When hearing the words “energy drink”, judgments might jump straight to unhealthy, sugar-loaded, mass-produced canned beverages that continue to generate trend-setting marketing ads and sponsor the most elite adrenaline junkies. The National Institute for Health has identified energy drinks to rank as the most popular dietary supplement amongst U.S. teens and young adults. Males between the ages of 18 and 34 years consume the most energy drinks, while one-third of teens between 12 and 17 drink them regularly. Global energy drink sales estimated at $53+ billion have resulted in companies across the world pushing the limits to create an energy drink that is healthier, yet still provides similar health benefits including that ideal dose of caffeine everyone is on the hunt for.
These healthier energy drink alternatives are on the up-and-up and there are many outstanding reasons why. Clean and sustainable energy drinks keep the sugar low, use plant-based energy, moderate the amount of caffeine, limit the number of ingredients, and utilize natural ingredients. The reformulation of these industry-leading beverages is utilizing nootropic energy, also known as caffeine, which helps increase the consumer’s focus and mental clarity. Let’s deep dive into each of the benefits that clean energy drinks offer –
Keeps sugar on the low
Applicable to most energy drinks on the market, sugar tends to be the primary ingredient. A 12-ounce soda usually contains somewhere around 39 grams of sugar while typical energy drinks are around 41 grams of sugar. These massive amounts of sugar can lead to several unhealthy outcomes including jitters, sleeping disorders, obesity, and diabetes. The sugar used in these beverages provides a quick energy boost, but soon after a sugar crash can be expected. Consuming a clean energy drink with small traces of sugar to no sugar at all is certainly a much healthier option. If there are any sweeteners added to the ingredients list, verify they are natural sugars such as monk fruit, agave, honey, or organic sugar. Many clean energy drinks on the market are keeping the sugar contents below 5 grams of sugar per serving.
Uses plant-based energy
Most of the popular energy drinks on the market tend not to utilize plant-based energy. Large amounts of caffeine, added sugars, other additives, and legal stimulants such as guarana, taurine, and L-carnitine are not sustainably healthy, energy-boosting ingredients. In comparison, the up-and-coming clean energy drinks utilize unique ingredients to provide a more natural form of energy. These ingredients range from green and black tea to coffee fruit which also provides a more sustainable energy boost, mental clarity, and extended focus throughout the day. These plant-based ingredients still maintain, if not improve, the ability to focus and concentrate.
Moderates the amount of caffeine
Caffeine content is very important when on the hunt for the healthiest beverage options. Guarana can be found in many popular energy drink beverages and is considered a natural ingredient, although it contains 4 times more caffeine than a coffee bean. In addition, the guarana seed is considered an NCAA-banned stimulant and should not be consumed by competitive athletes. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) suggests 400 milligrams of caffeine per day is healthy. If caffeine is overconsumed, it can cause anxiety, insomnia, and headaches. When it comes to choosing the best energy drink, choose the option with a reasonable amount of caffeine. Both the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) and the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) consider a daily intake of up to 400 mg of caffeine. That equates to 2 to 4 cups of coffee a day or 1 to 2 sustainable energy beverages depending on the caffeine count. Therefore, any amount of caffeine between 100 to 400 mg per day is acceptable. Any amount greater than 400 mg can begin to activate unhealthy outcomes.
A limited number of ingredients, ensuring all are natural
While some energy drinks have a laundry list of ingredients, which most are difficult to pronounce, the clean and healthy energy drink alternatives commonly have a handful of ingredients that all can be pronounced loud and clear. Ranging from water to green tea, black tea, coffee fruit extract, and monk fruit. These are the vital ingredients you will want to keep an eye out for.
Good news! There are a handful of energy drinks that check all the boxes above and BeGOAT is one of them. BeGOAT is a natural, clean energy drink beverage that has been brewed with the goal of offering athletes a healthy energy drink alternative. With seven different flavors all containing just 25 calories, 5 grams of organic cane sugar, all-natural plant-based energy, 200 milligrams of caffeine, non-GMO, gluten-free, and only 7 net carbs. Not only does BeGOAT provide all the same benefits in a healthy fashion as popular energy drinks, but all the ingredients being consumed are nourishing and revitalizing. In addition, BeGOAT utilizes a unique ingredient called cascara. Cascara is also known as the coffee fruit or coffee cherry that grows outside the coffee seed. This is the most essential portion of the fruit that usually gets discarded during the processing stage of producing coffee. Some farms have been known to utilize the fruit by turning it into compost, but the talented brewers behind BeGOAT have determined a way to repurpose this delicious fruit as a main ingredient. The coffee fruit is bursting with caffeine, packed with several nutrients, and full of antioxidants which all contribute to improving cognitive health, supporting the immune system, providing a healthy energy boost, lowering stress and anxiety, and assisting with weight loss.
BeGOAT is gaining industry-leading momentum by introducing a wholesome, sustainable energy drink into the market that is packed full of unhealthy, sugar-loaded energy drinks. Now you can be your greatest of all time with your favorite BeGOAT flavor in one hand and health conscious in the other!
Follow BeGOAT on social media and don’t forget to swing by your local market today for a refreshing and sustainable BeGOAT Cascara+ beverage. Don’t worry if you can’t find your preferred flavor; you can conveniently shop online!
