Energy drinks --do they help?????

jimanuel12

jimanuel12

Semi-Pro
i try to have one before a match and they seem to work for awhile but then, it seems they just burn out quickly and i am looking for my good ole gator-aid again.
i use the 5 hour drink, it seems to work better than others, most of them just make me very giggery.
does anyone else use these before a match???
 
mikeler

mikeler

Moderator
I've never met anyone that has had a good experience with energy drinks. You'd be better off with Gatorade and a carbohydrate loaded meal a few hours before you play.
 
C

coyfish

Hall of Fame
I use energy drinks often. For tennis only sugarfree though. I do triathlons and on race day / hard cardio workouts I drink an energy drink. I like the feeling I get and I don't really "crash."

So I like them but I think its a personal thing. Some people like the feeling while others don't. As mikeler said you should eat a proper meal before playing. Thats more important.
 
Jonny S&V

Jonny S&V

Hall of Fame
Michael Phelps drank a ridiculous amount of energy drinks ("Monster," I believe) before a meet, if memory serves. Wouldn't recommend this, but it does work for some people.
 
chollyred

chollyred

Rookie
I like the 5-hour type drinks where the chief ingredients are B6 and B12. I don't like the typical Monster or Red Bull type drinks. Although I have sipped on these for a long time while driving long distances.

I don't think they'd be good for tennis (for me). Too jittery and too big a crash when they do burn off.
 
jimanuel12

jimanuel12

Semi-Pro
chollyred said:
I like the 5-hour type drinks where the chief ingredients are B6 and B12. I don't like the typical Monster or Red Bull type drinks. Although I have sipped on these for a long time while driving long distances.

I don't think they'd be good for tennis (for me). Too jittery and too big a crash when they do burn off.
Click to expand...

the five hour one is the one i am referring to. i have tried the others and they are too wild for me.
the ones loaded with B6 and B12 seem to work better for me. the red bull and others, i just don't like them very much.
i also take allot of good ole gator-aid and water to a match.
seems to work pretty well.
 
A

apor

Rookie
I skip the energy drinks. Real energy is had hours/day before before the match in the form of a good meal. Plenty of water every day, or at the very least the day before a match and you'll be set. Sometimes I sip on a pre-workout/during workout drink (amino vital or something- family member works at GNC) during a match, but only if I know I will also play later, or have matches the next day.
I thought Gatorade is not a good drink during exercise, at least not full strength. I only use the stuff as an absolute last resort.
 
C

coyfish

Hall of Fame
Gatorade is good during intense / long exercise. Basically if your playing for a couple hours there is no need. But if your playing a crazy 5 setter than go for it. You need to replenish the salts lost by sweat. Water can't deliver that. But you are right no need to drink it by the bottle.
 
BounceHitBounceHit

BounceHitBounceHit

Legend
jimanuel12 said:
i try to have one before a match and they seem to work for awhile but then, it seems they just burn out quickly and i am looking for my good ole gator-aid again.
i use the 5 hour drink, it seems to work better than others, most of them just make me very giggery.
does anyone else use these before a match???
Click to expand...

I can't recommend the 'energy drinks' but the 'recovery drinks' (a la Accelerade and Endurox R4) are great to help us old guys 'bounce back'. :) BHBH
 
D

dbusiness

Rookie
I drink a coke during a match. The key is to drink it over an hour or
more instead of trying to get a rush since you will crash. As others
have mentioned if you are jittery you are definitely drinking it to fast.
 
F

forthegame

Hall of Fame
I drink Powerade, dunno if that qualifies as an energy drink. More like a sports drink AFAIK.

It's the only drink that helps me when I play. IMHO, it does what it says, I feel the difference. All I need is my Powerade and I can go on playing for hours.

I dislike Gatorade intensely.
 
Slazenger07

Slazenger07

Banned
I avoid energy drinks before a match, they make me feel shaky and too amped up. I prefer to get my energy from some complex carbs before a match and I drink gatorade, vitamin water, or just good old agua during a match.
 
SystemicAnomaly

SystemicAnomaly

Bionic Poster
IMHO, most energy drinks on the market are krap (sic). I am referring to Red Bull, Monster and others that rely primarily on sugar & caffeine (with a bit of Taurine and small amounts of a couple of B vitamins).

