5 hour energy why does it work

Monster drinks were listed in five deaths and about 35 other non-fatal adverse reactions. Rockstar was listed in 13 cases, none of which were deaths. Monster and Rockstar are brightly-labeled beverages that contain to milligrams of caffeine in drink sizes ranging from 5 to 16 fluid ounces. That's about three-to-five times the amount of caffeine in ounce serving of a typical mass-marketed soda.

The more concentrated 5-hour Energy doesn't list its caffeine content but Consumer Reports recently determined that it contains milligrams of caffeine per 2 fl. Well, it depends on where you get your coffee.

One of the most comprehensive sources for caffeine content of beverages is this database at energyfiend. There you'll see that a large McDonald's coffee ounce has milligrams of caffeine, just a bit less than the same as in a typical regular Rockstar or Monster product. But if you are a Starbucks fan, a ounce serving Grande of their regular brewed coffee not espresso-based there can average milligrams of caffeine but range from to a whopping !

These are Starbucks' own reported values, levels that led energyfiend. But think about this: that high end for the "Extreme" content of Starbucks is roughly the same as only two small bottles of 5-hour Energy, perhaps telling us how deceivingly potent these "shots" can be. Is the problem only with the caffeine? What else might be dangerous in these drinks? They also contain various combinations of vitamins and amino acids, with some vitamins far exceeding recommended daily values. Among all of these components, I'm most concerned about phenylalanine, an amino acid that cannot be adequately broken down by people with a genetic disorder called phenylketonuria.

This is why you'll see diet sodas containing the artificial sweetener aspartame listed with a warning for phenylketonurics: aspartame contains phenylalanine. In such individuals, the amino acid gets converted instead to a chemical that can cause seizures, and even mental retardation in developing infants and children.

Phenylketonuria is rather common in the US, occurring in 1 out of 15, people but is three-to-five times more common in Turkey and Scotland. Does this mean that 5-hour Energy caused the reported deaths and hospitalizations? This is the question that FDA scientists are trying to assess. The major problem is that these reports don't list other very important information such as age, weight, pre-existing conditions such as heart disease, or any indication of drugs or dietary supplements that might have contributed to these adverse reactions.

The puffing action allows the caffeine to take effect faster, giving you energy immediately. So, the long and short of it is that, yes, these energy shots do work. But only because they have caffeine, which coffee is giving you anyways. Take your pick on which flavors are worse, and then drink or puff up.

Follow the Beat. That should spare you the worry of 5 Hour Energy disrupting your calorie count. If you still feel that 4 calories are too much, you can check out the best zero-calorie energy drinks article I wrote for some great recommendation s.

After drinking 5 Hour Energy, you will feel energized and more awake. Caffeine has plenty of benefits when consumed in moderation. Caffeine can improve your focus and even enhance your physical performance. The serving size of 5 Hour is 1. Each 1. My personal caffeine preference is between 50mg to mg per drink. However, even if you have high caffeine tolerance, you should still stay within the recommended caffeine guidelines.

For reference, the FDA recommends a maximum daily caffeine intake of no more than mg for healthy adults. If you have more than that, you might end up with notable side effects like:.

Need further assistance? Please call Member Services at Subscribers only Sign in or Subscribe now! Forgot password? Check this box if you wish to have a copy mailed to you. This report was made possible by a grant from the Airborne Cy Pres Fund, which was established through a legal settlement of a national class-action lawsuit Wilson v.

Airborne Health, Inc.