Which was the first, and is it the best energy drink

Are energy drinks a recent phenomenon? Though Red Bull may claim they invented the super-potent beverage, many ancient cultures concocted herbal energy drinks centuries before Red Bull sold their first can. Xocai’s Xe energy drink embodies the best of the proven natural energy boosters from around the globe.

Let’s look at the ingredients in Proprietary Pure Energy Blend of what, we think, is the best energy drink, Xocai’s Xe.

Maca
Maca, like acai, is a superfood from South America. Cultivated by ancient Peruvians, maca is now used internationally as a safe, herbal medicine to aid weight loss, increase bone strength, promote mental acuity, and increase libido (can Rock Star do that?) We think the best energy drink should do that.

Ginseng
The Chinese have used ginseng for centuries as an energy booster, memory aid, heart medicine and overall health supplement. Because of its effectiveness, most other countries have adopted ginseng as well. Ginseng will be in the best energy drink. Look for it.

Sucramalt
This low glycemic index sweetener slowly releases carbohydrates into your system. Because it prevents blood sugar spikes, it also suppresses appetite because blood sugar surges stimulate hunger pangs. You need to have some kind of sweetener, best if it is low glycemic.

Yerba Mate
The best energy drink, also has another South American plant in it. Yerba mate is packed with antioxidants and provides sustained physical energy without the jitters that can make it hard to focus.

Quercetin
A plant-based flavonoid that is believed to reduce the risk of cancer, heart disease, asthma and reduce the symptoms of diabetes. The studies on quercetin have been looking really good. Check out some of the other posts here about them.

Guarana
This natural stimulant has been used by Amazonian tribes for thousands of years as a treatment for a variety of ailments including  migraines, fever, hypertension and diarrhea. Some pre-Colombian tribes ate guarana seeds prior to battle because it staved off fatigue during intense hand-to-hand combat. When you are in your daily combat, drinking the best energy drink, shouldn’t you be able to stave off fatigue?

Let Xocai’s Xe, the  best energy drink, help you fight your daily battles. We are independent San Jose healthy chocolate and Xe energy drink distributors. To order Xe, the best energy drink, call 408-390-4876.

We think it’s the best energy drink in this country.

Are healthy energy drinks really healthy?

What do most common energy drinks and supposed health drinks have in common? If you answered hidden sugars and caffeine you are correct.

Healthy Energy Drinks shouldn’t cause Belly Fat

A well published nutritionist blogged recently on 11 beverages that cause belly fat (you know Gatorade, Monster, Amp, soft drinks and some juices).  After looking at these drinks, they all contain high amounts of refined sugars so they really aren’t healthy energy drinks. Be on the lookout for high fructose corn syrup or fructose, the kinds of sugar that are easily converted to belly fat. Also, many of these healthy energy drinks contain more than one serving so beware.

As a consumer, look for healthy energy drinks with smart ingredients. Don’t assume healthy drinks are not tasty. Go for healthy drinks high in antioxidants with superfruits (açai, goji, blueberry, cranberries etc), and healthy tea (green and oolong). Most will have a fruity and/or grape-like taste. Try to reach for the darker berry fruits to get a higher antioxidant punch. For one of the best healthy energy drinks, try Xe Energy Drink. It contains theobromine (cocoa), quercetin, ginseng and more to boost your workout naturally without a caffeine spike or jitters.

When you’re looking for healthy energy drinks, make sure they’re really healthy.

http://www.dark-chocolate-diet.com/chocolate-diet/4-reasons-to-use-the-xocai-x-proteinmeal-shake/ For dark chocolate diet information, news, weight loss with chocolate & how to lose weight with chocolate Read the rest of this entry

Smart Energy Drink panel

Back panel of the smart energy drink  can including ingredient list. You’ll notice the  smart energy drink panel has not only all the ingredients, but also the ORAC fn values. The proprietary pure smart energy blend is part of the secret that takes this from an ordinary energy drink to a smart energy drink.

What’s not in the smart energy drink

You’ll notice that there is no artificial flavors or colors, no preservatives, no refined sugar. This smart energy is mostly natural juice. Also notice the Flavonoid values. They are high, which is unusual for a drink like this. If you are not sure how flavonoids help your health, do some research and discover how they are now being seen by researchers as what may be the reason behind all the positive health benefits people claim they are getting from various fruits such as blueberries, chocolate, wine, etc.