However, I've had excellent results with 5-Hour Energy, 6 Hour Power and ProEndorphin. No sugar in these products and only a moderate amount of caffeine = ~35mg/oz for most of them & only 35 mg for a full (8oz) serving of ProEndorphin. However, my new favorite is Choco Energy from Now (Foods). It leaves all the others in the dust:

<-- select for more info​



chollyred said:
I like the 5-hour type drinks where the chief ingredients are B6 and B12. I don't like the typical Monster or Red Bull type drinks. Although I have sipped on these for a long time while driving long distances.

I don't think they'd be good for tennis (for me). Too jittery and too big a crash when they do burn off.
Click to expand...

No jitters at all for the no-sugar, moderate caffeine products, like 5-Hour and the others I mentioned above. Note that these products contain more than just B6 and B12 for their effect. The amino acids in the formula are fairly effective if the product is consumed on an empty stomach (or, at least, in the absence of competing protein). Most of these types also contain some other B vitamins as well as Glucuronolactone and DMAE or some choline ingredient. I believe that Choc Energy gets much of its superior effects from D-Ribose and various constituents of cocoa (chocolate) in addition to its generous B12 levels (and a few other constituents).
 
Autodidactic player

Autodidactic player

Professional
I like a product called Zipfizz, It's billed as a "healthy energy" powder containing high amounts of C, B6, B12 and, of course, some caffine. It comes in individual tubes. Tastes pretty good and wakes me up if I play after work. No jitters either.
 
autumn_leaf

autumn_leaf

Hall of Fame
tried 5 hr energy drink. while it made my heart beat increase i didn't feel a noticible increase in energy or concentration.

i just stick to a good diet.
 
boogywhip

boogywhip

New User
I like the sugar-free redbull. (the light blue can lol) It doesnt have a jittery feeling, at least to me, it helps keep my feet moving and I can really concentrate on points better. Just drink a lot of water with it to keep from dehydrating. As stated already, this isnt going to work for everyone, but this works really well for me.
 
SystemicAnomaly

SystemicAnomaly

Bionic Poster
(I'll respond to the amusing comment about ProEndorphin in my next post).

autumn_leaf said:
tried 5 hr energy drink. while it made my heart beat increase i didn't feel a noticible increase in energy or concentration.

i just stick to a good diet.
Click to expand...

Try it on an empty stomach. If you need to eat/drink something before or after the 5-Hour Energy (or similar product), be sure that it does not contain protein since these would compete with select amino acids in the energy shot. The other amino acids in a complete protein would tend to dilute the intended function of the amino acids in the energy drink -- they would be diverted for other functions in the body rather than promoting alertness & energy.

I usually only drink 1/2 bottle (1 oz) of 5-Hour Energy or 6 Hour Power to get the results that I want. About 15 minutes or so of consuming the product, I'll perform 10-20 minutes of cardio exercise -- this greatly enhances the effectiveness of the energy shot. I'll be focused/alert for the next 4-6 hours. While I do experience I noticeable increase in heart rate form the exercise, I do not notice any significant increase from 1 oz of the energy shot.
 
M

mb73

New User
I dislike energy drinks of all types. I just don't think ingesting that much at once can be a good thing for your body. If you keep a steady amount of good carbs (complex carbs like whole grains, etc.) in your diet EVERY DAY and drink plenty of water when you're not on the court you should have all the energy you need! Gatorade is good for keeping your electrolytes built up during and after playing, but your foundation has to be your daily diet. A good 60/25/15 diet works well for most people. That's 60 percent of your calories from carbs, 25 from healthy fats and 15 percent lean proteins. Stay hydrated. Avoid too many simple carbs like sugar and processed starches, rather opting for good carbs whenever possible. You'll be surprised at how much natural energy you will have within a week or so!

Good luck!
 
