Red Bull or Monster Energy??

A light bike doesn't replace good fitness.

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Tinea Pedis
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by Tinea Pedis

Mmmm... interesting. The sugar free Red Bull one looked the best idea, but the placebo would not have tasted the same sooo....

Either way, was not aware they existed. No chance to delve deeper into their methodology either, which is a shame. However don't think I'll be loading up on any pre-race any time soon.

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stella-azzurra
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by stella-azzurra

I 'm in the camp of loading up on carbs a day or two before the race or event. By loading up I mean taking in a bit more carbs than you usually would of your normal daily carb intake. Also hydrate a bit more as well. During the race drink water and electrolytes and take on food based on the length of the event as you normally would.

NOTE: All the carbs and hydration in the world will not make you perform any better if you have not done the required training to obtain the needed fitness for the event.
I never took drugs to improve my performance at any time. I will be willing to stick my finger into a polygraph test if anyone with big media pull wants to take issue. If you buy a signed poster now it will not be tarnished later. --Graeme Obree

benwat48
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by benwat48

Red Bull or Monster Energy?? i prefer Lemonade :)

CerveloBert
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by CerveloBert

Tinea Pedis wrote:Bert, you seemed to have missed the most important parts.

Specifically

Tinea Pedis wrote:Illuminate is right, there are studies showing the benefits of caffeine. However none of those had the additional additives (taurine, guarana, etc) and sugar that come with those drinks.



and the fact that I'm not saying your anecdotal experience is wrong, rather I have not heard of it. Furthermore suggested strategies to help you with it and get you higher up that results sheet.

Give it another read mate, hopefully something could help you :beerchug:


I understood what you were saying loud and clear, but none of it was conducive to the phenomenon I was mentioning. I have never questioned the claim of performance boost, and yes - I was aware you mentioned that the thing was without additives, I just didn't care as I have taken all forms of high-sugar out of my diet. Never said you called me wrong either on the experience of caffeine crash as well, just wanted to mention that it is something that happens to me and it sucks. My results were better without caffeine throughout most rides and it took me several years to understand how it worked for me.

Either way, I appreciate all the information that was posted. When you were mentioning that my "caffeine crash" might be blood sugar related, I had to question it - as the phenomenon is directly related to my consumption of pre-ride caffeine. I've already helped myself by choosing not to consume the stuff, just mentioning my experiences. I'm more curious to know if anybody else on this forum has a similar experience as there are a couple members in my triathlon club that have very similar reactions to caffeine.

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Tinea Pedis
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by Tinea Pedis

Bert, there were actually two points you were making. Which I addressed and you've now condensed in to one.

Either way, on to the one that's troubling you.

The pre-race caffeine, try and control every other variable and eliminate the caffeine. That way you can be sure (or as sure as a test like this will allow) that the caffeine is the case. I still think it could be due a spike in blood glucose levels leading to a resultant hypoglycaemia. Had something similar happen to a mate with a lot of similar symptoms. Was related to his blood sugar levels. Specifically what he wasn't eating during a ride (to keep the sugar levels steady) and his post ride recovery.


Could be totally wrong, just throwing some anecdotal experience out there for you.

benwat48
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by benwat48

I agree with the Mod :up:

Tinea Pedis wrote:Bert, you seemed to have missed the most important parts.

Specifically

Tinea Pedis wrote:Illuminate is right, there are studies showing the benefits of caffeine. However none of those had the additional additives (taurine, guarana, etc) and sugar that come with those drinks.



and the fact that I'm not saying your anecdotal experience is wrong, rather I have not heard of it. Furthermore suggested strategies to help you with it and get you higher up that results sheet.

Give it another read mate, hopefully something could help you :beerchug:

Elpimpo
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by Elpimpo

Read up on Taurine:
Excerpt from an email i got:


Introduction

Red Bull, Rip It, Energy Fizz, Boost, Crunk, Pimp Juice. The list of names can go on and on. Ask any sleep deprived college student what they use for a pick me up, and they can rattle off a number of energy drinks. Many college students, including me, know that it is not healthy to consume many energy drinks. The drinks come with a warning that states “not recommended for use by children, pregnant women, or people sensitive to caffeine.” You have probably wondered what’s so bad about energy drinks and why they carry a warning while carbonated soft drinks usually do not. I was particularly intrigued and frightened when a friend said “Don’t drink that stuff, it has taurine in it. It’s gonna kill your heart.” Promptly after hearing this, I went to wikipedia and looked up taurine. I did not find anything alarming about what was listed and thus dismissed it out of my mind. Similarly, other people maybe mislead also if they only research the effects of taurine. The danger lays in the combined effect of caffeine and taurine, which are the powerful and important ingredients in numerous energy drinks. As more and more people start using energy drinks, it is important to be well informed on the possible dangers of these “pick me ups.”

