Science Behind Jamba Energy Drink

September 13, 2014July 30, 2019greeneyedguide

If someone asked you to draw a Venn diagram showing energy drink consumers and loyal Jamba Juice customers, how much would those two groups overlap? If you are familiar with my Energy Drink of the Month blog posts, you know by now that all energy drinks are not created equal. Some don’t fit the mold, and there are many “energy-drinks-in-disguise” at your local grocery store and/or gas station. This month’s pick is another energy-drink-in-disguise.

The Energy Drink of the Month for September 2014 is Jamba Blueberry Pomegranate.

7 Thoughts on Jamba Energy

1-There’s pictures of blueberries and pomegranates on the label…alert the press!

Since this is the first image I have of the product, we’ll start here. Whether or not you’re in the food industry, you might’ve heard the news story about Pom Wonderful suing Coca Cola over a pomegranate blueberry juice blend. The excerpt below from a Nutritional Outlook article explains the problem (click here for full article):

POM Wonderful is suing Coke, alleging that the company deceptively uses the words pomegranate and blueberry on its Minute Maid Pomegranate Blueberry 100% Fruit Juice Blend label, when in fact the drink contains very little pomegranate and blueberry juice… On his show, Oliver joked that “one of Coke’s actual arguments this week in the Supreme Court is that they’re allowed to give their product a name that refers to juices that provide the characterizing flavor—an argument that has the characterizing flavor of bullsh*t.”

Full (hilarious and informative) John Oliver video here

With the can now in hand, we move from these prominent images to the next point.

2-Look at where pomegranate and blueberry are located on the ingredient line.

Surprise, surprise, neither pomegranates nor blueberries are the first ingredient in the ingredient list. Water is the first ingredient, followed by apple juice concentrate (and that’s significant when we get to point 4). The good news is pomegranates and blueberries are not last on the ingredient list, so they are not added in “fairy dust amounts” in order to make it onto the label.

Ingredient Line for Jamba Blueberry Pomegranate Energy Drink

3-Even fruit puree/juice drinks need natural flavors.

Since I have had the pleasure of working closely with flavor houses as a product developer, I never panic when I see the phrase “natural flavors”. I’m not sure where the food blog activists got their ammunition to freak out over natural flavors, especially since “natural” used to be the magic word of acceptability to many other consumers. With a product like this, natural flavors are necessary. Caffeine is bitter, and fruit purees are not potent enough by themselves to convey the intended flavor. The biggest concern with natural flavors is not their safety, it’s finding the right flavor for the intended consumer. Many people don’t realize what a challenge this can be.

http://www.fona.com/sites/default/files/flavor-wheels/strawberry-flavor-wheel.pdf

For example, when a food scientist says to a flavor chemist, “I want the product to taste like strawberries”, the flavor chemist has to navigate through a wide spectrum to find the right flavor profile. Should it be a jammy strawberry? Artificial or candy-like strawberry? Creamy like strawberry yogurt? Juicy like fresh-picked strawberries? The possibilities are more numerous anyone could imagine, and it requires thinking outside the box.

4-There’s a lot of sugar but consider the source.

A glance through the ingredient line shows no sugars are added. The sweetness of this drink comes from the naturally occurring sugars in the juices and purees, topped off by the natural sweetener Stevia. I like seeing Stevia on the label as opposed to artificial sugars. I don’t believe artificial sweeteners are bad for you (they are in moderation — see Panera Project KNOW-No List), but I’d rather consume natural sweeteners than artificial. For me, it is a preference, not a fear.

Moving our eyes up the label from the ingredients line to the Nutrition Facts Panel we see there are 20 grams of sugar per serving, and it’s all coming from the fruit juices. This discovery is the make-or-break moment for me. I try to limit excess sugars wherever possible, so this amount of sugar is almost enough to make me put the drink back on the shelf. It’s not like raw blueberries are sugar-free, but eating raw blueberries is different than consuming a blueberry juice-flavored product. Since my objective today is to get an energy boost, not fight free radicals, I’ll look past the sugar content.

Jamba Energy Nutrition Facts Panel GreenEyedGuide — Nutrition Facts Panel Jamba Energy

5-The caffeine content makes this Fatigue Level 2.

I am consuming Jamba’s energy drink for an energy boost, not to boost my freggie count for the day. Thankfully the caffeine content is prominently displayed on the can, 80 mg per container. This is the same amount of caffeine that’s in an 8 oz Red Bull. At the time of the evaluation, this amount of caffeine PERFECT for my Level of Fatigue. Level 2= 2 Tired to Go It Alone.. I know my fatigue is not due to dehydration/boredom, which is Fatigue Level 1, but I only need a little boost of caffeine.

6-Want to avoid caffeine toxicity and dependency? Look for energy drinks that come with juice.

Carbonation is added to this product but energy drinks with juice are not as carbonated as their juice-less counterparts. The ways juice and carbonation affect the perceived energy boost is something I discuss in detail in the Energy Drink Guide. In this case, I just need a little boost, not a big energy kick, so the juice is a good indication this product will suit my Level of Fatigue.

According to Caffeine Informer, the natural caffeine in this product comes from green tea extract.

https://www.caffeineinformer.com/caffeine-content/jamba-juice-energy-drink

7-Raw isn’t always better (food safety nerd alert).

