After all, energy drinks have a bad rap for good reasons. For starters, most contain far too much caffeine and ridiculous amounts of sugar. Then, there are the special blends of stimulants—natural-sounding ingredients like guarana, carnitine, ginseng, and ginko biloba—that can cause serious side effects when taken in the kind of unknown quantities that are in most energy drinks on the market. “For the most part, there is nothing clean about these drinks,” says Scott Michael Schreiber, DC, a chiropractor and nutritionist in Newark, DE. “They contain highly processed, artificial, low-quality ingredients, and the stimulant effect mostly comes from high doses of caffeine and sugar,” he says. MORE: Why All Those B Vitamins in Energy Drinks Aren’t Actually Energizing You And yet, they fly off store shelves. According to market data from Packaged Facts, the energy drink sector grew 60% between from 2008 to 2012, with total US sales exceeding $12.5 billion in 2012. At that rate, energy drink sales are expected to skyrocket to $21 billion by 2017. It’s no wonder some companies are trying to market “clean” alternatives—we’ve spotted dozens of new brands at Whole Foods and health food stores recently. Problem is, most dietitians and nutrition experts agree that most of these new “clean” options are still lacking. “You really have to take a close look at the actual ingredients being used in the products,” says Beth Warren, MS, RDN, a dietitian in New York City and author of Living Real Life with Real Food. “Ideally, you want to see as few ingredients as possible and you don’t want any added chemicals and ideally no added sweeteners, especially if they aren’t natural sweeteners.” Also, Warren says that a lot of energy drinks aren’t regulated by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), which means it’s important to do even more sleuthing to be sure you aren’t getting a product with too many stimulants. MORE: The 5 Most Awful Energy Drinks on the Planet We asked Warren to take a look at four new, seemingly good-for-you options on grocery store shelves and be honest about just how “clean” they really are. Here’s what she had to say: Taste Nirvana CocoMotion (100 calories, 22 g sugar per 16.2-ounce can) “This is a nice option, since it’s made mostly from coconuts. In fact, that’s where its natural sugars and potassium come from—both which will help boost energy, without potential dangerous side effects.” Bai 5 Bubbles (5 calories, 1 g sugar per 11.5-ounce can) “Although this one is more processed than the CocoMotion, it still only uses natural sweeteners that’ll add flavor without the chemicals. Because it’s not made from a natural fruit source, such as coconut, it won’t give you as many electrolytes—but it’ll still help hydrate due to its fluid content, which will boost energy. One thing to watch out for in this one is the erythritol, which is a sugar alcohol that can cause stomach discomfort in some people.” Steaz Zero-Calorie Berry Energy(0 calories, 0 g sugar per 12-ounce can) “This option gets its sweetness from erythritol, which, again, may cause stomach discomfort when consumed in excess.” A better option from this brand: Steaz Zero-Calorie Iced Green Tea Goji Blackberry. “It contains green tea, a natural source of caffeine, which also contributes to the antioxidant content. While this drink certainly isn’t an essential part of a healthy diet, it’s better than a soft drink or the average energy drink.” MORE: The Everyday Drink that Makes You Eat 384 More Calories a Day Hi-Ball Sparkling Energy Waters (0 calories, 0 g sugar per 16-ounce can) “This option seems to be a lot more concentrated with natural herbs and caffeine than the other drinks here, which may mean an increased risk of side effects.”