Urban Legend
A popular misconception is that taurine is derived from the testicles of a bull. While the word taurine has its root in the Latin word Taurus, meaning bull, it was originally found in the bile of an ox (an ox is a castrated bull). Taurine can also be isolated from the urine of female cattle. Commercially though the taurine in energy drinks is made synthetically (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Taurine).


The Science Behind Taurine

Taurine, also known as 2-aminoethanesulfonic acid, is a nonessential amino acid. It is the most abundant free amino acid in many tissues. Taurine is particularly high in foods such as meat and fish proteins. It is synthesized in the liver via the cysteine sulfonic pathway (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Taurine). In newborns, taurine is essential as they cannot make it. Furthermore, it is different from most other amino acids in that it is not incorporated into proteins. Nevertheless, it does play many important roles in the body one which is metabolism (http://www.healthy.net/scr/article.asp?ID=1971). Taurine is found in the central nervous system, skeletal muscle, and heart. However, it is more heavily concentrated in heart tissues and the brain (http://www.healthy.net/scr/article.asp?ID=1971). In electrically active tissues such as the heart and brain, it helps stabilize cell membranes. It has been implicated in the following physiological phenomenon: inhibitory neurotransmission, long-term potentiation in the striatum/hippocampus, feedback inhibition of neutrophil/macrophage respiratory bursts, adipose tissue regulation, and calcium homeostasis (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Taurine). Conversely, the evidence for taurine in these roles is not as great as its role in bile acid synthesis and osmoregulation.


Beneficial Claims for Taurine as a Supplement.

Many claims have been made about the beneficial roles of taurine in the body. As a result, it is sold as a supplement on the internet and in some drug stores. While it has an important role in the body, not many studies have been done to fully validate all these claims. Many of the studies are still being carried out on rodents thus we do not if the results from these studies can be safely applied to humans. The following lists some of the reasons used by taurine manufactures as to why taurine should be taken as a supplement (http://www.1fast400.com/a47_Taurine_Information.html).
- Improves exercise performance in rodents
- Protects the heart from ischemic damage
- Prevents hypertension in rats fed a high fructose diet & rats treated with alcohol
- Potent neuroprotectant, protects against glutamate excitotoxicity, cerebral ischemia, oxidative stress, and the buildup of toxins
- Improves memory in memory-impaired rats
- Inhibited hyperglycemia and insulin resistance in fructose-fed rats
- Aids in the treatment of cystic fibrosis
- Protects many of the body's organs against toxicity and oxidative stress due to various substances.
- Aging associated with decline in taurine
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Energy Drinks Containing Taurine: Pros and Cons


Why People Claim to drink Energy Drinks?
- mixing alcohol and energy drinks can reduce the severity of a hangover, protect the liver, keep one from getting drowsy. (http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/magazine/4563760.stm)
- helps one stay awake longer
- improves short term memory
- increases alertness
- Gives a burst of energy
- Students claim it helps them perform better on a test

Why are People Worried?
- Mixing an energy drink and alcohol can significantly dehydrate a person since they are both diuretics. Dehydration stresses the heart. Mixing stimulants and depressants can lead to abnormal heart rhythms and heart problems in the future. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Red_bull)
- 3 people in Sweden died after drinking Red Bull though a definitive link has not been established between the deaths and Red Bull. (http://www.1fast400.com/a47_Taurine_Information.html)
- There are no conclusive, intensive studies on the combined effect of taurine and caffeine on humans. As a result, energy drinks such as Red Bull have been banned in Norway, Denmark, Uruguay, and France. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Red_bull)
- Rats fed taurine exhibited bizarre behavior such as anxiety, irritability, high sensitivity to noise, and self-mutilations. (http://www.1fast400.com/a47_Taurine_Information.html).
- Energy drinks do not replenish the body after strenuous activity such as exercise; in fact, it can cause dehydration which puts a strain on the heart. A basketball player collapsed on the court and later died after drinking 4 cans of Red Bull before the game. Again, a definitive link between Red Bull and the death was not established. (http://www.1fast400.com/a47_Taurine_Information.html).

