An Energy Drink With A Purpose
Energy Drink History
For more than 2 decades now, energy drinks have become increasing popular. When Redbull came onto the beverage scene in the late 90’s, they quickly made a name for themselves as a drink with a pick-me-up. Since then, many other beverage manufacturers have made offerings in the energy drink market. Today, more and more people are gulping down energy drinks, with names like Rock Star, Adrenaline and Monster Energy, in an effort to keep their energy levels up. This trend isn’t going away any time soon. Global energy drink sales accounted for nearly $50 billion in 2014 alone and the total sales of energy drinks in America have increased from $2.8B to $3.1B over the last 3 years according to Statista, a business data analysis firm.
What’s in energy drinks?
Like soda, energy drinks are carbonated, packed with sugar and loaded with caffeine. The key difference is that energy drinks will usually have more sugar and caffeine than an equivalent amount of soda. These drinks are then marketed to promote the rush received when loading your body with sugar and caffeine.
[Science Warning: if reading about ingredients & science bores you, click on this video to see how a healthy energy drink makes you feel, and then skip down to the Q-Boost picture for the good stuff.]
Some energy drink manufacturers will also add other ingredients to the drinks that the manufacturers claim to be a source of energy, stamina or alertness, though these claims are mostly unsubstantiated. The quantity of these ingredients changes from one drink maker to the next. They include, but are not limited to, the following:
- Glucuronolactone – a naturally occurring compound that is produced when the liver breaks down glucose. It is believed to aid in detoxification. There is still a debate about the safety of supplementing this compound.
- Guarana – derived from the South American guarana plant, the seeds contain more than double the caffeine, by weight, than coffee beans. Side effects of Guarana include muscle spasms, hypertension, nervousness and irritability.
- L-Carnitine – is an amino acid that’s created naturally within the liver and kidneys. It’s known to increase energy and metabolism. Because it is created naturally within your body, supplementing this may not have any benefit–the jury is still out.
- Milk Thistle Extract – an herbal extract that is sold over the counter to people with liver problems such as cirrhosis, jaundice and hepatitis. Energy drink manufacturers will sometimes add this to the drinks as a way to promote the drink as a detoxifying drink. The other reason you might see this in an energy drink is that it’s believed to help with hangovers, and energy drink manufacturers know that their consumers often mix these sugary drinks with alcohol. There is no hard evidence that milk thistle extract has any benefits within an energy drink, though there are a number of side effects to it. These include bloating, gas, indigestion, nausea and even diarrhea.
- Sodium Benzoate – a preservative that has been deemed safe at low levels, however, when ingesting large amounts of this can be problematic. This can combine with vitamin C (ascorbic acid), inside of the drink and form benzene, a known carcinogen. The jury is still out on just how safe this preservative is. Some say it is harmless while studies have shown links to inflammation, ADHD and increased appetite.
- Sugar – it’s in almost everything we ingest nowadays, and actively avoiding it can be difficult. Some energy drink manufacturers pack upwards of 1 teaspoon of sugar per ounce of energy drink. Manufacturers do this to make the flavors of the other supplements in the drink more palatable. Additionally, this gives a short period of “sugar-high” causing you to have a little spike of energy, by spiking your insulin levels, with a big crash to follow. Obesity, tooth decay, and Type 2 Diabetes are all attributed to increased sugar intake.
- Taurine – an amino acid that occurs naturally within the human body. It is believed, though unproven, to help brain function in people with elevated levels of stimulants. The main reason for adding this into a drink is to counter the effects of other stimulants within the energy drink.
So, when the afternoon slump hits you at work, or you need an energy pick-me-up, what do you do? You could grab one of these drinks and run the chance of adverse effects on your body from the additional supplements within them. Knowing all of that, who would want to?
Are there healthy energy drink alternatives?
We at Quick Weight Loss Centers have you covered with an alternative to those sugary drinks. We offer our Q-Boost thermogenic, antioxidant drink online and in-center in 3 delicious fruity flavors: Berry, Lime, and Orange. We call it the energy drink with purpose.
1) Why not create a new tradition for yourself? Check out QWLC Two-Day Thanksgiving Feast – an optional, alternative meal plan you can follow on Thanksgiving and the day after. Changing up the routine can boost your metabolism, add more fun to your day, enhance your mood, and help you stay on track with your weight goals.
