Zero Sugar Energy Drinks
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I would ask your physician his/her opinion about the energy drinks. Cardiologists hate them. Taken in excess, they can cause heart rhythm disturbances, anxiety, sleep issues, and a rise in blood pressure. My personal opinion is that if you're trying to lose weight and live a cleaner lifestyle, find something that's better for you. Iced green tea sweetened with stevia? Not as much caffeine and green tea has some health benefits at least.
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TavistockToad wrote: »'Bad' in what way? It's just caffeine?
Additives? Caffeine ? Why do more people not drink them if they’re just craving something sweet?
When I think 'sweet' I don't think energy drink personally... I drink them when I'm tired, not when I want to eat chocolate.
If I want chocolate, I eat chocolate.2 -
janejellyroll wrote: »There's nothing "bad" at all about energy drinks, you just have to account for the calories in them. If you don't want to use your calories on energy drinks, sugar-free ones would be a good choice.
See I wasn’t sure because I hear a lot of people saying their just as bad and people shouldn’t be drinking diet soda/pop or energy drinks for one reason or another.
'They' say a lot of things.... :huh:5 -
janejellyroll wrote: »NorthCascades wrote: »janejellyroll wrote: »There's nothing "bad" at all about energy drinks, you just have to account for the calories in them. If you don't want to use your calories on energy drinks, sugar-free ones would be a good choice.
From the pic in the OP, we're talking about 400 mg of sodium per drink. Most people seem to have more than one in a day. That's great if you've been exercising in the heat and sweating a lot. But it's not so great if you have hypertension. I'm not trying to get moralistic about food and drinks, I'm suggesting another reason why some people might consider these "bad" and tell other people about their opinion. Well, that and people like talking.
To the OP, look into Nuun tablets. They're about 5 calories per serving and also high in sodium, as well as potassium and magnesium.
I don't know if OP is hypertensive or not. If he is, that's something he should take into account when planning his diet. That consuming several of them would be not good for people with certain medical conditions doesn't make them "bad." With any food or drink, the amount consumed is going to be a factor as well as an individual's lifestyle and health conditions.janejellyroll wrote: »CharlieBeansmomTracey wrote: »janejellyroll wrote: »That's been my drug of choice, I love Monster Ultra. But some people are against sucralose(or any other no calories sweeteners) because our bodies don't see it any differently that actual sugar. No calories, obviously, but the sucralose will still cause your insulin to spike, which creates body fat and also keeps the body from burning fat. And they also can f&ck with your adrenal system if you drink them enough. That's why some people are against them.
Personally, I was drinking one a day usually during the week. After my weight loss stalled and I was feeling tired all the time, I decided to stop drinking them for a while to see what happened. I have now lost a couple more pounds and also don't feel that lack of energy. So who knows, could be a coincidence, or could be something to it.
You gotta do you.
If OP is in a calorie deficit (and his other post indicates that he is), his body won't create and store fat. It's impossible. If you're in a deficit, you're going to be burning fat. Sucralose doesn't transform your body into a machine that can run on no energy. That's nonsense.
I agree and insulin can raise with protein intake as well. a rise in insulin is a normal body response, but some spikes may not be good for those with diabetes or other issues.
I don't believe OP is diabetic. He was previously drinking regular energy drinks with presumably no issues (other than weight gain due to excess calories).
Thank you everyone for the advice and the great discussion that is going on. Just because people was asking I’m not hypertensive or diabetic I’m generally in very good health for a person that’s overweight. I walk a lot do to my job so overall pretty active. I put on a lot of my weight by drinking mass amounts of sugar drinks and eating things of mass abundance. I can also say that I had no idea how much calories are in things that I didn’t even think about such as mayo I put that on everything and now I’ve stopped completely.
I know I’ll never be “skinny” but everything I do I want it to be that bit healthier including what I drink. I’ve got over a 170lbs that I need to lose so as of now these small changes make a big difference.6 -
If you are looking for a calorie-free energy drink that doesn't taste like blech...try the Zevia ones. They taste delicious and have 150mg of caffeine...a good jolt
https://www.zevia.com/products/energy1 -
chunky_pinup wrote: »If you are looking for a calorie-free energy drink that doesn't taste like blech...try the Zevia ones. They taste delicious and have 150mg of caffeine...a good jolt
https://www.zevia.com/products/energy
Are they better than the Zevia pop because most of those don't taste veey good.2 -
janejellyroll wrote: »NorthCascades wrote: »janejellyroll wrote: »There's nothing "bad" at all about energy drinks, you just have to account for the calories in them. If you don't want to use your calories on energy drinks, sugar-free ones would be a good choice.
