Ginseng is a popular ingredient in energy drinks. But why?

There have been hundreds of studies done with the energy drink ingredient, ginseng. Clinical studies have showed that ginseng use was linked to increased alertness, concentration, visual and motor coordination, improved performance an higher libido. All qualities that are very desirable. There are studies that show soldiers who ran consistently faster than soldiers ingesting a placebo. There are even studies that show that factory workers had fewer sick days if they were taking ginseng regularly.

Ginseng is a slow growing root that is considered to be an adaptogen. An adaptogen is a natural herb product that can increase the body’s resistance to stress, trauma, anxiety or fatigue. All adaptogens contain antioxidants. You’ve probably heard about all the buzz about antioxidants, if not, keep tuned in here, we will cover some of that on this website.

So as an antioxidant adaptogen, ginseng may reduce fatigue, and promote physical endurance. Ginseng could also work to protect the body against disease. Along with more resistance to diabetes, cancer, heart disease, and various infections, studies and scientific literature on ginseng claim that it can improve memory, increase fertility, protect the liver against many toxins, and protect the body from radiation.

You may want to check out more ginseng studies on your own. Either way it seems like ginseng reduces stress, and promotes mental energy and physical energy. Ginseng is a smart choice to look for in a healthy energy drink.

In a recent study, Quercetin was found to boost energy, looking at endurance capacity and maximum oxygen capacity.

We said it here before, that you were going to see more about Quercetin over the coming year, and we’ll say it again. This study from the University of South Carolina’s Arnold School of Public Health, one of the first to look at Quercetin for it’s energy boosting effects. This study, which was partially funded by the Department of Defense showed that the fatigue fighting properties and health properties of Quercetin could have uses for not only athletes or soldiers, but your average adult who deals with stress and lack of energy every day.

Quercetin is found naturally in various fruit skins, like berries, grapes, red apples and red onions. It is also now added in a few healthy energy drinks. This study seems to show that the antioxidant qualities of Quercetin seem to boost the immune system and increase mitochondria in the brain and muscles (that’s great news for anyone who thinks they are too tired to exercise).

It’s definitely not a magic bullet, but one more piece to keep people active so they can benefit from exercise. If you already exercise, this may help you to keep it up longer.

One thing not really mentioned in the study, but probably deserving of more study is how Quercetin also has anti-inflammatory properties which might also work to help athletes, soldiers, and people like us to recover faster from workouts.

This study had significant statistical effects and the team has gotten a grant to study Quercetin and the effects on colon cancer.  You’ll see more of the cancer studies coming out over the years, there are studies happening now with Quercetin and the effects on breast cancer.

Have your own clinical trial. Try a smart energy drink with Quercetin for two weeks while working out and keep track of how you are doing. Try drinking two a day once in the morning and once again in the afternoon. After two weeks let me know how you did in the comments below.

Not sure about which energy drink has the right qualities or how to get it, comment below and we’ll send you more info.

As the Superbowl is going on, I’m noticing how healthy energy drinks are just like Championship football games.

These are champions. Everyone of them are pretty darn good. They give you energy. But champions, the best of the best, give just a little more. They give that extra bit. Like Payton Manning, lots of extra little bits that are starting to add up. Both teams playing hard.

In a healthy energy drink , yes, you get energy (and usually it lasts longer if it’s healthy energy) but you also get nutrients, antioxidants, focus, sharpness.

And then after the game, not matter who wins this Superbowl, then comes the end. The crash (or the rebuilding). A healthy energy drink doesn’t have that crash that leaves you feeling worse than you started, it actually leaves you up. And with a high antioxidant healthy energy drink, the antioxidants actually help your body start working on recovery. Antioxidants can help with inflammation.

A high antioxidant healthy energy drink also should rock. Like the Superbowl, and The Who. So, who are you?

Xe Energy.

What’s the difference between fruit sugar (or fructose) and refined sugars (or sucrose)?

Is there even a difference at all? After all they are both sugar, doesn’t that mean your body doesn’t care or notice the difference? Well there are some differences you should know about it. All sugars (and sugar substitutes) are not the same.

There are a bunch of scientific terms and explanations, but it basically comes down to glycemic index and nutrients. Plain refined sugar has been stripped of the nutrients and fruit sugar hasn’t. Glycemic index in it’s most simple explanation is how fast it gets absorbed by your body. (That’s not quite correct, but it will give you the idea behind it.) Your body works harder and slows down the absorption of the sugar when it is fructose (or natural sugar). That means it has a lower glycemic index (the lower it is the less negative impact it has on your body) It’s why diabetics are told to have low glycemic foods.

This is important, because sugar spikes are what happen if you get too much sugar in your body at once. Your body doesn’t know what to with it all. You get a short rush and then crash, because you can’t keep up with it. Your body is not meant to get it like that.

Sugar is an important part of energy drinks because sugar is what our bodies need to keep going. But our bodies use glycogen and glucose, not sucrose or even fructose. Glycogen comes from from glucose. Glucose is what your body uses right now. Glycogen is short term storage of glucose. It turns into that with the help of insulin (which your body makes properly unless you are diabetic or hypoglycemic. Too much insulin and you are hypoglycemic, too little you are diabetic). There is a limit to the amount of storage we have for both glycogen and glucose. If there isn’t enough space, it turns into long term energy storage (which is fat).

Fruit sugars break down into sucrose and glucogen, slowing the process. It spreads it out. Your body doesn’t even use the fructose unless there is an immediate need for energy and then it has to be processed by the liver. The rest is stored as glycogen in the muscles and liver.  Sucrose (or refined sugars) break down into glucose which spikes because it starts immediate insulin production. Basically fructose takes a longer route and keeps your body in balance and refined sugar (or sucrose) knocks it out of balance.

Fructose gives the same energy/calories, but keeps your body in sync, puts less stress on it and is healthier for you.