SystemicAnomaly

SystemicAnomaly

Bionic Poster
Too often, the effects of caffeine are equated with effects (& side effects) of coffee. Many of the deleterious effects of coffee are not due to its caffeine content but to its other constituents. "Over a thousand chemicals have been reported in roasted coffee: more than half of those tested (19 of 28 ) are rodent carcinogens. There are more rodent carcinogens in a single cup of coffee than potentially carcinogenic pesticide residues in the average American diet in a year, and there are still a thousand chemicals left to test in roasted coffee". (PubMed abstract)

Hypertension effects noted with coffee have also been seen with decaf coffee. Moderate intakes of caffeine have been found to have some health & cognitive benefits. Caffeine consumption can increase mental performance related to focused thought. Some studies have found that caffeine improved performance on learning/memory tasks. Caffeine is also considered ergongenic, increasing a person's capability for mental or physical labor.

ScienceDaily.com/releases/2002/11/021119073402.htm
.
 
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SystemicAnomaly

SystemicAnomaly

Bionic Poster
mary fierce said:
I'd have a hard time trusting a company that makes a product containing caffeine and a few vitamins and calls it ProEndorphin.
Click to expand...

I found this observation to be entertaining and rather ironic. The caffeine content of ProEndorphin is very low & is probably lower than that of any other energy drink (except, perhaps, for the decaf version of 5-Hour Energy). It's caffeine content is a mere 30-35 mg which is about the same as one would find in a 1.5 oz Hershey's Dark Chocolate bar. Compare this to the typical caffeine content of energy drinks: 75-350 mg or more. Check out the caffeine content of Redline Power Rush or Spike Shotgun.

The caffeine in ProEndorphin comes from Kola Nut (Cola Nitida seed). Aside from the naturally-occuring caffeine from the Kola Nut, no added caffeine or artificial stimulant is to be found in ProEndorphin.

A few vitamins! Have you taken a look at the impressive list of nutrients?

proendorphinfacts.gif

Altho' this product contains very generous amounts of B vitamins (B1, B2, B3, B6, B12, Biotin, B5, Inositol), are levels are well below recognized Upper Tolerable Limits and, as such, are considered safe levels.

Note that this product contains several amino acids to enhance its effects: D-Phenylalanine, DLPA and L-Taurine (actually a pseudo-amino acid). The Phenylalanine & DLPA can have analgesic (pain reduction), antidepressant and attention-enhancing properties, especially when take in the absence of competing protein. Phenylalanine & DLPA enhances the production of the neurotransmitters, dopamine and norepinephrine.

Other ingredients include Ginseng (Panax) and DMAE. Panax ginseng contains antioxidants and is considered to adaptogenic (rejuvenating). Adaptogenic herbs are said to increase the body's resistance to stress, trauma, anxiety and fatigue. DMAE is an organic compound that is part of the B vitamin family. It naturally occurs in the human brain as well as in "brain food" (fish such as sardines). "Short-term studies have shown an increase in vigilance and alertness, with a positive influence on mood." (PubMed abstract).

Note that ProEndorhin has been around since the early 90s (1993 or so) and predates the popularity of energy drinks. I believe that only Red Bull has been around longer -- developed in Thailand in the 1980s but it did not really gain popularity in the US & other parts of the world until the late 90s. I've been using this product (ProEndorphin) since the early/mid 90s and can attest to its ability to significantly facilitate "the runner's high" (the endorphin effect).
.
​
 
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M

mary fierce

Banned
You've demonstrated nothing. My point was that there's no reason to believe the beverage affects endorphins based on its content, and you've offered nothing to suggest otherwise. You feel better when you drink it?? Wow. Names promote different placebo effects. You're clearly not a scientist, or you'd know that substances that promote PRODUCTION of neurotransmitters generally do not promote the more relevant RELEASE of neurotransmitters. Richard Wurtman at MIT made a very distinguished career at MIT demonstrating this. Production of a neurotransmitter merely means more stored in the presynaptic vesicles, not more release.
 
SystemicAnomaly

SystemicAnomaly

Bionic Poster
^ Whether it is an increased release of endorphins, hormones (such as ATH, vasopressin), specific neurotransmitters or some other mechanism, the product clearly has an effect that cannot be attributed to a small amount of caffeine and "a few vitamins". I strongly suggest that you give it a try before passing judgment on it. The effect is significantly superior to a cup o' Joe or most energy drinks.
 
