Acceptable energy drinks?

(Jennifer M Palacios) #1

Hello everyone, I have a question about energy drinks. I have been having an extremely hard time lately getting myself out there and working out. I enjoy walking/jogging and used to do about 3 miles a day at least 5-6 days a week. I feel great on keto and I don’t ever have the dreaded 3:30pm slump. I just can’t find the energy to get a walk/jog in by the time I get home and get dinner going.

I was wondering about energy drinks, are they acceptable on keto? I know there are types like Red Bull Zero that have no carbs, but would it be okay? Does anyone drink them or anything else that can give me a little boost at the end of the day to get out there?

Thanks in advance!

(You've tried everything else; why not try bacon?) #2

I don’t see why not to drink them. If they help, go for it.

#3

There is no consensus about it and can’t be. Some people consume anything on keto if it fits their carb limit.
And others wouldn’t touch any sweeteners ever.
You should decide what is worth it for you, figure out what is the opinion of your body… Some people handle sweeteners just fine, others not at all. I handle them but consider not having them better. I hardly couldn drink energy drinks anyway because the taste would be so awful that I would rather find some alternative solution (if possible). So it’s up to you.
i don’t know anything that makes me more awake, maybe lemon, a tiny bit… I used energy drinks for the extremely rare cases when falling asleep on my motorbike had a high probability. I knew no other way but it was rare, I felt no problem so I was fine with that. Would it be more often, I would have experimented with other methods. But it’s me, I like avoid such things.

(Jennifer M Palacios) #4

Hi Paul, I was just concerned because of the sweeteners in them. I guess I could try one and see what it does.:grinning:

(Jennifer M Palacios) #5

I do try to stay away from sweeteners as much as I can but I will try one out today to see how my body reacts.:grinning:

(You've tried everything else; why not try bacon?) #6

Ah. You mentioned Red Bull, which is unsweetened. As for non-sugar sweeteners, each one has a different effect on each person. Judging from anecdotal evidence on these forums, each non-sugar sweetener spikes someone’s insulin, but no one seems to be affected like that by every non-sugar sweetener, so you have to experiment to see if the one in your energy drink affects you or not.

As for sugar, I personally would avoid it. Table sugar, sucrose, is made up of a molecule of glucose bonded to a molecule of fructose. Glucose affects insulin levels, through fructose does not. However, fructose can be metabolised only in the liver, and too much at once causes fatty liver disease (it is metabolised by the same pathway that handles ethyl alcohol, so fructose and ethanol have similar effects on the liver). In high-fructose corn syrup, the fructose and glucose are not bonded, but of course their effect on the body is the same as the effect of sucrose.

#7

As long as you can sleep at night most of them are fine, almost all of them have pretty much converted to being more of a pre workout than an old school energy drink. My favorites are the Bang’s. Best flavors. I’m a slow caffeine metabolizer so the caffeine by itself doesn’t do much for me but the Bang’s actually give me a boost. Another thing you can try is a nootropic based pre-workout. I’ve been a fan of this one for a while. Instead of stimulant energy it just cranks up the brain again somewhat similar to the way exogenous ketones do. If 300mg of caffeine at 330 screws with you that’d be the way I go.

#8

I am guessing that tea is not your thing? I prefer green but flavor is up to you. I also ended up with a “free”(included in my purchase making it a reasonable deal) keto energy drink from ketologic. It might be something that interests you to look into. It was too sweet for me and I ended up needing to water it down. My favorite energy drink is from amazing grass green superfood. I like watermelon flavor but it does have a strong matcha flavor too so, if tea isn’t your thing, that is probably not the place to start looking.

(Jennifer M Palacios) #9

I read that even the drinks that have artificial sweeteners could spike my insulin. That’s why I was wondering about them, but you’re right, I won’t know unless I try one.

(Jennifer M Palacios) #10

I have seen the Bang’s drinks everywhere. I have yet to pick up a can and read the back for the ingredients. I will check a few out today.

Thanks!

(Jennifer M Palacios) #11

I actually love tea! I will check into the drinks you mentioned.

(Stephanie ) #12

I have always and still continue to drink energy drinks. Yes i know they are bad for you blah blah blah, and im sure some will try to talk you out of them… However, I have lost 80 lbs while drinking them with no issues, of course its all about the individual person and how it affects you. I drink monster zero ultra which have about 3-6 per can, depending on which one you get. I personally only drink the 3 carbs per can ones. I also like rockstar pure zero which have 0-2 per can depending on which one. Red bull sugar free which is i think 3 carbs per can ( i like the pear), and i also drink the sugar free cherry coke ir sugar free coke energy cans. They both have zero carbs. Again this is all a personal choice and it all depends on what affects you and what doesn’t, for me none of them have any type of affect on my weight loss. I hope this helps :grin:… for me, using the 3 carbs for an energy drink is well worth it. :wink:

(UsedToBeT2D) #13

Just eat more fat. Have a bulletproof coffee. It costs a lot less too.

#14

I drink Rockstar Zero Carbs (white can) and sometimes the blue can (twice the caffeine). I also drink diet soda. I check my glucose and none of them affect my sugars. I think a lot of people are scared of synthetic sugars… but with all the other bad crap in the environment, I find it funny that they decide to take a stand on these particular chemicals. Better life through chemistry, the hippies used to say. :stuck_out_tongue:

#15

Just test! A meter is $20 and a bottle of sticks is $25. Visit CVS.

(Kenny Croxdale) #17

Coffee

The primary ingredient in energy drinks is caffeine.

A cup of coffee provides around 150 to 200 mg of caffeine.

You should reap the same benefits from a cup of Coffee as a Red Bull for less money.

Kenny Croxdale

(Jennifer M Palacios) #18

Congrats on your weight loss! I have tried the Red Bull SF Pear, I love it. I have been curious about the SF coke energy drinks. I may have to grab a few.

(Jennifer M Palacios) #19

I will definitely pick up a meter and sticks.

#20

Not everyone likes the taste of coffee.

(Jennifer M Palacios) #21

I do love my morning coffee but it has always been hard to drink it later on in the day. It does make a great warm drink right before sleeping too.

Maybe I could try a cold brew type coffee?