If you are looking to try a Smart Energy drink, this may be  a good place to start.

Quercetin Smart Energy Drink Ingredient Study

There’s a new study on the effects of smart energy drink ingredient, quercetin, by the Department of Medical Genetics, School of Medicine, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran. They found some great health benefits of quercetin which can be found in some energy drinks.

They were looking at the effects of quercetin on certain cells in the prostate. More specifically: cancer cells. Too early to make health benefit claims, but this study evaluating the effects of the dietary flavonoid quercetin certainly look promising. Quercetin inhibited cell proliferation and modulated the expression of genes involved in DNA repair, matrix degradation and tumor invasion, angiogenesis, apoptosis, cell cycle, metabolism  and glycolysis.

Uh, that’s good for quercetin, bad for cancer.

In fact, they said that this may be an “efficacious anticancer agent” …. “to be used in the future nutritional transcriptomic investigations and multi-target therapy to overcome the therapeutic impediments against prostate cancer.” Basically, it should be used in future studies of genes (RNA) to help with the killing of cancer cells (in the prostate.) Notice: you have to say in the prostate, because no one knows if it works on other cancer cells, because only prostate cancer cells were used in the study. That’s because they are scientists. I’m not.

Quercetin is a natural energy drink ingredient

So if it works on one, I say why not try it? It’s not like you need a prescription for quercetin. It occurs naturally in some fruits and vegetables and is also in energy drinks. What could hurt? But, because besides not being a scientist, I am also not a doctor. What do I know? Maybe it could hurt. But I’m guessing it may help.

At least look for quercetin in your energy drink.

Laws and regulations for energy drinks

Probably not the smartest move to drink very high caffeine energy drinks. The most recent trend has been the 50-60 ml energy shots filled with caffeine. And government agencies as well as health professionals are taking notice.

“Caffeine-loaded energy drinks have now crossed the line from beverages to drugs delivered as tasty syrups,” the Canadian Medical Association Journal says in an editorial that calls for prominent labels listing total caffeine content and an end to advertising targeting children. They are calling for much stricter guidelines in Canada for the higher caffeine energy drinks.

High caffeine energy drinks

Maca Energy Drink Study

There’s  a study from the Universidad Peruana Cayetano Heredia, in Lima, Peru where they performed a 12-week double blind, placebo-controlled, randomized trial in which active treatment with different doses of maca was compared with a placebo. The men (aged 21-56) were observed by researchers to have an improvement in sexual desire with maca at eight weeks of treatment.

Maca in Energy drinks

Maca is in some natural healthy smart energy drinks, such as Xe. People know Xe as the healthy energy drink.

Mostly used for its energy properties, it may also help with fertility in women, increased sex drive and helping with lubrication as well as increased libido in men. Other studies have shown treatment with maca resulted in increased seminal volume, sperm count per ejaculation, and sperm motility. Serum hormone levels were not altered. So it’s no surprise to see it coming in an energy drink.

Maca  is a root-like vegetable shaped like a turnip that grows at 12,000 feet and is only found in the high  Andes of Peru and Ecuador. For more than two thousand years, native Peruvians have used maca root as food and medicine, to promote endurance and improve energy, vitality, sexual virility and fertility.

Maca adds minerals and vitamins to energy drink

Maca is also rich in calcium, magnesium, phosphorous and iron, and contains trace minerals, including zinc, iodine, copper, selenium, bismuth, manganese and silica, as well as B vitamins. With all those needed items from maca in an energy drink, it is a good addition.

Good diet and a health drink

We have to take care of our bodies. To do that, we can exercise, eat a good diet and also consume some health drink. Just like food, such refreshments have to be prepared and here’s a tip that you can try out at home.

The first is green tea. Studies have shown that tea is healthier than coffee because it can help regulate your blood sugar and blood pressure, prevent certain cancers, fight plaque on your teeth, lower your cholesterol and slow down the aging process.

To make green tea, you will need one tea bag and then put this either in the kettle filled with warm water or straight to the cup. After letting it stand for about 3 minutes or so, you can already drink it. If you want to add flavor to your tea, you can try adding raw cane sugar crystals, honey and even a lemon wedge. Green tea can be a health drink.

