13 Energy Drinks In 3 Sessions 374
circletimessquare writes "As a member of the cult of caffeine, as I suspect many Slashdot readers are, I was pleasantly amused by this story in The New York Times entitled Opening 13 Cans of Whoop (reg req). Our brave reporter sucks down a number of energy drinks of various parentages and gives us the lowdown on their taste, appearance, ingredients, overall effect, and dubious appeal. Example: 'At this point, my energy level was not only elevated, it was speeding toward the red line. I felt myself staring holes through my computer screen, typing at five times my normal rate and thinking far too creatively about life questions like how many AA batteries I needed to buy when I went to the drug store. My mood was chipper. Too chipper.'"
Reg Free (Score:5, Informative)
related info: why jolt was limited. (Score:5, Informative)
which ironicly is less then coffee can be (normally 65-175 mg per 8 oz serving) and less then espresso (100mg per 1.5-2oz)
http://www.freshcoffee.com/html/caffaq-1.html
these energy drinks are not "soda" to get around the limit.
LD50 for caffine is 150mg/kg
(take your weight in kg * 150mg of caffine = a dose that has a 50% chance of killing you)
200 pounds = 90.7 kilograms => 13.6 grams
100 pounds = 45.3 kilograms => 6.8 grams
Re:Whatever (Score:3, Informative)
Re:The good old days.... (Score:5, Informative)
Reporter has no Bawls...... (Score:3, Informative)
Re:Whatever (Score:2, Informative)
As for energy, if you're that desperate for caffine just get some soda. A two liter bottle of Dr. Pepper is certainly cheaper than these energy drinks, and I've yet to try an energy drink that tastes as good. With the exception of Jolt, but Jolt is just soda with more caffine, not really an energy drink. It doesn't claim those bogus ingrediants like Taurine and Guarana.
Re:caffeine (Score:5, Informative)
Re:It's Norwegian. (Score:2, Informative)
From negative to postive in one day - neat
...but not enough "to give a fly a buzz" (Score:2, Informative)
So, yes, at one time there was cocaine in Coca-Cola. But before you're tempted to run off claiming Coca-Cola turned generations of drinkers into dope addicts, consider the following: back in 1885 it was far from uncommon to use cocaine in patent medicines (which is what Coca-Cola was originally marketed as) and other medical potions. When it first became general knowledge that cocaine could be harmful, the backroom chemists who comprised Coca-Cola at the time (long before it became the huge company we now know) did everything they could with the technology they had available at the time to remove every trace of cocaine from the beverage. What was left behind (until the technology improved enough for it all to be removed) wasn't enough to give a fly a buzz.
Re:his eyes make holes in the screen? (Score:2, Informative)
Double Vodka & Red Bull (Score:1, Informative)
Re:Dehydration... (Score:5, Informative)
Yes, but.....
From webmd.com:
You would need to chug down about three quarts of water or more all at once to come down with a case of true water intoxication. It does happen, but so rarely that I couldn't find statistics on the number of cases. These people become drowsy, lightheaded, and weak. They have trouble coordinating bodily movements and thinking straight, looking and feeling as if they just stumbled out of the local bar.
Re:Dehydration... (Score:2, Informative)
Re:Whatever (Score:3, Informative)
(a) Eating nutritiously and sparingly,
I want to add to this: Eat lots and lots of uncooked vegetables. You seriously can't have too many. Most of us are familiar with eating habits that tend to go with the geek lifestyle: TV dinners, ramen, spaghetti-o's, fast food, and soda (pop) by the truckload.
However, when I made a conscious effort to start eating raw vegetables with *every* meal (and not just a carrot or so a day), I noticed that I started having fewer headaches, had more energy, and just generally felt all-around healthier. Now, if I don't eat my veggies, I find that those symptoms come right back. Carrots, celery, lettuce, and green peppers are almost always staples in my fridge.
