9/27/2010

Energy Drink Ingredients - Examining Guarana, Ginseng, and Other Ingredients

In medieval Japan, when a Samurai needed a boost to get through a rigorous mission or training exercise, a tonic made from all natural ingredients was concocted to help him out. Other tonics were used for healing purposes and still others to help scholars focus on their studies. The exact recipes of most of those formulas have been lost in time, but the ingredients that were most effective are still used today in many drinks and supplements. Foremost among these are guarana and ginseng. Each has a very specific purpose and both can be found in energy shots.
If you asked ten people what guarana was, you'd be lucky to find one who could tell you. Some know that it's an ingredient in energy shots and is supposed to have some type of effect that boosts energy. What that is, most folks wouldn't be able to tell you and those who guess most often describe it as similar to a vitamin supplement. The truth is that guarana fruit contains about twice the caffeine that coffee beans contain. In South America it's used more often than coffee beans as a source of caffeine in soft drinks. In energy shots, it's the main source of caffeine.
Since guarana contains caffeine, the effects and side effects are similar to that of coffee. If you consume too much, you'll get jittery and need to stop. If you consume it in moderation, it can give you that extra boost to get through a difficult stretch. That's what energy shots are designed to do. Guarana also acts as an appetite suppressant and has been proven to increase cognitive abilities in studies done on rats. The effects on human beings are still under review, but it's generally accepted that guarana is not harmful to people unless it's abused.
Ginseng, another ingredient you'll find in energy shots, has been used in formulas over the centuries to bring about a feeling of well being and also to increase sexual abilities in men. It's known by modern science as an "adaptogen" or natural substance which can be used as a mood stabilizer. In addition to it being an ingredient in energy shots it can also be found in many teas and other natural concoctions. In some ways, it would seem out of place in an energy drink, but its presence stabilizes the formula and brings in the added benefit of enhancing a person's concentration.
Another ingredient in some energy shots, ginkgo biloba, is suspected of having healing properties, but the hypothesis is yet to be proven. The most compelling evidence of the special properties of the Ginkgo tree itself is the presence of six of them within two kilometers of the Hiroshima blast site. They somehow managed to survive, adding to their already mystical legend. Buddhists and Confucians consider them sacred and modern medicine continues to study them. If an extract from a Ginkgo tree is present in your energy shot, it won't hurt you, and it might give you a benefit you're not aware of.
Other energy shots such as Hero Energy Shot contain a proprietary blend of amino acids designed to provide energy without a crash. It's important to read the ingredients and if they are safe then it's often only after trying the specific drinks or shots that you'll know whether the ingredients are effective for you.
For more information about the ingredients in Hero Energy Shot, go to http://www.heroenergyshot.com/ and for a limited time get a free sample when you just pay a small shipping and handling fee. Hero Energy Shot also gives back a portion of its proceeds to organizations that support local fire, police and military personnel.