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The Scientific Literature on Caffeine and Taurine

Energy Drinks and the Heart
A study by Baum and Weiss (2001) examined the effects of taurine and caffeine on the heart in thirteen young athletes. The athletes performed endurance exercises three times – each time imbibing a different type of drink. Before exercise, Red Bull containing both taurine and caffeine, a similar drink without taurine, containing caffeine, and a “placebo” drink without taurine or caffeine were drank by the subjects in a double blind, cross over study. Cardiac measurements were taken before the drinks, 40 minutes after the drinks prior to the exercise, and in the regeneration period after exercise. Stroke volume was significantly increased in the “red bull” group, and also, in the same group, there was increase in the diastolic intake velocity (related to ventricular function of the heart). The same observation was made in the caffeine group without the ventricular function. This led to the hypothesis that the combined effect of taurine and caffeine enhances ventricular functions. For this study, I feel the sample size is too small for the conclusion to be definitively applied to the general population.


Well being, mood, memory

- Seidl, et al (2000) did a study to determine whether caffeine and taurine containing energy drinks stimulate cognitive performance and well-being. Seidl, et al (2000) performed a double blinded, placebo controlled study using 10 graduate students. The experimental group ingested a capsule containing caffeine, taurine, glucuronolactone, and the placebo group received a control capsule. The measurements were taken at night, prior to and starting one hour after consumption of energy drink ingredients or placebo. The results showed motor reaction times were significantly longer compared to the baseline measurements for the placebo group but remained unchanged in the energy drink group. Additionally, the evaluated feelings for well being, total scores, vitality scores and social extrovertedness scores were again unchanged for the energy drink group but significantly decreased for the placebo group. The researchers concluded the caffeine, taurine, and glucuronolactone had positive effects on human mental performance and mood. Furthermore, since half the subjects were non-caffeine users, the positive effects could not be due to restoration of plasma caffeine levels to normal following caffeine withdrawal. As with the other studies, these one also has a small sample size thus making it hard to generalize the results to a larger population. Also, we do not if the results were due to caffeine alone or the combined effects of caffeine, taurine, and glucuronolactone. There are other studies by Alford, et al. (2001) and Warburton, et al. (2001) in which caffeinated taurine drinks improved information processing and increased subjective alertness, concentration, and physical endurance compared to the placebo group (no caffeine or taurine). Again, the same problems are encountered. The sample size is too small (36 and 42 respectively), and possibility of the positive effects being solely due to caffeine are not accounted for.


Alcohol and Energy Drinks
- Ferreira, et al (2006) evaluated the effect of mixing alcohol and energy drinks in comparison to consuming alcohol or energy drinks alone. Twenty-sex young, healthy volunteers completed three experimental sessions in random order, 7 days apart: alcohol alone, energy drink alone, and energy drink plus alcohol. The volunteer’s breath alcohol concentration, subjective sensations of intoxication, objective effects on their motor coordination and visual reaction time were evaluated. From the results, the researchers concluded that the subjective perceptions of headache, weakness, dry mouth, and impairment of motor coordination were less intense when alcohol was combined with an energy drink. However, in the objective measures of motor coordination, visual reaction time, and breath alcohol concentration for energy drink plus alcohol were the same as alcohol alone. The results basically show that a person subjectively feels less intoxicated than they actually are. As with all the studies, I feel this one should also have greater sample size in order for the results to be more definitive.


Alcohol and Taurine in rats
Kerai, et al. (2005) did a study to determine the effect of taurine and alcohol on the rat liver. Alcohol was administered to female rats for 28 days. This led to hepatic steatosis and lipid peroxidation in the rats. However, when taurine was administered along with the alcohol, there was a reduction in hepatic steatosis and completely prevented the lipid peroxidation. This data shows that taurine can have protective benefits for the liver for problems caused by alcohol. Nevertheless, this study was conducted on rats thus, we do not know if it would have a similar effect on humans. In addition, we do not know if the taurine in energy drinks can have the same effect. The taurine may act differently when it is present with caffeine and other energy drink ingredients.

Diuretic potential of energy drinks.
- Riesenhuber, et al. (2006) wanted to determine the diuretic potential of energy drinks. They wanted to test whether taurine also induces diuresis along with caffeine. After restraining from fluids for 12 hours, 12 men were given 4 drinks ---- contained both caffeine and taurine, lacked taurine, lacked caffeine, lacked both. Mixed model analysis showed urinary output was significantly increased by caffeine but not by taurine. The researchers concluded taurine played no role in fluid balance in moderately dehydrated males. Consequently, the diuretic potential of energy drinks is no different from other caffeinated drinks. As with all the other studies, I feel more the study needs to be carried out with greater and more varied sample size so that the results can be generalized to the public.