Another thing while I'm on the soapbox: Drink water in lieu of pop and fruit juice. Almost any sweet beverage you can buy at the supermarket will dehydrate you more than it will hydrate you thanks to all the added sugar they put in those things. If you have frequent headaches and your pee doesn't come almost clear 9 times out of 10, then you're chronically dehydrated. Gatorade is okay, but only after a good workout. Otherwise, water is going to hydrate you best.
Re:cutting down on caffein (Score:2, Informative)
I do not buy the idea that caffiene is always bad. For some people, in some situations, it is good. For some people it is not a stimulant. The issue is that some people use it as thier primary from of liquid consumption. Which is bad.
The other point is that only water is water. Traces of minerals, and even flavor, is good and neccesary. Truly "pure" water (DI) will leech nutrients out of your body. But if you are going to drink water, the fortified stuff is probably a waste of money.
To the comment of water toxicity. It is an issue. The NYT recently had a case study of such a incident. In that case, a person who was worried about dehydration in sauna drank too much water. It screwed up his electrolytes. Most us will drink several glasses of water over a day, which is good.
The thing that I learned from my father is cut all drinks about 50% with water. Juices and soft drinks tend to be strong.
Re:...but not enough "to give a fly a buzz" (Score:4, Informative)
Re:...but not enough "to give a fly a buzz" (Score:3, Informative)
r "Dang, that feels better" j
Re:caffeine (Score:5, Informative)
Adenosine is a chemical messenger that tells cells to slow down. Caffeine, being structurally similar, can block adenosine receptors in the brain, and thus prevent this slowdown.
However, your brain cells compensate to prolonged exposure by creating more and more adenosine receptors... meaning that you'll be really tired unless you block them with caffeine. Repeat ad addictum.
Check here [utexas.edu] and here [kidzworld.com] for more info.
On a more personal note, I always find that drinking something with tons of sugars in it keeps me active far longer than caffeine alone. Caffeine just makes me burn through my energy reserves faster, resulting in me being even more tired after a while.
Re:Double Vodka & Red Bull (Score:2, Informative)
Re:Cheaper maybe... (Score:5, Informative)
Last Christmas it all caught up with me when I had an epileptic fit and woke up finding myself in the emergency section of the hostpital unable to walk. I was lucky that I only tore my back muscles and didn't break my spine from the violent jerking involved with the siezure. The only reason given to me for this fit, by the various doctors I saw, was that it occured due to my working hours and that I was pushing my body to the limit. They all told me to slow down before I killed myself or someone else. I am only 29.
Be carefull with your use/abuse of these products. It can cost you more in the long run. I was only having two of these things a day at the most.
Re:related info: why jolt was limited. (Score:3, Informative)
Re:Energy Drinks Vs. Sleep (Score:4, Informative)
Sure there is. It's called Provigil. It's not a stimulant and it doesn't give you "energy". It just relieves the need for sleep.
Re:caffeine (Score:2, Informative)
Re:Cheaper maybe... (Score:2, Informative)
NYT doesn't know Guarana = Caffeine (Score:5, Informative)
Maybe that is because guarana is caffeine? Actually, guarana (Paullinia cupana) is a plant, which according to Erowid contains 5% caffeine [erowid.org] from which it derives its stimulant effects. There is no alternative to caffeine named guarana. Wikipedia's article on guarana [wikipedia.org] has more information. Yet more misinformation from the Times.
Re:Why go through the middleman? (Score:1, Informative)
Re:Makes me think of the old joke ... (Score:3, Informative)
The actual Steven Wright joke is:
I put instant coffee in a microwave oven and almost went back in time.
The key word is 'almost'. That's what makes it funny.
Re:Whatever (Score:5, Informative)
False. 100%, completely, absolutely, totally false. Sugar does not contribute to dehydration except insofar as it may contribute to diarrhea.
Sugar doesn't interferes with the takeup of water; is even specifically added to oral rehydration treatments because it improves bodily takeup. And the metabolization of sugar releases water, rather than taking it up.
Re:Huh? (Score:3, Informative)