Smoothies as a health drink

The next drink is the fruit smoothie. The mixture itself is similar to making milkshake but instead of the added calories, this is replaced with vitamins and nutrients. To do that, you have ingredients that are then mixed in the blended and when it is ready, this is poured into a tall glass.

Aside from those you can make, there are those that can be poured straight from the container. These health drinks are your basic fruit juices and you can find these in different variations such as apple juice, grape juice, orange juice, pineapple juice and a lot more. Watch out for the canned or container juices as many also add refined sugars and other non-healthful ingredients.

Although these health drinks have certain benefits, you have to remember that these products are highly processed which means these are high in sugar. These will surely cause your blood sugar to go up and drinking too much of these may cause damage to your heart and kidney over time.

There are also health drinks from vegetables which are better known as functional beverages. These are great to have since many of us don’t eat a salad daily. The only problem is that you get essential nutrients from various vegetables so you have to buy different products and take it alternately.

A newer health drink is called the cell renewal formula because it is a combination of fruit and vegetable extracts mixed with herbs and other plant compounds. There are only a few of these products so far in the market and a most of these don’t taste that good so it takes time for someone to get used to it.

Among all the different health drinks available, the one thing that you don’t see included in this group is energy drinks. If you read the ingredients on the label, these consists of artificial sweeteners, caffeine and in some cases a combination of all three.

You have probably drank a few of these in the past and although they taste good, the reality is that it may replenish your electrolytes after a workout but it does not have give you any vitamins and nutrients which are good for your health. This does not mean you should give up drinking energy drinks but consume very little, unless you can find healthy energy drinks.

So are there healthy alternatives for energy drinks? Yes.

If you read the free report The Truth About Smart Energy Drinks (look to your right column and you can get it emailed right to you), you’ll discover that in the history of smart healthy energy drinks, there have recently been new developments which can keep a drink healthy AND give you natural energy. If you drink some of these once or twice a day, you will have amazing long lasting energy as well as feeling noticeably healthier after only a week or two of regular drinking. One high antioxidant drink is even tested for ORAC levels.

There are some very healthy energy drink choices and several that may not be so good for us. Use the guide to decide for yourself how healthy you want to be and what health drink you want to drink.

Coconut water for the health conscious

Today, people are more conscious about their health more than ever. From food, lifestyle, and down to their fluid intakes—many people are cautious to maintain  a healthy body. This thinking led to the emergence of various products that can veer them away from certain diseases such as health drinks.

Coconut water into healthy practice

Nowadays, more and more of people are getting into diets that lower down the excessive intake of fats and other chemicals that may cause illness. Many are also those who get into workouts to keep their bodies fit and healthy. And there are also those who use products such as vitamins, or healthy dark chocolate, who know that drinking commercial “health” drinks don’t always guarantee a healthy body. In fact, many of the so-called “healthy drinks” in the market contain chemicals and additional substances that may be harmful to the body. Also, make sure that you buy these from reputable stores and manufacturers to ensure your body’s safety. Check the label. If there are chemical names you can’t pronounce, it’s probably not good for you.

The wonders of coconut water

If you are one of those who are into healthy drinks, the best way to ensure that you are getting vitamins and minerals with harmful chemicals is to drink natural-based drinks such as coconut water.

For the uninitiated, coconut water is the natural juice found inside the coconut, as opposed to coconut milk, which is made by boiling equal amounts of water and shredded coconut together until foamy, then straining, or coconut cream, which is made in the same manner with a ratio of four parts of shredded coconut to one part water. Milk can also be used in place of the water for a richer mix.

In tropical islands such as those in the Caribbean, Southern Asia, Pacific Islands, South America, and Central America, coconut water is considered as the most popular drink not only during summer but also for the whole-year. Aside from being abundant, people in these areas drink lots of it not only because it is the purest natural drink available but also because of its health benefits.

When freshly obtained from unripe coconuts, coconut water is a rich source many organic compounds that are good for a person’s total well being. Experts agree that this is one of the best health drinks out there because it is basically 99 percent free from fat, have low amounts of sugar content and low in carbohydrates which is among the major culprit in gaining weight.

For people who are on-the-go or those who undergo rigorous workout, this is an ideal health drink because it maintains the body’s normal temperature, re-hydrates the body well, and easily replenishes the lost fluids in the body after a series of exercise.