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Conclusion
Yes, energy drinks do make one feel more alert, improve mental performance, and decrease the negative subjective feelings associated with alcohol consumption. On the other side, energy drinks also affect the heart rhythm and do not decrease the level of intoxication when consuming alcohol. As for the issue of health benefits/risks of taurine in energy drinks, the overall conclusion is one of uncertainty. There have not been enough studies done on it to determine the long-term effects of caffeinated taurine drinks. Deaths have been linked to the use of caffeinated taurine drinks, but even here, we do not know for certain if energy drinks played a role in the deaths or not. The uncertainty of possible health risks is why some countries have banned energy drinks containing taurine and why Canada and U.S. require a warning label on energy drinks. The uncertainty due to lack of solid data maybe enough reason for some people not to consume energy drinks. For those who do continue to use energy drinks, steps can be taken to reduce the risk of harming oneself:
Advice/Tips
- Do not mix alcohol and energy drinks  it can cause dehydration because it contains caffeine, which is a diuretic; mixing stimulants and depressants can lead to heart arrhythmia and future heart problems. Additionally, although one may not feel intoxicated, your motor coordination and visual perceptions are impaired, and this can lead to an underestimation of how intoxicated one really is.
- Do not consume energy drinks before or after strenuous activity such as exercise  energy drinks do not hydrate the body; this puts a strain on the heart. Some of the deaths allegedly due to energy drinks occurred when a person consumed energy drinks before and/or after performing strenuous activity.
- Do not drink more than 2-3 energy drinks per day or in one sitting  people who have done this complained of discomfort, nausea, stomach pains, gas, and/or sleepiness. For me, even drinking one can in one sitting leads to trembling and a racing heart. Studies have not been conducted as to why this occurs; yet, common sense tells you that these symptoms cannot be good for the body. As with most things, moderation is key.
- Not recommended for children and pregnant or breast-feeding women  Many parents don’t let children drink coffee because it contains caffeine then why should children be allowed to ingest energy drinks which contain equal, if not more, amount of caffeine. For pregnant and breast-feeding women, energy drinks are not recommended because we do not know how energy drinks affect a developing child.
- Not recommended for caffeine-sensitive people  energy drinks contain lots of caffeine.
- Again, we do not know how the combination the caffeine and taurine effects health long term; thus, it would be wise to try healthier methods for staying awake and alert such as exercising and getting enough sleep. As a college student, I know this is not always possible. If one cannot give up energy drinks until we know they are safe, my advice would be to save energy drinks for when you really, really need them and not to drink them for fun or on a regular basis.

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Tinea Pedis
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by Tinea Pedis

All I took from that was that my Vokda and Red Bull's are not a wise idea.

Which I knew.

But they're still too good to not drink :mrgreen:

(the come down is a little rough though)

CerveloBert
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by CerveloBert

Nice info pimpo. I'm glad it confirms some of the symptoms I've had in relation to the energy drink. I share the same sentiments as the author - common sense keeps me away.

denzity
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by denzity

I bought a bag of pure taurine and started taking it twice daily. I didn't notice any specific performance gains after 3 weeks so stopped taking it. I do get a boost out of coffee/cocoa powder mix though, but I think it may be psychological.

artray
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by artray

When I was a cycle messenger and had quite a tough day and needed a pick me up , I got a drink called Buzz Cola . It was mad stuff, made red bull seem like water . Can you still get it? anyone out there had any?

Murphs
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by Murphs

The best one is Thai Red Bull - Krating Daeng.

mvogt46
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by mvogt46

I used do drink a bottle of "V" before track workouts but found the acidity was really no good, as the high intensity of the intervals = refulx which is extremely uncomfortable after drinking that!

I've posted about it on here before, but for those who have never tried it I highly recommend a product by 1st Endurance called "Pre Race". It's a caffeine blend that is taken about half an hour before your event and gives a stimulant effect. It is highly effective, I used it on a local climb and knocked 40 seconds off my pb (for a 16 minute climb). I only use it sparingly now, for targeted races.

http://www.firstendurance.com/nutrition/prerace.html

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stella-azzurra
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by stella-azzurra

You can add a bit of sugar to take that acidity out.

There are better boosters like, 100% real maple syrup or honey
I never took drugs to improve my performance at any time. I will be willing to stick my finger into a polygraph test if anyone with big media pull wants to take issue. If you buy a signed poster now it will not be tarnished later. --Graeme Obree

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WinSuits
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by WinSuits

benwat48 wrote:Of course Red Bull...


If I need a boost, I use energy pills b/c they are much cheaper and more portable- and don't put you into the same crowd as the pot heads and other junkies.

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