FitSugar

You Asked: Is Kombucha Tea Worth All the Hype?

FitSugar — Tue, 12 Feb 2008 03:00:00 -0800

You're asking and I'm answering . . .
Dear FitSugar,
Kombucha tea seems to be all the rage at my local grocery store. There are
many purported health benefits such as improved digestion and circulation.
Can you please let us know if there is substance behind the Kombucha hype?
Many thanks!!
– Kombucha Betty

I know many folks, Cameron Diaz for one, that love, love, LOVE this tea. It is true that the benefits listed on the bottles are endless – Kombucha seems to cure just about everything but bunions. All that aside, clinical studies in humans are seriously lacking so there is no direct scientific evidence to back up the health claims found on the bottle. However, researchers have found potent antioxidant effects as well as stimulation of the immune system in animal populations with limited toxicity. That is good news. Kombucha is prepared by fermenting sweetened black tea with a symbiotic culture of yeasts and bacteria, creating a slightly carbonated "tea" thus earning the nickname "champagne of life." It could be the high caffeine and sugar content that provide drinkers of this "Manchurian mushroom" (that isn't really a mushroom) a boost in energy.

Bottom line: None of the purported health benefits of Kombucha tea can be backed with scientific evidence in human populations, so hopefully someone will study this soon. The fact that a not-so-pleasant tasting, slightly acidic drink has been around since 221 B.C. suggests some folks truly find it beneficial. So drinking it can't really hurt you, but do be wary of homemade brew because it is easily contaminated.

Source

"Cocaine" Pulled From Shelves

FitSugar — Tue, 08 May 2007 03:00:00 -0700

The energy drink called Cocaine was pulled from shelves because of nationwide concerns about its name.

The FDA issued a warning letter last month to the distributer, Redux Beverages LLC of Las Vegas, saying that they were illegally marketing the drink as a "legal alternative" to the street drug and as a dietary supplement." On the company's website, the drink is advertised as “Speed in a Can,” “Liquid Cocaine” and “Cocaine - Instant Rush.”

The company argued that their energy drink has NO cocaine in it and nobody thinks it does. The drink provides a cocaine-like energy boost because it contains more caffeine than any other energy drink (and twice as much as coffee). The FDA is just concerned that although it's not actually "cocaine," the drink is glorifying the use of this illegal drug.

So the energy drink has been pulled from shelves until they come up with a new name for it (chances are low that they will name it Meth, but you never know). I guess we will just have to stick to Red Bull spiked with espresso.

Coke and Pepsi Jump on the Energy Drink Bandwagon

FitSugar — Wed, 07 Mar 2007 15:15:00 -0800

The fact that more and more consumers are choosing bottled water, both sparkling or non, as well as green tea beverages instigated the two cola giants, Coke and Pepsi, to rethink their products. Even though the soda business remains a $68 billion industry, profits dipped in 2005 and the big TWO are looking for new ways into consumer pockets.

Enter Diet Coke Plus and Tava, Pepsi's stab at a healthy non-soda alternative. Both companies will be releasing their new carbonated, vitamin and mineral fortified beverages in upcoming months. Diet Coke Plus will be enhanced with niacin, vitamins B6 and B12, magnesium and zinc, while Tava will contain B3, B6 and E, and chromium. The companies will not be labeling the drinks "soda," since folks are starting to realize that diet sodas, while low in calories, are not exactly healthy.

The CEO of Coca-Cola’s asserts that "“Diet and light brands are actually health and wellness brands.” Yet, other players in the beverage industry feel it is a joke to market artificially sweetened soft drinks as healthy even if they are fortified with vitamins and minerals.

I guess we will all have to wait and see what they actually taste like and how many artificial ingredients they contain.

Fit's Tip: Since more and more research suggests that the best way to reap the benefits of vitamins and minerals is to eat them in real food, I say stick to water, fruit juice and tea.

Big Ballers Drink Hi-Ball

FitSugar — Fri, 09 Feb 2007 09:30:00 -0800

Wanna be a baller? I recently came across this new energy sparkling water called Hi-Ball because rumor has is that A-listers like Lindsay Lohan and Mischa Barton drink it as a healthier alternative to the other energy drinks, which are often loaded with sugar. So I'm intrigued.

You guys probably already know how I feel about energy drinks, but I was intrigued with the no sugar, no carbs, no artificial additives or sweeteners and only 10 calories per bottle claim. The energy in Hi-Ball comes from a strong cocktail of: caffeine 75mg, guarana 32mg, ginseng 32mg, 1250mg of taurine and B-vitamins.

