Palm Beach Gardens Fire Rescue Health & Wellness

Categories
Nutrition

The Truth About Energy Drinks

The Truth About Energy Drinks

One of the biggest challenges of being a first responder is staying awake while the community sleeps. Add in some overtime or young children at home, and it’s a wonder that first responders get to sleep at all! This leads some firefighters to lean on energy drinks and other forms of caffeine to stay awake. But are energy drinks a safe option? Let’s review the ingredients to find out. 

Caffeine

The FDA recommends no more than 400 mg of caffeine per day, with no more than 200 mg in one sitting. Many energy drinks contain between 150-400 mg per can! Many popular energy drinks like Celsius Heat, Bang, and C4 have 300 mg per can. 

If you drink more than one energy drink per day or have other caffeinated beverages, you can quickly blow over the 400 mg recommendation. For reference, 400 mg of caffeine is roughly 32-40 oz of coffee. Exceeding the 400 mg recommendation can increase the risk for side effects like jitters, anxiety, insomnia, and cardiac abnormalities. To reduce the impact of caffeine on your sleep, try to leave 5-6 hours between your last caffeinated beverage and bedtime.

Special Ingredients

Energy drinks often add herbs, vitamins, and other “special” ingredients. These include taurine, B vitamins, yerba matte, amino acids, and more. These ingredients are often safe individually, but there isn’t enough evidence to show how combinations can impact the body long term. Some of these herbs have stimulant effects that impact blood pressure more than caffeine alone. Often, adding these extra ingredients is a marketing tactic to make unsubstantiated claims. For example, loading B vitamins into energy drinks to “boost energy” will not work for healthy individuals with normal B vitamin levels. 

How Do I Cut Back?

If you need to cut back on caffeine, cold turkey may not be the way to go (unless medically necessary). Many people experience headaches, fatigue, low mood, or an increase in depressive symptoms. These side effects are major concerns for first responders. Cutting back slowly may help reduce these side effects. ⁠

⁠Remember, you do not need to cut caffeine if you are a healthy individual. The goal is to stay under 400 mg of caffeine daily for healthy people. ⁠Your doctor might suggest reducing caffeine (<200 mg per day) if you have high blood pressure, acid reflux, anxiety, or are currently pregnant. ⁠

The goal for reducing caffeine is to improve your quality of life, often by improving the quality of your sleep. If you are way over 400mg, consider cutting 50-150 mg caffeine per day off shift and hold there for a week or so. Then, if needed, you can cut back a little more. ⁠⁠Consider switching to a lower caffeine energy drink or only drinking half of the can. 

Pay close attention to how you feel. If you feel terrible, reduce intake even slower (-50mg/day). If your caffeinated products are not labeled, you can find this information through a quick google search of the brand/product. ⁠

The Bottom Line

Energy drinks are not recommended due to the high caffeine content and special ingredients. If you need an energy drink, the next best option is to opt for a sugar-free version with less than 200mg caffeine per can. If possible, stick to coffee or tea for caffeine. 

Megan Lautz, MS, RD, CSCS, TSAC-F 

Megan is a Registered Dietitian and coach who specializes in firefighter nutrition. Megan’s mission is to help firefighters perform better, recover faster, and enjoy long healthy retirements. Megan is the owner of RescueRD LLC, which provides nutrition seminars and coaching for tactical athletes across the country. Check out @Rescue.RD on Facebook and Instagram.

384 replies on “The Truth About Energy Drinks”

mexico drug stores pharmacies [url=http://mexicopharmacy.cheap/#]buying prescription drugs in mexico online[/url] mexican border pharmacies shipping to usa

viagra from usa pharmacy [url=https://pharmbig24.com/#]online pharmacy with doctor consultation[/url] online pharmacy finpecia

mexico drug stores pharmacies [url=http://mexicopharmacy.cheap/#]mexican mail order pharmacies[/url] mexican pharmaceuticals online

mexican rx online [url=http://mexicopharmacy.cheap/#]mexico drug stores pharmacies[/url] mexican drugstore online

dexamethasone pharmacy [url=https://pharmbig24.com/#]creighton university pharmacy online[/url] discount pharmacy card

top 10 pharmacies in india [url=http://indianpharmacy.company/#]indian pharmacy paypal[/url] best india pharmacy

medicine in mexico pharmacies [url=https://mexicopharmacy.cheap/#]pharmacies in mexico that ship to usa[/url] buying prescription drugs in mexico online

mexico pharmacies prescription drugs [url=https://mexicopharmacy.cheap/#]medicine in mexico pharmacies[/url] mexican drugstore online

