Energy Drinks -Roger Mason

You've seen “energy drinks” in the grocery and convenience stores. They're all the rage now. Except for Guru® all these contain huge amounts of sugar or sugar substitutes like sucralose (which are even worse). Red Bull® is the best selling energy drink in the world. This is just water, sugar, and caffeine basically. Most all of them taste like chemicals (Rock Star, Monster, etc.) rather than fruit juice. Read the label and you'll see. Many of these claim to contain natural guarana or yerba mate extract. This is very misleading, since such extracts would give the drink a muddy brown color. All of them are basically just caffeinated soft drinks.  Energy drinks are just not the best way to take yerba mate and guarana. 
 
Please read the article Better Alternative to Coffee in our free library to learn about these two natural energizers. Coffee is highly addictive, and the flavor oils are literally more harmful than the caffeine itself. French press or drip is more toxic than instant, in other words. Also, coffee makes many people hungry a few hours later, and then they eat and gain weight. Please also read, Is Coffee Making You Fat? There are other articles in our free library about how unhealthy coffee is. That includes decaf since the flavor oils are intact.  
 
Why is coffee such a national addiction, and energy drinks so popular even among young people? They offer a feeling of euphoria and vigor for a few hours. They just make you feel good. Energy drinks are overpriced to death with an average price of about $1.99. They are full of fructose, other sugars, and chemicals generally. You can't find one brand (except Guru®) simply made with natural fruit juice. Isn't that strange? Taking four capsules of guarana or yerba mate will cost you about thirty-five cents, on the other hand. You can buy these in any health food store very cheaply. We sell both guarana and yerba mate capsules. You can also buy tea bags, especially the ones containing yerba mate. These are not health tonics, or anything of the like, as some companies claim- they are simply a less harmful and less addictive alternative to coffee. If you occasionally  want temporary energy and euphoria and make your day a little more fun, try guarana or yerba mate capsules or tea. 
 
Ephedrine is much more powerful. This was banned without cause. NO ONE EVER DIED FROM TAKING EPHEDRA NO MATTER HOW MUCH THEY TOOK. The media lied to you about this, like they lie about everything else- including the weather. The police state continues, and soon other safe, natural supplements like DHEA, melatonin, pregnenolone, and progesterone will be banned and made illegal. Androstenedione is now a felony! From over the counter to felony status at the whim of bureaucrats.We are the only civilized country in the world you can still buy natural supplements and four natural hormones over the counter. You can still buy ephedrine freely on the Internet for people who choose to use this occasionally. Please realize ephedrine is chemically only one atom away from actual amphetamine and used by underground chemists to manufacture amphetamines. It must be used in moderation and not regularly. If you take 2 or 3 times the proper amount of ephedrine you'll get the same nerve jangling, teeth gritting, manic effects as amphetamines. It is best to avoid it entirely even though it is a natural plant alkaloid. So is morphine and cocaine. 

The real question is how can we FEEL GOOD, and have the energy we need every day, without resulting to pills and capsules regardless of how natural they may be? Proper diet, exercise, and lifestyle, that's how. Start by eating two meals a day rather than three. Americans eat twice the calories they need.  Eat delicious whole natural foods, not less food. The fewer calories you eat, the more energy you'll have, plus you'll be healthier and live longer. If you eat well, take proven supplements, balance your basic hormones, exercise regularly, fast every week, limit your bad habits (such as coffee and alcohol), and don't take prescription drugs, you'll have all the energy you need. Exercise, ironically, gives us more energy. Even a half hour walk every day will change your life. Join a gym or make a gym out of your spare bedroom if you have one.

Short naps are a great way to rejuvenate yourself. A half hour nap will make a new person out of you. Some people just don't have the time in their daily schedule to take naps. Naps give you a real power boost. Be sure to get all the sleep you need. Everyone is different, and some people need more sleep than others. Always get enough sleep.  
 
Having a high energy level depends on your total health. There are no short cuts, quick fixes or Magic Pills to do this. Diet and lifestyle are the answer, not caffeine.