Considered as a natural isotonic beverage, coconut water is considered as one of the best natural health drinks out there aids fast but healthy metabolism, it improves the body’s immune system, while cleansing the your digestive tract very well.

For those who are into maintaining physical beauty, coconut water is a healthy drink because it greatly helps in the rejuvenation of body cells and maintaining the pH levels of the body while acting as an effective natural detoxifying supplement.

Doctors and other professionals in the medical field will also agree that coconut water is very effective in keeping a healthy body. People who want to protect their bodies from various illness, coconut water is a very effective healthy drink because it contains anti-viral properties which protects the body from diseases such as flu, herpes, and others.

It is also useful in maintaining sugar counts for diabetics, effective for those with kidney stones and other urethral conditions, and can reduce the risks of having cancer as well as in the enhancement of the blood’s proper circulation. Although it has lots of health benefits, coconut water is usually not classified as an energy drink.

If you don’t like drinking coconut water, try using it to cook in. Coconut water can be delicious!

Coffee: good or bad?

A few years ago, there were studies saying that coffee can be associated with cancer. This prompted people to avoid drinking the caffeinated drink. A few years after that study, scientists have recounted the research quoting that the research was flawed. Current research has shown that coffee can give the body a lot of benefits.

Harvard researchers are saying that coffee, when you drink regularly, can be a cure for diabetes, Parkinson’s disease, and colon cancer. It could even improve your mood and treat daily headache problems. You could even drink it to lower risk of cavities.

Coffee Research

Research shows that regular coffee drinkers are 80 percent less likely to have Parkinson’s disease. While 2-cups-a-day drinkers can reduce the risk of colon cancer by 25 percent and 80 percent in liver cirrhosis risk. Drinking coffee can even slash the risk of gallstones by half. There are even studies showing that people who smoke and drink heavily, have less heart and liver damage because of their coffee intake.

So, what causes these benefits? It is the antioxidants, and surprisingly perhaps from the caffeine also. Caffeine does have some other effects, too that may not be so good. Read the Truth about Smart Energy Drinks report (see right) to find out more. Currently, drugs for curing Parkinson’s disease are being developed. These drugs have a derivative of caffeine as their component. Coffee also has chlorogenic acid and tocophenols which are antioxidants. These mineral components can improve insulin sensitivity. When we talk about insulin sensitivity, it is the body’s response to insulin.

There were studies conducted in Europe citing that the trigonelline, the compound which is why coffee smells good and has bitter taste, also has benefits. It can be both antibacterial and anti-adhesive. These prevent the formation of dental cavities.

But can everybody drink coffee?

Unfortunately, existing diabetes, gallstones, heart problems, high cholesterol levels, hypoglycemia and generalized panic and /or anxiety attacks should avoid drinking coffee altogether. Avoiding drinking coffee is also advised to pregnant women and those with high risk of osteoporosis.

For pregnant women, if coffee cannot be avoided, then it is recommended just to drink one to two cups a day. Infertility, miscarriages and low birth weight among babies are the primary reason why pregnant women are recommended against drinking coffee.

Excessive caffeine intake can also lead to nervousness, anxiety and rapid heartbeat. The caffeine overstimulates the nervous system, making the adrenal glands work overboard. Osteoporosis patients are also advised against coffee. Coffee reduces the capability of bones to absorb the necessary minerals, making the bones weak and in risk of osteoporosis. But the effects can be reduced if milk is mixed with coffee.

For some people, coffee can also be addictive. People who have stopped drinking coffee experience withdrawal symptoms. They would get headaches, less energy and alertness, difficulty in being focused, get irritated easily and sometimes even get depressed.

Too much coffee

Over caffeine consumption can also have an impact on your skin, since it increases the risk of developing stretch marks. Caffeine may also play a role in weight gain. Although, it is mentioned that coffee drinkers may lose weight in the short-term, but in a longer period of time, coffee can lead to weight gain.

Coffee both has good and bad effects. Similar to other beverages and food, once it is taken in big amounts, then it is likely that they may have undesirable effects to your body. Whether coffee can be considered as a health drink, it is up to you to make the choice. Also be sure that, like everything, before you try coffee, talk to your doctor.