ADA.” https://www.diabetes.org/diabetes/type-2 Accessed 21 Jun. 2021.
8 “Hyperactivity: Causes, Diagnosis, and Treatments – Healthline.” 27 Aug. 2019, https://www.healthline.com/health/hyperactivity Accessed 21 Jun. 2021.
9 “Dangerous Side Effects of Energy Drinks, Science Says | Eat This ….” 12 Feb. 2021, https://www.eatthis.com/news-dangerous-side-effects-energy-drinks/ Accessed 21 Jun. 2021.
10 “Atkins: Low Carb Diet Program and Weight Loss Plan.” https://www.atkins.com/ Accessed 21 Jun. 2021.