Don't do it! I know it's tempting but don't settle for artificial energy.

It's a fact Energy Drinks actually rob you of energy.

You see them branded about everywhere nowadays.

Nothing about them interest me. Who wants to ingest 200 to 400 mg of caffeine in one drink?
Do you know which other drink boasts those same numbers? Coffee.

I know it must be hard for some of you to drop that habit. But believe me in the long-term you're in for some serious health issues.

Caffeine is the addictive element that makes coffee or energy drinks so appealing - and provides the jolt to smooth the transition from sleep to facing another day at work or school.

Take the worst energy drink out there: Monster

For every 20 oz. of Monster you drink it takes 6.3 gallons of water to flush it out of your kidneys. The average person drinks 6.3 gallons of water in 23 days. For every 20 oz of Red Bull you drink, with no sugar, it takes .9 gallons of water to flush out your kidneys and the average person drinks .9 gallons of water in about 2 days. (as published in a recent GNC article).

Once caffeine enters your bloodstream, it takes about 15 minutes for you to start feeling its effects. Caffeine stimulates the brain in the same way that cocaine and heroin does:

It blocks adenosine reception so you feel alert.
It injects adrenaline into the system to give you a boost.
It manipulates dopamine production to make you feel good.

Energy Drinks don't replenish the body after physical exertion (like sports drinks such as Gatorade).

In fact, because Energy Drinks have so much caffeine - they can actually dehydrate the drinker. That means if you're physically exerting yourself and drink just a Red Bull, the lack of hydration could strain your heart.

And if you combine energy drinks with alcohol, your risk of dehydration rises. There's another trend among teens and college students.

Students whose motor skills, visual reaction times, and judgment are impaired by alcohol may not perceive they are intoxicated as readily when they're also ingesting a stimulant, only the symptoms of drunkenness are reduced - but not the drunkenness. They can't tell if they're drunk; they can't tell if someone else is drunk. So they get hurt, or they hurt someone else.

You don't need to rely on artificial sources of energy.

The formula is quite simple: Short-dynamic-daily exercise, drink water! (3 glasses a day minimum), fruits and vegetables, protein (from nuts and lean meats), & deep breathing exercises.

You might say: "It can't be that simple!"

"Oh yes it can!", it just takes a little bit of discipline. Remember what I've talked about before:

Do you treat your body like a trash can?

Keep ingesting energy drinks and loads of coffee and you'll NEVER find the energy you were looking for in the first place.

Your health first,

Sifu Martin

Labels: Breathing, Energy, Nutrition, Strength Training