High Energy

After "overdosing" on coffee yesterday, I figured I would write an entry on the different concoctions people use to jump start their day. By "overdosing", I am referring to the tummy ache and headache I received after adding a soda to the 2 large cups of coffee I had - bad choice considering I don't normally drink half that much caffeine a day. With the number of energy drinks, coffee products, sodas, teas and caffeinated crazy products on the rise in recent times, don't you want to know a bit more? I did.

Is having too much caffeine bad for you? What about mixing alcohol and caffeinated drinks - such as red bull and vodka? Should you drink caffeine while working out? And what sort of drinks are out there - what's in them, how do they taste? These are questions I found to be interesting, with some having myths attached. So, I did a little research.

Interesting and educational info. on energy drinks from Brown University. Tidbits from the source: energy drinks can contain as much caffeine as a cup of coffee - around 80 mg. compared to the 23mg in coca cola classic (Wikipedia puts the amount of caffeine in a serving of coca cola a bit higher - 34mg). Everyone will react differently to energy drinks. Some possible results from drinking up the ccps (caffeinated crazy products) include: increasing one's heart rate and blood pressure, dehydrating the body and preventing sleep. I'm not saying you shouldn't drink caffeine - just providing a little info.

A bit about caffeine myths. An article about caffeine myths from the Asian food information center.

Other quick facts: Mixing exercise with caffeine - not such a good idea - drinking water to rehydrate yourself is best. Mixing alcohol and energy drinks may seem like a good idea in theory - but in actuality can leave you in rough shape.

For some more exciting info. check out this list of energy drinks on Wikipedia to see more about your favorite energy drinks.

Fun Quiz I made - please take this I wasted more time than I should have on this - meaning it's actually worth taking: What energy drink are you?

Lesson #5: Caffeine may give you a quick boost, but it's important to know the facts about anything you consume.

P.S. How about the energy drink Cocaine? What were marketers thinking with this one? I got a lot on my plate today, let me grab some cocaine...