R

richw76

Rookie
I thought a very small amount of caffeine/ginseng was shown to improve concentration. That can't be bad for tennis. Of course all the sugar and the overdose amount of caffeine and other crap in an energy drink is probably not going to help.

I read a study that said even swishing a Gatorade type drink in your mouth and spitting it out when you were near exhaustion improved the performance of trained and untrained cyclist by about 12-15%

The reasoning is the brain. The lizard part of our brain always holds just a little bit back in case we have to run from a dinosaur or something. With the swish your brain thinks it's getting more energy so it release that last little bit.

My point it's mostly in your head. If you believe the energy drink will help, it probably will.
 
C

coyfish

Hall of Fame
richw76 said:
I thought a very small amount of caffeine/ginseng was shown to improve concentration. That can't be bad for tennis. Of course all the sugar and the overdose amount of caffeine and other crap in an energy drink is probably not going to help.

I read a study that said even swishing a Gatorade type drink in your mouth and spitting it out when you were near exhaustion improved the performance of trained and untrained cyclist by about 12-15%

The reasoning is the brain. The lizard part of our brain always holds just a little bit back in case we have to run from a dinosaur or something. With the swish your brain thinks it's getting more energy so it release that last little bit.

My point it's mostly in your head. If you believe the energy drink will help, it probably will.
Click to expand...

Lol what?? "lizard part of our brain" . . . anyways . . .


Its not in your head. Energy drinks effects everyone differently. Some people get the jitters while others don't. Some people concentrate better while others have difficulty calming down. The only way to find out is to try different kinds of energy supplements and see how they effect you. If you like the feeling than great. I do triathlons with my uncle and he downs monsters like candy. The guy is a cardio freak.

There is no point in arguing at all over this. Its pretty funny actually.
 
jimanuel12

jimanuel12

Semi-Pro
jimanuel12 said:
i try to have one before a match and they seem to work for awhile but then, it seems they just burn out quickly and i am looking for my good ole gator-aid again.
i use the 5 hour drink, it seems to work better than others, most of them just make me very giggery.
does anyone else use these before a match???
Click to expand...

this thread is intestering, anyway what i meant to say was:
the 5 hour energy drinks i was referring to are the ones without all the sugar.
i don't drink the ones loaded with sugar, only the ones with all the vitamins and caffine.
they seem to help me, gives me a little boost, then as i play, i take in the good ole gator aid and bottled water.
good to know what other folks think as well.
 
SystemicAnomaly

SystemicAnomaly

Bionic Poster
^ None of the 5-Hour Energy drinks contain sugar. Neither does 6 Hour Power or Choco Energy. ProEndorphin contains a mere 2 grams of dextrose and complex sugars. Most people will not experience the jitters or a crash from any of these drinks. Some may experience a bit of a niacin flush about 20-30 minutes after consumption with some of these products. The flush is harmless and should pass in a minute or two. An extremely small % of the population may have an aversion to the essential amino acid, phenylalinine (and to its derivative, aspartame).
 
K

kiteboard

Banned
The gel Nadal downs before each match, bikers use it, caffeine, sugar, carbs, 30g of each I would guess. I tried it. Didn't work for me at all. The only food that ever put me in the zone was oyako don buri, eggs, onions, chicken, sauce.
 
SystemicAnomaly

SystemicAnomaly

Bionic Poster
kiteboard said:
The gel Nadal downs before each match, bikers use it, caffeine, sugar, carbs, 30g of each I would guess. I tried it. Didn't work for me at all. The only food that ever put me in the zone was oyako don buri, eggs, onions, chicken, sauce.
Click to expand...

Dunno what the oyako stuff is but it would appear that there is a fair amount of protein and fat in the foods that you've listed here. Sounds ok if you are ingesting this a couple of hours or more prior to play. However, if you are consuming anything but a small amount of all this food, I would not do so within an hour or two of physical exercise or tennis.

The body takes a while (hours) to digest most proteins and fats (whey protein & MCT oil are a couple of exceptions). I believe that blood flow is diverted to the stomach during the gastric phase of digestion. Exercise tends to shift blood flow to the recruited muscle and away from the GI tract -- digestion and exercise tend to compete for blood flow.

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/8460288

The Food, Exercise, and Digestion Connection
.
 
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