In case you're wondering, guarana, the ingredient found in most Brazilian soft drinks, promotes health and weight loss. What about taurine? Well, interestingly enough, high intake of alcohol may cause the body not to be able to use taurine fully but in Asia, they use taurine for the prevention of the side effects from excess alcohol consumption. I think I know why LL has been sipping Hi-Ball. When it comes to energy drinks, Hi-Ball sits high on my list, Red Bull being at the bottom, in terms of the ingredients and how I feel after drinking it.

Again, if you're feeling low in energy I think you should re-evaluate why you're feeling so tired all of the time before turning to energy drinks. Visit hiballer.com to find out where to buy it and Yum did a great post about all of the different waters and energy waters out there so you should check it out if you're interested.

Source

Sports Energy Products Explained: Drinks, Powders, and Tablets

FitSugar — Thu, 17 Sep 2009 03:47:52 -0700

In order to sustain your energy for long workouts, you need to refuel with some kind of sporty energy product. Sport nutrition products are manufactured in so many forms these days - sport drinks, powders, energy bars, goos, and chews - so how do you know which one is right for you? Hopefully I can ease your confusion starting with sport drinks, powders, and tablets.

Popular brands of sport drinks include Gatorade, Accelerade, and Powerade. These pre-made, often neon-colored drinks contain carbs that you need for quick energy, and sodium and water that you need for hydration. A proper sport drink contains about 15 grams of carbs and 110 mg of sodium per eight-ounce serving. You can also buy powders you mix with water to make sport drinks. You only really need these drinks if you are working out for an hour or longer or are sweating profusely during your workout. I wouldn't sip these while running on the treadmill for 30 minutes. The sugar isn't necessary for short workouts, and as long as you hydrate with water before and after exercising, you're good to go.

What about Smartwater? To find out read more.

There are also beverages that contain electrolytes and no sugars, such as Smartwater or Function Water. Or if you want a little flavor but not a ton of sugar, NUUN tablets can be dissolved in your water. Electrolyte-enhanced water will help prevent dehydration but help your energy levels by providing glucose (aka sugar, which is turned into fuel for your muscles).

So here's the bottom line. If your workout is under an hour, drink plain water before and after. If you're working out and sweating a lot, sip electrolyte-enhanced water every 10 to 15 minutes while working out. If you're working out for an extended period of time, and are also sweating out fluids, sip a sports drink every 10 to 15 minutes.

Blood Energy Potion: Cool or Not?

FitSugar — Wed, 21 Oct 2009 12:00:14 -0700

I consider myself a big fan of True Blood and Twilight, but I'm beginning to think the whole vampire craze has gone too far. I recently came across a blood energy drink and I've been creeped out ever since.

Blood Energy Potion ($6) is the same color and consistency of blood and it comes packaged in an IV bag. Besides an four-hour energy complex, it contains iron, protein, and electrolytes. It's suppose to mimic blood right down to its nutritional value.

This drink lets you play blood-thirsty vampire except you don't have to go out and kill anyone, and your blood is fruit punch flavored. I can't see myself sipping on synthetic blood, but it might be kind of hilarious to see someone drinking this at the gym. What do you think of this latest gimmick in energy drinks?

Real Food vs. Energy Bars and Sports Drinks

FitSugar — Wed, 25 Jun 2008 08:00:00 -0700

Here's a little food for thought: the biggest difference between eating engineered energy sports foods and real foods after your workout is convenience.

There are many "recovery products" on the market right now; scientifically researched products designed to deliver carbs and protein to muscles depleted after long training sessions. While it is true that muscles do need carbs and protein after exercise to repair themselves, many researchers believe the window of time to feed the muscles these macro nutrients is any where from two to four hours. This is ample time to find yourself a kitchen and make yourself some good old fashioned food.

To see how much protein and carbs you should eat during your recovery time, read more.

The amounts of both nutrients are rather small. Muscle repair only requires about 10 to 15 grams of protein, the equivalent of two eggs. In terms of carbs, the body needs about one gram of carbs per kilogram of body weight (for us metrically challenged Americans 2.2 pounds roughly equals 1 kilogram) – I need about 60 grams of carbs. I can easily find that amount of carbs in an apple (31 grams of carbs), two slices of whole wheat toast (24 grams of carbs), and 6 ounces of vanilla flavored Greek yogurt (14 grams). Scramble up two eggs to go with my carbs and basically, I have a healthy breakfast, which is perfect after a long run.

