You're tired. You need sleep. But unfortunately you have too much to do. Maybe it's a deadline for work, chasing after your kids, or simply the next chapter in Grand Theft Auto IV, but either way you're in need of an energy boost. And fortunately for you, there are several elixirs available for your consumption that promises just that: an instant energy lift. Unfortunately, many of these so called energy drinks are nothing more than carbonated water, sugar, and an odd medicine like flavor guaranteed to raise your blood sugar level and elevate your alertness - temporarily. There are, however, some major differences between the types of energy drinks that are on the market today and their ingredients and effects on your body and mind. Therefore, I submit to you a comparison of several energy drink ingredients and their uses that are most typically found in energy drink blends.

The originator of the "energy drink" craze, Red Bull is still one of the heaviest hitters in the energy drink market today. They have expanded from the original size of their beverage (8.3 oz) to a heart stopping 16 oz size as well as sugar free in addition to regular. Red Bull has branched out to include sponsorship of rock concerts, sporting events (including some they have created), and many bars and night clubs. In fact, one of the largest contributors to Red Bull's success was the popularity of the Red Bull and Vodka (or almost any liquor). Many competitors have tried to follow in the footsteps of Red Bull and the ingredients contained within have been replicated and duplicated throughout the entire energy drink industry. Though the specific blend is proprietary, the ingredients are almost universal in all drinks of this variety.

Most commonly, when we think of energy drinks, we think of a quick pick me up that typically leads to a "crash" or loss of energy in a few hours, requiring us to dose ourselves with yet another can of the horrifying mixture. However, most of us are unaware of what's really in those little cans of joy. Typically, there are two things that are universal in all energy drinks: caffeine and taurine.

Caffeine is found in all kinds of drinks and foods that we enjoy on a daily basis. Chocolate, Coffee, Tea and certain nuts all contain caffeine and in moderation caffeine will not be harmful to your body. In fact, a typical cup of coffee will contain approximately 100 mg of caffeine and it is believed that fewer than 600 mg of caffeine per day on a daily basis will not cause any harmful side effects. In fact, the speculation rate on fatality from caffeine consumption in humans is approximated at 150-200 mg per Kg body weight. This means that a 185 lb man would need to ingest approximately 14,525 mg of caffeine in a relatively short period of time in order for the dose to be lethal. Though there are may be long term effects in the form of caffeine dependency, it is unlikely that caffeine in "normal" amounts will be detrimental to your health.

Taurine is a very interesting substance, and is one of the main ingredients in Red Bull as well as most energy drinks available today. Taurine, originally produced from the testicles of bulls (hence the name Red Bull) is now available synthetically and is thought to provide strength and stamina Though it is a main ingredient of many energy drinks, taurine has not been shown to provide any additional boost to perceived energy levels or mental alertness. Though it is an important nutritional element for felines, in humans it has not shown any significant health benefits. However according the Red Bull website, "Taurine acts as an antioxidant and has been shown to promote detoxification by binding together with harmful substances and thereby accelerating their excretion from the body." (http://www.redbullusa.com/en/ProductPage/htmlProductPage.action#page=ProductPage.Ingredients).

Guarana, much like the coffee bean contains a high amount of a natural stimulant known as guararine. Guararine being chemically identical to caffeine produces the same effects, namely increasing mental acuity and memory retention as well as fighting off fatigue. The negative side effects are the same as well - raised blood pressure, dependency and elevated heart rate. In fact, a guarana blend may have up to as much as 300 mg of caffeine per serving making it three times as powerful as caffeine in the traditional sense. It is obtained similar to coffee by grinding the berries of the guarana plant into a powder and mixing with a beverage of choice. Originally brewed into tea by the native people of Brazil, it is now found in many varieties of products from energy drinks to chewing gums and candies. Though it is true that in extremely large doses, guarana can be fatal (similar to caffeine) it is recognized by the Food and Drug Administration as a "Generally Recognized As Safe" food additive and has been reported to aide in weight loss, as well as being a powerful antioxidant.

Found in a few of the energy drinks on the market, ginseng is derived from the root of the ginseng plant, typically found in the cooler climates of Asia. Used for centuries in Asian medicine, ginseng does not have any heavy scientific evidence confirming or denying its medicinal powers as most studies conducted contradict previous findings. It has been said that ginseng is an adaptogen, increasing the body's ability to withstand stress and has been shown in some studies to assist with the treatment of sexual dysfunction in men. Also touted as an aphrodisiac, ginseng has several uses and can be found in many varieties from root extract to dried leaves. Overall, ginseng may prove to be beneficial in the long term as more studies are performed with high quality ginseng, but at the time no conclusive evidence has been found to support its benefits. However, it can be said that ginseng is safe to consume in moderated amounts.

Newest to the energy drink market are the "5 Hour Energy" drinks, or similar products. These "drinks" are usually found in the two to four oz range and don't typically feature any of the caffeinated products typically associated with energy "crashes" or loss of stamina. Instead, these small but powerful drinks contain enormous amounts of B-Vitamin blends to produce the energy one is in need of. To understand this energy producing vitamin better, you must first understand that there are actually 8 different vitamins under the vitamin b banner - B1, B2, B3, B5, B6, B7, B9, and B12. Previously believed to be one vitamin (B), it is now understood each is chemically different and has its own unique characteristics and importance. For a comprehensive list of b-vitamins and their uses, please see this reference at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vitamin_B. These combinations of b-vitamins produce the needed energy by assisting in cell metabolism and increase the desired mental acuity and alertness. Of all the drinks available, I prefer these smaller, more healthful drinks to those of the larger, sugar filled competitors. Not only does it make me feel better overall, it doesn't give me the adverse effects I feel with traditional energy drinks, such as rapid heartbeat and elevated blood pressure.

When it comes to energy drinks, the varieties are nearly endless. There are fruit juice based energy drinks, all natural drinks, chemically enhanced drinks and even alcoholic energy drinks. When it comes to deciding which your favorite is, I suggest you try out a few of the varieties and decide which has the best flavor. For the most part, energy drinks are all the same. They will give you a much needed boost and keep you mentally sharp when you need it most. Be warned, however, that like any substance, it is possible to become physically dependant on these drinks. The one thing I would like to see more of on the market is natural or organic energy drinks. One of the best (and most effective) drinks I have ever had the pleasure of drinking is called VISO. Available in many markets in the Pacific Northwest, it can also be found online at drinkviso.com. In closing, no matter how you look at it, we all need an energy boost from time to time, and now you can feel confident when making your choice as to which energy drink will work best for you.