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Lead Stories: Tuesday, December 2, 2008

5-Hour Energy: The portable & safer energy drink for athletes

Posted April 5th, 2007 at 10:25 AM by Paul Petersen

Section: Nutrition, Supplements, Product Reviews

Recently I participated in Relay Del Sol, an overnight team relay race that traverses nearly 190 miles through central Arizona. As if running and managing team logistics isn’t exhausting enough, I decided to punish myself even further by acting as a vendor and selling souvenirs all day at the finish line. That meant that while other participants had the privilege to go home, take a shower, and dive into the realm of slumber, I had to remain in the land of the living.

Naturally, I expected myself to be dragging a bit (to say the least), and searched for a convenient, portable energy drink to keep me going while I hawked merchandise. I preferred to stay away from some of the other rather noxious, sugar-laden drinks I’ve tried in the past, and coffee (although a favorite) just doesn’t pack well during an adventure race.

Then I found 5-Hour Energy, which comes in a convenient 2-oz, re-sealable bottle and claims to boost energy without sugar or a ridiculous amount of caffeine. It seemed like a good choice - so I decided to give it a try for the relay.
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Energy Drinks: To drink or not to drink? That is the question . . .

Posted November 17th, 2006 at 7:00 AM by Jonathan Faccone

Section: Nutrition, Hydration, Health & Fitness

Energy drinks are quickly becoming our favorite weapon for dealing with our fast-paced and stressful lives. They are convenient, work well and can even taste great. As a matter of fact, Red Bull and other energy drinks have become a true savior for those among us who dislike the taste of coffee, but who also could use that extra boost from caffeine. With all of the “natural” ingredients that the energy drink companies have added to their beverages - won’t we gain energy and become healthier at the same time? Unfortunately . . . (Brace Yourself!) . . . the answer is . . . NO!

Suzanne Farrell, spokeswoman for the American Dietetic Association, believes that there is no substantial evidence proving that the ingredients in energy drinks actually do what the manufacturers advertise them to do. In addition, the caffeine and sugar intakes from these products can be detrimental to your health. Read the rest of this entry »

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