ANSWER
Energy drinks are designed for those who lead active lifestyles. There are few ingredients that can be introduced into energy drinks for an added natural blend. A healthy formula provides great taste while enhancing performance, boosts endurance, fights fatigue and increases alertness & concentration by elevating the energy level.
Isomaltulose
Isomaltulose is a natural carbohydrate energy source which provides the body with balanced and sustained energy. Completely and slowly digested, it delivers the full energy of available carbohydrates over a longer period of time. Isomaltulose is suitable for people with a modern demanding work lifestyle as it provides balanced and sustained energy for the body and brain. It also promotes higher fat oxidation for the physically active (Beneo, n. d.).
B Vitamins
B vitamins are added to most of energy drinks with the claim that it can boost mental and physical performance. Deficiency in B vitamins will lead to fatigue. B vitamins are water-soluble vitamins that are vital for proper cell functions and energy production. They are the “key” needed to unlock all the energy provided by the simple sugars in energy drinks. They help in conversion of carbohydrates such as starch and sugar into energy (Higgins et al., 2010).
Taurine
Taurine is an amino acid that can be synthesized or ingested by humans and is one of the main energy boosting ingredients in many energy drinks. It supports neurological development and helps regulate the level of water and mineral salts in the blood. Taurine is found in high concentrations in skeletal muscle and is thought to play a role in modulating contractile function (Nnamdi & Dale, 2012).
Isolated Soy Protein
Isolated soy protein is a highly refined or purified form of soybeans prepared from dehulled soybeans by removing the majority of non-protein components and moisture-free basis. Supplementation trials with soy protein in human athletes have been associated with improvement in training and recovery (Jideani, 2011).
Guarana Extract
Guarana extract contains natural caffeine theophylline and theobromine which help in increasing body metabolism and gives the body long-lasting energy. The seeds within the fruit contain approximately 5 times more caffeine than coffee beans.
Guarana contains natural stimulant which may help in increasing physical capacity when an individual is subjected to a stressor. It is predicated that at an increased level, guarana contains a significant source of caffeine as the stimulating agent (Amanda et al., 2009).
Inositol
Myoinositol (Inositol) is a constituent of phosphatidylinositol, a phospholipid, which plays an essential role in growth and metabolism regulation. It is a pentose sugar which is a crucial constituent of living cells and participates in several physiological functions. These include roles as an osmolyte, maintaining osmotic homeostasis within cells via the sodium/-myo-inositol transporter and a precursor for inositol-derived lipid synthesis (FAO, n.d.).
References
Beneo. (n. d.). PalatinoseTM The Next Generation Sugar. Germay: Author.
FAO. (n.d.). The Vitamins. Inositol.
Higgins, J. P., Tuttle, T. D. & Higgins, C. L. (2010). Energy Beverages: Content and Safety. Mayo Clin Proc, 85(11), 1033–1041. https://doi.org/10.4065%2Fmcp.2010.0381
Jideani, V. A. (2011). Functional Properties of Soybean Food Ingredients in Food Systems. Soybean – Biochemistry, Chemistry And Physiology. https://doi.org/10.5772/14668
Leatherman, A. K., Pirlamarla, B. P., Rogman, S., Yodice, D. S., & Kohn, R. E. (2009). The Neurophysiological Effects of Guarana and Ethanol Intake on Daphnia magna. The Premier Journal for Undergraduate Publications in the Neurosciences.
Nnamdi, G. & Dale, R. W. (2012). Acute Effects of a Caffeine-Taurine Energy Drink on Repeated Sprint Performance of American College Football Players. International Journal of Sport Nutrition and Exercise Metabolism, 22, 109-116.