2) Eat breakfast or skip breakfast altogether. Some experts say eating breakfast can curb your appetite and stop you from overindulging in a holiday meal. A Q-Snack in the morning is a perfect treat for that. Or don’t have any breakfast at all, if you’re not feeling it – you can save up to 400 calories and have a bit more leeway at the holiday dinner. Our clients have the freedom of abundant choices!
3) Move around to keep your mind off of the food. Don’t tempt yourself by staying right in front of the feast, walk around the house and make it a point to strike up fun conversations. Go for a scenic walk outside before or after the meal – even better if you buddy up with someone who’s sharing your goals and schedule a fitness date the next morning. Finding a secluded spot in the house and taking the time to do some stretching, yoga, and meditation will help you stay calm, centered and listen to what your body really needs.
4) Dress to impress and feel proud of yourself! Take advantage of this moment and show off your renewed body in tighter fitting clothes in front of your loved ones. Telling them about how QWLC has transformed your life will keep you accountable and make you remember why you started. Plus, you’re less likely to overeat if you’re wearing a more snug outfit.
5) Supply a healthy side or appetizer. A veggie platter, a tossed salad or mashed cauliflower instead of mashed potatoes will go a long way to help you stay on track. Bringing some sweet or salty Q-snacks is another sure-fire way to stick to your healthy choices while satisfying your cravings and enjoying this holiday.
6) It’s all about the mindset! Reframe the whole situation in your mind – “I’ve had so much delicious stuff at Thanksgiving, now my body craves a nice, nutritious salad”, versus “I’ve ruined my diet, now I have to punish and force myself to eat a salad”. Be mindful of every single bite and really savor it, don’t talk with your mouth full to avoid “inhaling” the food. This will also help you relish a smaller portion of each delicacy.
Chew slowly and wait at least 20 min after finishing your portion – this is how long it takes your brain to receive the signal of feeling “full”. Even if you happen to splurge, don’t let it become the “I blew it” binge all through January 1 – your QWLC coach will always get you back on track.
7) Make sure to drink water throughout the day and before the meal so you don’t overeat, and avoid drinking water and alcohol during the meal as much as possible. Try to wait at least 30-45 min after the last bite before drinking something – many experts claim this will save you from feeling heavy and bloated and boost your digestion.
8) Be realistic and understand it’s OK if you don’t lose weight during Thanksgiving, but at least, maintain what you had worked for. This is also an accomplishment to celebrate and be proud of!
9) Set your limit. Stay true to your goals by knowing when to stop eating completely. Reapplying your lip gloss, popping a strong breath mint, or brushing your teeth will let your mind know the meal is over and shift your focus elsewhere – your family and friends, and happy times together.
10) Dessert can also be a great way to ensure you stop eating once you are satisfied. Finish your meal with fruit, QWLC Pumpkin Pie, or a Q-Snack for a fulfilling last bite.
Check out this guilt-free pumpkin pie recipe, the QWLC two-day feast menu, and enjoy every single moment this Thanksgiving!
Q-Boost is scientifically formulated. It combines flavonoid antioxidants with vitamins and metabolic enhancers to help fight fatigue, attack free radicals, repair cells, boost energy and performance as well as support daily wellness and vitality.
Our Q-Boost drinks are fortified with vitamins A, C and E, as well as a complex of various B vitamins. They contain ZERO grams of sugar and include a proprietary blend of naturally derived energy enhancers. We use things like tea leaf extract and ginseng root while avoiding the troublesome ingredients that energy drink manufacturers put into those cans.
The Q-Boost delivers energy, but it also helps the body in many other ways. The antioxidants and vitamins assist in keeping your immune system working top-notch. Additionally, vitamin B-6 helps with water retention by getting excess water out of the body. Meanwhile, Q-Boost’s thermogenic properties will help turn your body into a fat-burning machine.
Quick Weight Loss Q-Boost comes as a packet of powder ready to be added to any bottle of water between 8 and 24 ounces. Just give it a good shake and you’ve got a full-flavored, tasty drink ready to BOOST your day.