From the pic in the OP, we're talking about 400 mg of sodium per drink. Most people seem to have more than one in a day. That's great if you've been exercising in the heat and sweating a lot. But it's not so great if you have hypertension. I'm not trying to get moralistic about food and drinks, I'm suggesting another reason why some people might consider these "bad" and tell other people about their opinion. Well, that and people like talking.
To the OP, look into Nuun tablets. They're about 5 calories per serving and also high in sodium, as well as potassium and magnesium.
I don't know if OP is hypertensive or not. If he is, that's something he should take into account when planning his diet. That consuming several of them would be not good for people with certain medical conditions doesn't make them "bad." With any food or drink, the amount consumed is going to be a factor as well as an individual's lifestyle and health conditions.
Sure, but I'm not arguing that they're bad (it good). I'm trying to answer why some people are telling the OP they're unhealthy, since he asked why he keeps hearing that.1 -
NorthCascades wrote: »janejellyroll wrote: »NorthCascades wrote: »janejellyroll wrote: »There's nothing "bad" at all about energy drinks, you just have to account for the calories in them. If you don't want to use your calories on energy drinks, sugar-free ones would be a good choice.
From the pic in the OP, we're talking about 400 mg of sodium per drink. Most people seem to have more than one in a day. That's great if you've been exercising in the heat and sweating a lot. But it's not so great if you have hypertension. I'm not trying to get moralistic about food and drinks, I'm suggesting another reason why some people might consider these "bad" and tell other people about their opinion. Well, that and people like talking.
To the OP, look into Nuun tablets. They're about 5 calories per serving and also high in sodium, as well as potassium and magnesium.
I don't know if OP is hypertensive or not. If he is, that's something he should take into account when planning his diet. That consuming several of them would be not good for people with certain medical conditions doesn't make them "bad." With any food or drink, the amount consumed is going to be a factor as well as an individual's lifestyle and health conditions.
Sure, but I'm not arguing that they're bad (it good). I'm trying to answer why some people are telling the OP they're unhealthy, since he asked why he keeps hearing that.
Got it, I misunderstood you. Thanks for clarifying!2 -
Honestly, this place has changed my thinking a bit when it comes to food. People have a natural tenancy to divide things into good and bad, and it's real tempting to do that with food too. Most foods are a mixed bag, not purely good or bad, and I realized the important thing is how does this food (or drink) fit my calories and my macros? And when you look at it in that context, and in light of what people are willing to do, I think zero calorie drinks (of any kind) are a good, healthy choice for people who struggled with their weight and decided to lose some. I also personally think people who aren't hypertensive shouldn't worry about salt.6
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I like Monster Lo Carb (blue) energy drinks. I sometimes also drink the Monster Zero Ultra (white) energy drinks. I can't drink the green Monster drinks....way too much sugar and it puts me to sleep in about 2.5 hours. If you caffeinated drinks (to keep you awake because of lower carbs)...try BANG drinks. It has double the caffeine as Monster or Red Bull....I haven't tried them yet.1
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I love Bang drinks. They taste less chemical-like, and don't overdo it on sweetener. I'm always afraid they're going to get discontinued and I'll have to go back to tea-flavored Monster.1
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TavistockToad wrote: »'Bad' in what way? It's just caffeine?
Additives? Caffeine ? Why do more people not drink them if they’re just craving something sweet?
I don't drink them simply because I can't stand the taste of any of them. I've tried a bunch of different ones over the years and they all taste nasty to me. If I want something sweet to drink, I'll either have a diet soda or iced tea with artificial sweetener in it.0 -
Monster Ultra is my treat to myself. I love coffee, but I prefer it with lots of sweeteners, and the sugar-free Monster satisfies the desire for sweet with my caffeine. (It's the only carbonated beverage I drink regularly)
I find that people - using the term generally - like to feel moralistic or like they have the high ground on something. Energy drinks have a reputation of being popular with gamers, and the stereotype they think of are people that spend all their time participating in sedentary activities, drinking sugary soda and eating snacks.
I haven't noticed that Monster really impacts my weight loss. I stopped it a few months ago to see if it was related to a sleep issue I was having and noticed no difference after 6 weeks.
