Q: “I run on adrenaline because I work 18-hour days in a high-pressured job. I can’t seem to quit drinking caffeine, soda, and those energy drinks. Because the moment I do, my energy levels dip, which is bad for my body and my job. Any ideas on what I can substitute? They’d also have to work real fast – and taste good.”
- Jennifer, PA
A:
I’m glad that you noticed the not-so-good effects of energy drinks on your body, which makes it quicker and easier for me to answer your next question. One thing that attracts us to energy drinks or beverages that give uppers like coffee or soda is that they give us the extra boost when we need them. If we need to pull an all-nighter at work or attend business meetings in several states, the caffeine in those drinks stimulates our minds and provides our tired bodies excess energy. But once the stimulants wear off, then we crash – because the energyprovided is temporary. Our bodies can’t draw power from that amount of caffeine any more once you are desensitized to it.
But there are liquidsthat can provideyou long-lasting, sustainable energywhile cleansing your liver, burning calories, pumping your blood, and making you stronger for the long haul. Try protein-powered drinks like milk, yogurt, and soya juice, as protein saps away fatigue. Green tea is another option, and it also lessensyour riskfor cancerand heart disease. Natural fruit juices with the right amount of vitamins and minerals can actually give you a safe sugar fix. You can definitely overdue your intake on any of these substances, but replacing your artificially sweetened highly caffeinated beverages with something more healthy is definitely the first step.
Finally, you can’t go wrong with drinking at least eight glasses of water a day. One reasonwhy we feel tiredis dehydrationor the removal of water from our bodies. Replenishyour waterto run those extra hours you need. And to remove the blandness, just add a touch of lemon or lime.