Sometimes after a workout though, you just don't have the time or resources to make real food. In those cases, a Power Bar can come in handy. My point being, don't fall for the gimmicks and think you have to drink an Accelerade. Choose real food when you can. It is cheaper and less processed and tastes way better.

Source

Are Energy Drinks Safe?

FitSugar — Fri, 30 May 2008 03:00:00 -0700

If you're like most people, you reach for a cup of coffee every morning, since the caffeine can give your brain that get-up-and-go you need to wake up from a night of sleep. Recently though, energy drinks like Red Bull and Rockstar are becoming more popular, since they also give people the buzz they're after.

There are so many different kinds now and they all contain caffeine, but do they contain more than a person should consume in a day? To find out read more

Check out this chart to see how these caffeinated beverages compare.

Drink	Amount of Caffeine
8.3 oz Red Bull	80mg
16 oz Monster	150mg
16 oz. Rockstar	160mg
16 oz. Rockstar Punched	240mg
16 oz. Full Throttle	142mg
16 oz. Burn	199mg
12 oz. Coca-Cola	29mg
12 oz Diet Coke	38mg
16oz. Grande cup of Starbucks Coffee	330mg
1 oz. Starbucks Espresso	75mg
8 oz. Organic Black Tea	65mg
16 oz. Starbucks Hot Chocolate	25mg

For the average person, up to 300mg of caffeine a day is considered a safe amount to consume. If you have too much each day, it could affect your sleep patterns, heart rate, blood pressure, cause headaches, or cause a woman to give birth to a smaller baby. As you can see from the chart, energy drinks contain far less caffeine than a Grande cup of Starbucks coffee, which exceeds the recommended daily amount. Most people don't realize how much caffeine they're getting, whether through coffee, soda, or energy drinks, because the amount of caffeine is often not on the container. So if you love caffeine, it's best to limit yourself to one energy drink, or go for a smaller cup of coffee.

Fit's Tips: If you find that you're often tired all day and need a boost, drinking a caffeinated drink is only a temporary fix. In order to have energy all day, make sure you're getting enough sleep each night, getting enough protein, and exercising regularly.

Energy Drinks and Caffeine: The Untold Story

FitSugar — Mon, 13 Aug 2007 02:00:00 -0700

There are so many types of "drinks" on the market right now from sports drinks to Vitamin water - a drink for every mood. Energy drinks are growing in popularity and in fact they have become a $744 million a year industry. I find it easy to believe the backbone of the energy boost of these drinks is caffeine, and interestingly enough, makers do not have to disclose caffeine amounts on nutrition labels.

For instance an 8-ounce serving of Archer Farms Energy Drink contained 50 milligrams of caffeine and Celsius Energy Supplement (like how that sounds like a "vitamin supplement") contains 145 milligrams. For comparison, the average cup of joe, the original energy drink in my book, contains 100 milligrams of caffeine, and a 12-ounce Coca-Cola has about 24 milligrams.

Also important to know, 300 milligrams of caffeine per day is considered safe for most adults. It is advised that children keep their caffeine intake to fewer than 100 milligrams per day.

Fit's Tip: Read those labels closely! Most drinks come in bottles larger than 8 ounces, but the nutritional information, like calorie amounts, are listed per 8 ounce serving.

High Blood Pressure? Stay Away From Energy Drinks

FitSugar — Tue, 13 Nov 2007 13:30:00 -0800

When I'm on a road trip and I stop in the gas station to grab some water, it amazes me how many energy drinks I see on the shelves. Many people opt for them when they're feeling sluggish. Plus they're easy to find and don't stain your teeth like coffee, but they still contain caffeine, and many in higher doses than a regular cup of joe.

Beverages like Red Bull, Full Throttle, Amp, and Rush will sure give you an energy buzz, but a recent study found that these high-caffeine drinks may also be raising people's heart rates and blood-pressure levels.

These types of drinks not only contain caffeine, but they also have high levels of taurine, an amino acid found in protein-rich foods such as fish and meat. It can affect the heart function and blood pressure, even if a person is not exercising but simply sitting still.

This study showed that the effects are not dangerous to healthy individuals,but if you have high-blood pressure, are taking medications to lower your blood pressure, or have heart issues, you should steer clear of these types of drinks.

Fit's Tip: Caffeine is a quick fix when you need some energy, but eating a high-protein snack like yogurt, cheese, or nuts will give your body lasting energy.

Source