"When it comes to B vitamins, the claim is they usually help the body make energy, but it really comes down to converting food into cellular energy and not a burst of energy." I also looked for shots that rely on natural ingredients and steer clear of artificial sugars or any confusing chemicals. Energy shots are commonly packed full of B vitamins, but Knowles warned against putting too much stock in these. Ingredients: I looked for shots that had other positive active ingredients outside of caffeine like guarana, ginseng, or taurine.Caffeine content: According to Knowles, it's smart to "prioritize the caffeine first and make sure that it has an acceptable dosage to be effective." She recommends between 100 and 300 mg and that "anything higher should be taken with caution as the upper limit is set at 400 mg for adults (and 85 mg for kids.)" She points out that a typical 16-ounce Grande cup of medium roast coffee at Starbucks contains roughly 310 mg of caffeine. I also assessed how task-focused I was five hours after taking the shot, but since this can vary wildly from person to person, it wasn't a major contributing factor. The closest I could get to reliably reporting on this was to look at how jittery the energy shot made me feel in the first two hours after taking it. Performance: Each test had to have an element of subjectivity to them and I tried to limit the variables in the tests as much as possible, but there's only so much one can do - especially for something as opinion-based as performance.Here's how each category factored into what made the guide: The most important factors I considered while testing were performance, caffeine content, ingredients, and taste. I also consulted with Mandi Knowles, a registered dietitian with over 15 years of experience, who gave me guidance in what to look for in an energy shot.Įach energy shot featured in this guide went through several tests in order to thoroughly review them across a variety of categories. It's also smart to consult with your healthcare provider before altering your diet by adding an energy shot to it.įor safety reasons, I tested the energy shots in this guide over the course of several months with a day or two between each test. Since the caffeine levels and other ingredients vary so drastically, it's important to monitor how often you take energy shots and what effect they have on you. The shots I tested had between 40 and 300 mg of caffeine along with herbs, nootropics, megadoses of vitamins, and other stimulants, such as guarana, taurine, and ginseng. They mainly serve as a boost of B vitamins, which mostly just end up in your urine. During the testing for this guide, I tried a few alternatives that were advertised as caffeine-free, but they had little to no effect so none made our guide. Plus, I closely regulate my caffeine intake to stay below the recommended daily limit of 400 mg.Ĭaffeine is the most common stimulant in most energy shots. It's not the healthiest lifestyle but it works for me. But, when I'm away from home, I need to maintain my caffeine intake to stay alert and avoid headaches. I'm used to taking in roughly 125 milligrams (mg) of caffeine three times per day in the form of espresso from my fancy Saeco Xelsis Espresso Machine. Energy shots are a convenient way to get your caffeine fix when you're on-the-go. But, as you're rushing from one meeting to the next or high-tailing it to the gym, you don't always have time to visit a coffee shop or take a cup from home. That's when a boost from an energy shot comes in handy.Ĭoffee is by far the most popular energy supplement people tend to consume. While rest is important for recharging - and we strongly encourage going easy on yourself - sometimes you don't have the luxury to take a break. If your brain isn't functioning at peak capacity, your productivity suffers, and you may drop the ball in various areas of your life. In today's fast-paced world, you're expected to be on your game just about every waking moment.
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