So yeah, if you like the sugar free stuff, by all means! If you feel weird after drinking it, be smart and aware of your own body.3 -
I used to drink roughly 4-5 cans of green monster which obviously contributed to a lot of my weight gain. When i decided to lose weight i switched over to the Monster Ultra which is only 11kcal a can and still consistently lost 2lb a week for 2 years. Whether it's healthy or not is another matter, so if the only thing you care about is it impacting weight loss then have no fear and drink away my friend.2
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I enjoy an energy drink when I am rushed in the morning and do not have time for coffee. I like the "Bang" brand, they are 0 calories and lots of tasty flavors. I buy a case at GNC for when I need one on occasion. I also like "Amino Energy" by optimum nutrition, 5 calories and the peach lemonade flavor is quite tasty.1
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Caffeine is an addictive drug ... *sings* just like nicotine, heroine, morphine ... (ok the song's cute, but a bit overboard haha) and the human brain is geared towards sweetness affecting our pleasure centers, artificial sweetners are often technically sweeter than naturally sweetened beverages so one might extraoplate that the combination promotes obsessive (if not maybe a little bit addictive) behaviors regarding the beverage. I think anything you can't do in proper balance and moderation can be an issue long term, but if you enjoy them now and then a low cal option would cut down on the calories. I use low cal sweetners in my tea when I'm out I'm not dead yet.1
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I use Monster Ultra Violet on a daily basis. The biggest thing about using energy drinks on a regular basis is about the fact that the high vitamin content with caffeine can make a person more prone to developing things like kidney stones unless they make a point to drink adequate water.
If you're drinking more than one can a day, it would be prudent to drink more then 8 glasses of water a day to accommodate the higher water soluble vitamins.
I've had no relative issues myself. I have some B vitamin deficiencies, so they help me supply my supplemental dietary needs... but I also drink a LOT of water every day. I catch a lot of flak from people about my usage but really, they aren't particularly more caffeinated than sodas in general.
What I will say though is that if you are finding yourself chronically tired/fatigued and in need of an energy boost, you might try exploring the possibility of being under nourished from a vitamin perspective or dehydrated... Especially if your body seems to be addicted to these drinks. A lot of people starting out in a healthy lifestyle change are chronically dehydrated and have a misunderstanding as to what is generating their general lack of energy. Drinking a lot of caffeinated beverages without supplying good water and food balance will feed that fatigue cycle more than help it.3 -
I use Monster Ultra Violet on a daily basis. The biggest thing about using energy drinks on a regular basis is about the fact that the high vitamin content with caffeine can make a person more prone to developing things like kidney stones unless they make a point to drink adequate water.
If you're drinking more than one can a day, it would be prudent to drink more then 8 glasses of water a day to accommodate the higher water soluble vitamins.
I've had no relative issues myself. I have some B vitamin deficiencies, so they help me supply my supplemental dietary needs... but I also drink a LOT of water every day. I catch a lot of flak from people about my usage but really, they aren't particularly more caffeinated than sodas in general.
What I will say though is that if you are finding yourself chronically tired/fatigued and in need of an energy boost, you might try exploring the possibility of being under nourished from a vitamin perspective or dehydrated... Especially if your body seems to be addicted to these drinks. A lot of people starting out in a healthy lifestyle change are chronically dehydrated and have a misunderstanding as to what is generating their general lack of energy. Drinking a lot of caffeinated beverages without supplying good water and food balance will feed that fatigue cycle more than help it.
even excessive soda intake can cause kidney stones. dr told my daughters friend to cut down on soda because it was causing her stones. she stopped and hasnt had an issue. but some people are prone to kidney stones more than others and for some it comes down to diet too.0 -
I use Monster Ultra Violet on a daily basis. The biggest thing about using energy drinks on a regular basis is about the fact that the high vitamin content with caffeine can make a person more prone to developing things like kidney stones unless they make a point to drink adequate water.
If you're drinking more than one can a day, it would be prudent to drink more then 8 glasses of water a day to accommodate the higher water soluble vitamins.
I've had no relative issues myself. I have some B vitamin deficiencies, so they help me supply my supplemental dietary needs... but I also drink a LOT of water every day. I catch a lot of flak from people about my usage but really, they aren't particularly more caffeinated than sodas in general.
What I will say though is that if you are finding yourself chronically tired/fatigued and in need of an energy boost, you might try exploring the possibility of being under nourished from a vitamin perspective or dehydrated... Especially if your body seems to be addicted to these drinks. A lot of people starting out in a healthy lifestyle change are chronically dehydrated and have a misunderstanding as to what is generating their general lack of energy. Drinking a lot of caffeinated beverages without supplying good water and food balance will feed that fatigue cycle more than help it.
Thankfully I only have maybe two a week since starting my diet so with all the responses I’ve come to the conclusion I should be alright.
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