Energy drinks are a spectrum. While there are some that look exactly like the stereotypical energy drinks from the early 2000s, there are a growing number which look nothing like their forefathers. Every month I try to highlight an energy drink which doesn’t fit the stereotype. This month, we’ll review the science behind a drink which could be considered an energy drink, a pre-workout, maybe even a tea.
The Energy Drink of the Month for May 2018 is Turbo Tea Zero from American Body Building.
I enjoyed the Green Tea flavor but there is also a Raspberry Tea flavor.
Caffeine, Comparisons, and Safety
As a food scientist and biochemist who’s studied energy drinks and their ingredients for over 10 years, I get asked all the time, “Why can’t people just drink plain tea or coffee, why does anyone need an energy drink?” I would never discourage someone from drinking black coffee or green tea, but for the people who don’t like the taste of those options, there are alternatives that one shouldn’t feel ashamed or alarmed to be drinking.
Turbo Tea Zero is not healthier than a cup of regular green tea. But it’s shelf-stable, more portable, better tasting (in my opinion), and it has more than double the caffeine content of a cup of green tea.
Turbo Tea Zero is a better option than some pre-workout supplements because it has only 120 mg of caffeine. Pre-workout supplements are THIRD on Caffeine Informer’s Most Dangerous Caffeinated Products list because so many of them contain more caffeine in one serving than the amount recognized safe. The European Food Safety Authority says healthy adults should only have 200 mg caffeine at a time, and up to 400 mg caffeine per day. However many pre-workouts contain >300 mg caffeine per serving.
Turbo Tea Zero is also a better option than the stereotypical energy drink. Red Bull, Monster, and Rockstar, “The Big Three”, are the energy drink forefathers that created the energy drink category (and stereotypes) and remain the top-selling energy drink brands. While Red Bull, Monster, and Rockstar all offer sugar-free alternatives to their original formulas, a stereotypical energy drink is not sugar-free. With zero Calories and zero grams of sugar, Turbo Tea Zero is a healthier option.
What about the “chemicals”, i.e., the “other ingredients”?
Turbo Tea Zero’s “Other Ingredients”
- NO artificial colors (not that those are conclusively dangerous, but some people choose to avoid those)
- Artifical and natural flavors (again, not that artificial flavor is conclusively dangerous but some opt out)
- Artificial sweeteners sucralose and acesulfame potassium, which have been proven safe again and again in several different countries but some people still prefer to omit them from their diets
- Potassium Benzoate and Potassium Sorbate preservatives, which are considered safe and occur naturally in plants
- Phosphoric acid, which is safe as long as one does not have an excess of food-additive phosphoric acid in the diet
- NOTE: The European Food Safety Authority is scheduled to revisit the safety of phosphoric acid in Dec 2018. Currently, the EFSA and US Institute of Medicine agree there’s not enough credible evidence to be worried about phosphorus intakes – 3,000 mg/day doesn’t show any adverse effects and people normally consume half that amount. [see EFSA 2005]
- NOTE: The European Food Safety Authority is scheduled to revisit the safety of phosphoric acid in Dec 2018. Currently, the EFSA and US Institute of Medicine agree there’s not enough credible evidence to be worried about phosphorus intakes – 3,000 mg/day doesn’t show any adverse effects and people normally consume half that amount. [see EFSA 2005]
What’s in it? Science Behind Turbo Tea Ingredients
♦GREEN TEA POWDER♦
Previously on the GreenEyedGuide Instagram page and YouTube channel, we spent a whole week revieweing the benefits of green tea. This research recap summarizes the top 5 benefits of green tea including the latest research consensus on green tea and cancer.
♦CAFFEINE ANYHYDROUS♦
Turbo Tea Zero has green tea AND caffeine anhydrous, which is GOOD NEWS for people using Turbo Tea Zero to help improve their workouts.
♦GUARANA EXTRACT♦
Everything guarana can do, caffeine can do better.
Guarana is a natural source of caffeine, and many times getting caffeine from a natural source is preferable. We’ve reviewed a few energy drinks with guarana.
But unlike green tea extract, guarana doesn’t come with its own unique set of benefits.
- Guarana is supposed to increase fat metabolism. So does caffeine, and a caffeine-free guarana extract didn’t show the same fat-metabolism effects.
- Guarana is supposed to improve mood and concentration, so does caffeine.
♦GINSENG♦
According to Chinese Medicine, ginseng is an adaptogen, meaning it helps your body handle (or ADAPT) to stress.
HOWEVER…
The way ginseng is consumed is critical to how it reduces stress. Traditionally, ginseng is chewed or sipped as a tea. And there you have it, these keywords are the secret to ginseng’s success!
- The act of mastication reduces stress [Physiology & Behavior 97(3-4):304-312]
- Sipping and holding something warm has been shown to reduce blood pressure and stress [Amen, D.G. Change Your Brain, Change Your Body]
Like Ginkgo, ginseng has a reputation for treating a variety of ailments, but the evidence is lacking.
A systematic review of almost 500 studies involving Panax Ginseng found the only benefit was for glucose metabolism in animal models. Ginseng might help increase insulin and decrease blood glucose levels but it’s unclear whether ginseng can effectively help manage diabetes in humans, especially since it is so poorly absorbed/bioavailable.
Fatigue Level 3
An energy drink is like your favorite song: what works for YOU may not work for ME, and what works for you on a Monday morning may not be your Go-To for Friday nights.
The 5 Levels of Fatigue is a system I developed to help people pick a drink which matches their situation. This system categorizes products using factors like juice content, carbonation, delivery method, and caffeine content. This system beats caffeine tolerance and dependence. This system prevents people from using caffeine when they’re really just tired from dehydration. This system helps people consume caffeine safely.
With 120 mg caffeine per bottle/serving, Turbo Tea Zero is Fatigue Level 3 – ideal for when you’re lethargic and struggling, but not recommended for everyday use.
Visit the Turbo Tea product page
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Review the entire ENERGY DRINK OF THE MONTH SERIES
I’ve researched the science and safety behind energy drinks and their ingredients since 2003. This book is the culmination of my research:
- Get your copy of MY BOOK: “Are You a Monster or a Rock Star: A Guide to Energy Drinks — How They Work, Why They Work, How to Use Them Safely” on Amazon and NOW ON AUDIBLE***
Explore the CAFFEINE INFORMER database
Need help with quitting caffeine?
- If you’ve decided you want caffeine out of your life entirely, I HIGHLY recommend this Caffeine Informer guide: Awake: How to Quit from Caffeine for Good or this set of capsules to help you Wean Caffeine