buy medicines online in india [url=https://indianpharmacy.company/#]india pharmacy[/url] buy medicines online in india

best india pharmacy [url=http://indianpharmacy.company/#]Online medicine home delivery[/url] indian pharmacies safe

rx pharmacy acheter viagra [url=http://pharmbig24.com/#]cialis in dubai pharmacy[/url] online pharmacy generic viagra

purple pharmacy mexico price list [url=http://mexicopharmacy.cheap/#]mexican rx online[/url] mexico pharmacies prescription drugs

mexican pharmaceuticals online [url=https://mexicopharmacy.cheap/#]mexican mail order pharmacies[/url] buying prescription drugs in mexico online

casibom giris adresi [url=http://casibom.auction/#]casibom guncel giris adresi[/url] casibom 158 giris

gates of olympus oyna demo [url=https://gatesofolympusoyna.online/#]gate of olympus oyna[/url] gates of olympus demo turkce

casibom giris: casibom giris – casibom guncel giris adresi
gates of olympus demo turkce oyna [url=http://gatesofolympusoyna.online/#]gates of olympus turkce[/url] Gates of Olympus

sildenafilo 100mg precio farmacia [url=http://sildenafilo.men/#]comprar viagra contrareembolso 48 horas[/url] comprar viagra en espaГ±a

farmacia online madrid [url=https://farmaciaeu.com/#]farmacia online 24 horas[/url] farmacia online envГ­o gratis

cerco viagra a buon prezzo [url=https://sildenafilit.pro/#]viagra farmacia[/url] viagra 100 mg prezzo in farmacia

viagra naturale [url=http://sildenafilit.pro/#]alternativa al viagra senza ricetta in farmacia[/url] alternativa al viagra senza ricetta in farmacia

kamagra senza ricetta in farmacia [url=http://sildenafilit.pro/#]viagra[/url] alternativa al viagra senza ricetta in farmacia

farmacia online [url=https://farmaciait.men/#]Farmacia online migliore[/url] farmacie online affidabili

farmacia online [url=http://tadalafilit.com/#]Cialis generico 5 mg prezzo[/url] Farmacie online sicure

Farmacia online piГ№ conveniente [url=http://tadalafilit.com/#]Cialis generico 20 mg 8 compresse prezzo[/url] farmacie online autorizzate elenco

farmacie online autorizzate elenco [url=http://farmaciait.men/#]Farmacie on line spedizione gratuita[/url] comprare farmaci online all’estero

migliori farmacie online 2024 [url=https://farmaciait.men/#]Farmacie online sicure[/url] farmacie online sicure

viagra naturale in farmacia senza ricetta [url=http://sildenafilit.pro/#]viagra senza prescrizione[/url] viagra originale in 24 ore contrassegno

Farmacia online miglior prezzo [url=https://brufen.pro/#]BRUFEN 600 acquisto online[/url] farmacia online piГ№ conveniente

farmacie online affidabili [url=http://farmaciait.men/#]Farmacia online migliore[/url] farmacia online

comprare farmaci online all’estero [url=https://tadalafilit.com/#]Cialis generico farmacia[/url] acquisto farmaci con ricetta

farmacia online senza ricetta [url=http://brufen.pro/#]Ibuprofene 600 generico prezzo[/url] Farmacia online miglior prezzo

viagra originale recensioni [url=http://sildenafilit.pro/#]acquisto viagra[/url] viagra generico sandoz

viagra subito [url=http://sildenafilit.pro/#]viagra generico[/url] viagra 100 mg prezzo in farmacia

acquisto farmaci con ricetta [url=http://brufen.pro/#]BRUFEN 600 mg 30 compresse prezzo[/url] Farmacie on line spedizione gratuita

comprare farmaci online all’estero [url=https://farmaciait.men/#]Farmacie on line spedizione gratuita[/url] farmacie online autorizzate elenco

neurontin 2400 mg [url=https://gabapentin.site/#]neurontin price australia[/url] cost of neurontin 100mg

mexican online pharmacies prescription drugs [url=http://mexicanpharma.icu/#]mexican mail order pharmacies[/url] mexico drug stores pharmacies

india pharmacy [url=http://indiadrugs.pro/#]Indian pharmacy online[/url] online pharmacy india

mexican online pharmacies prescription drugs [url=http://mexicanpharma.icu/#]medication from mexico[/url] medicine in mexico pharmacies

world pharmacy india [url=http://indiadrugs.pro/#]Indian pharmacy online[/url] india online pharmacy

pharmacie en ligne fiable [url=https://clssansordonnance.icu/#]Cialis sans ordonnance 24h[/url] pharmacie en ligne fiable

