Energy Drinks: Do They Really Deliver Energy? (Nutrition‪)‬

Energy is a hot commodity these days with our fast-paced lives trying to squeeze in everything from work to family to the all important play time. The result is often a schedule that is a jam packed and no energy to do everything we want to be able to do. Instead of getting more rest, eating right, and exercising regularly, many people turn to energy drinks to give them an added boost. Energy drinks are basically soft drinks that either contain a form of sugar or artificial sweetener, caffeine, and various other ingredients. Energy drinks became a unique beverage category in 1997 when Red Bull was introduced to the United States from Austria. From 2001 to 2006, there was a 516 percent increase in U.S. sales of energy drinks. The market hit $5.4 billion in 2007 and is expected to reach $10 billion by 2010. Sugar-free energy drinks are one of the fastest growing segments of the energy drink market due to concerns of calories and excess carbohydrates from sugar.