Achat mГ©dicament en ligne fiable [url=http://clssansordonnance.icu/#]Acheter Cialis 20 mg pas cher[/url] Achat mГ©dicament en ligne fiable

Viagra prix pharmacie paris [url=http://vgrsansordonnance.com/#]Viagra sans ordonnance 24h[/url] Viagra homme sans ordonnance belgique

Viagra vente libre pays [url=http://vgrsansordonnance.com/#]Meilleur Viagra sans ordonnance 24h[/url] Viagra sans ordonnance 24h Amazon

buy semaglutide online [url=https://rybelsus.shop/#]buy rybelsus online[/url] semaglutide cost

rybelsus coupon [url=https://rybelsus.shop/#]rybelsus pill[/url] buy semaglutide pills

buy rybelsus online [url=https://rybelsus.shop/#]rybelsus coupon[/url] buy rybelsus online

semaglutide online [url=https://rybelsus.shop/#]rybelsus price[/url] cheapest rybelsus pills

buy semaglutide online [url=https://rybelsus.shop/#]rybelsus pill[/url] buy semaglutide pills

semaglutide tablets [url=http://rybelsus.shop/#]semaglutide tablets[/url] semaglutide cost

rybelsus price [url=http://rybelsus.shop/#]cheapest rybelsus pills[/url] buy rybelsus online

pin up guncel giris [url=http://pinupturkey.pro/#]pin up casino guncel giris[/url] pin-up casino giris

пин ап казино [url=https://pinupru.site/#]pin up казино[/url] пин ап

пин ап казино онлайн [url=https://pinupkz.tech/#]пинап казино[/url] пин ап

пин ап [url=https://pinupkz.tech/#]пин ап казино вход[/url] пин ап кз

amoxicillin without a doctors prescription [url=https://amoxil.llc/#]buy amoxil[/url] generic amoxicillin online

amoxicillin 500mg no prescription [url=https://amoxil.llc/#]amoxicillin without a prescription[/url] amoxicillin buy online canada

neurontin 400 mg tablets [url=https://gabapentin.auction/#]gabapentin price[/url] cost of brand name neurontin

neurontin cost in canada [url=http://gabapentin.auction/#]300 mg neurontin[/url] medicine neurontin

where to get amoxicillin over the counter [url=http://amoxil.llc/#]amoxil best price[/url] generic amoxil 500 mg

Rybelsus 14 mg price [url=http://semaglutide.win/#]rybelsus[/url] Semaglutide pharmacy price

generic zithromax 500mg india [url=http://zithromax.company/#]generic zithromax[/url] zithromax 1000 mg pills

amoxicillin pharmacy price [url=http://amoxil.llc/#]Amoxicillin For sale[/url] can i purchase amoxicillin online

buy rybelsus [url=https://semaglutide.win/#]rybelsus generic[/url] order Rybelsus for weight loss

buying prescription drugs in mexico [url=http://mexicanpharm24.pro/#]best online pharmacies in mexico[/url] purple pharmacy mexico price list

purple pharmacy mexico price list [url=http://mexicanpharm24.pro/#]mexican pharmaceuticals online[/url] mexican pharmaceuticals online

cheapest ed pills online [url=https://drugs24.pro/#]what causes ed[/url] comfortis for dogs without vet prescription

best online pharmacies in mexico [url=https://mexicanpharm24.pro/#]mexican border pharmacies shipping to usa[/url] mexican online pharmacies prescription drugs

п»їbest mexican online pharmacies [url=http://mexicanpharm24.pro/#]purple pharmacy mexico price list[/url] mexican border pharmacies shipping to usa

mexican rx online [url=https://mexicanpharm24.pro/#]mexico drug stores pharmacies[/url] medication from mexico pharmacy

Buy semaglutide [url=http://rybelsus.icu/#]rybelsus price[/url] Semaglutide pharmacy price

antiplatelet drug [url=https://clopidogrel.pro/#]check clopidogrel pro[/url] buy Clopidogrel over the counter

antiplatelet drug [url=https://clopidogrel.pro/#]check clopidogrel pro[/url] Plavix generic price

ivermectin 0.5 lotion [url=http://stromectol1st.shop/#]cheapest stromectol[/url] minocycline warnings

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Disclaimer:

Exercise is not without its risks and this or any other exercise program many result in injury. As with any exercise program, if at any point during your workout you begin to feel faint, dizzy or have physical discomfort, you should stop immediately and consult a medical professional. You should rely on your own review, inquiry and assessment as to the accuracy of any information made available within this program or via this web site.

Quick Links

Important Links

© 2024 By Palm Beach Gardens Fire Rescue | All Rights Reserved

Website By MosierData