Raw juices make me nervous. I know too much food micro to be comfortable with the risk, especially since the product is 70% juice. I’m relieved to see that this juice is pasteurized. For more info on raw juices and the Juicing trend: click here

Bottom Line

I can tell by the marketing blurb on the side of the can that the intended consumer is one who is trying to avoid the stereotypical energy drink. “Pure and simple”, this energy drink has a clean label and is a good alternative to many other energy products. There is no added sugar; it’s coming all from the fruit juices. If the sugar content is a deal-breaker, consider this: sugar-free Red Bull has the same amount of caffeine — 80 mg. Personally, I would rather drink a Jamba energy drink than a sugar-free Red Bull (though only if the line at Jamba was short).

Jamba Energy GreenEyedGuide — A Message from the Marketers: Not intended for Chemistry Majors?

Additional Resources

Jamba Energy product page

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Review the entire ENERGY DRINK OF THE MONTH SERIES

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Science Behind Arrriba Horchata Energy

August 13, 2014July 30, 2019greeneyedguide

If you eat breakfast at 6am, is the meal you eat at 10am really lunch? Not wanting to feel like a Hobbit with Second Breakfast and Elevenses, I wanted an energy drink that would help me wake up without irritating an empty stomach; one that wouldn’t replace the breakfast I intended to have at 8am and one that wouldn’t require me to wait in a long line. At my local 7-11, I found a product that did the trick.

The Energy Drink of the Month for August 2014 is Arriba Horchata Energy.

Energy Drink of the Month Horchata — Energy Drink of the Month

I am naming this Energy Drink of the Month not because I want to encourage more people to drink it, but because I find this product fascinating in my adorable, dorky food scientist sort-of-way.

WHAT IS HORCHATA

Don’t mention Vampire Weekend. According to the dictionary:

INGREDIENT PANEL ASSESSMENT

1-SERVINGS PER CONTAINER

Have you ever eaten a bag of chips and realized later that one bag was supposed to be 3 servings? I hate that. Always check the Servings per Container. Checking that first will put the rest of these point in context.

2-CAFFEINE

For any product featuring the word “ENERGY” on the label, always look for a caffeine statement and where the caffeine (if any) is coming from. In this case, there are 76mg of caffeine, and it comes from guarana (the 7^th ingredient in the ingredient’s list). To learn more about where guarana comes from, what green tea extract and guarana have in common and what dosages of guarana are safe, see this energy drink guide.

3-SUGAR

Always check the amount of sugar per serving (and per container). There’s a whopping 38g of sugar in this one can, and all of it comes from Sugar. I try to limit my added sugars and some days I’m more successful than others. I know this product is not going to help me reach that goal for the day, but I’m committed to trying this product at least once.

After my first few sips of the product, I decided 38g was too much; it was way too sweet for me (and all my colleagues in Product Development would tell you that’s really saying something). If Arriba made a lower-sugar version of this I’d be all over it. But alas…

4-B VITAMINS

There are quite a few B-vitamins in the product but unfortunately none of them are included with the Daily Value percentages on the Nutrition Facts Panel. Here are the vitamins included, and some notes pulled from Are You a Monster or a Rock Star: A Guide to Energy Drinks — How They Work, Why They Work, How to Use Them Safely

Calcium D-Pantothenate = vitamin B5; note “pantothen” in Greek means everywhere, and this vitamin is so abundant in every food group that no one has ever had a pantothenic acid deficiency.

Niacinaminde = vitamin B3; note niacin deficiency, pellagra or Mal de la Rosa reached epidemic proportion is the USA in the early 1900s.

Pyridoxine HCl = vitamin B6; note this vitamin participates in over 100 chemical reaction on the body but consuming over 100mg per day (5,000% DV) can cause nerve damage.

Thiamin mononitrate = vitamin B1; note thiamin deficiency is called beriberi which means “I can’t, I can’t” in Sri Lanka.

Folic acid; note folic acid is the poster-child for vitamin fortification success.

D-Biotin; note biotin is a key player in carbohydrate, protein and fat metabolism.

Cyanocobalamin = vitamin B12; note B12 can be a hurdle to Veganism because plants don’t make it; all B12 is made via fermentation of bacteria, fungi or algae (side-note: algae ingredients like spirulina and chlorella can be vegan sources of B12).

5-Carageenan

Yes, this product contains carrageenan, which is a thickening agent like Xanthan Gum (Read The Xanthan Gum Disaster here). Carageenan may be a controversial ingredient but I don’t believe there is cause for panic. Some useful, credible resources for reference:

In “Harmful or Harmless: Carrageenan”, Chris Kresser points out that there are two types of carrageenan, and the one most associated with harm is not the form used as an effective thickener.

The European Commission Health & Consumer Protection Directorate-General, Scientific Committee on Food (SCF) states that intakes of carrageenan are of no concern if the amount consumed is below the No Observed Effects Level (NOEL) of 750 mg per kilogram body weight per day. (Read the complete Opinion of SCF on Carageenan – free, here)

QUALITY QUESTIONS

Because I am a Quality Assurance professional (and I can’t help myself), when I look at a product like this and the lack of information on their website, I ask questions. I can’t help but wonder, How big is this company? Do they have a HACCP plan to ensure product safety? Do they do microbiological testing on incoming ingredients? What tests do they do on the finished product before it’s cleared for release/shipping?

HACCP basics – http://www.gjfood.com/haccp

Bottom Line

Due to the sugar content, lack of B-vitamin information and lack of information on the company making this product, I would not encourage consumption. Nor would I discourage anyone who wanted to try it as an alternative to another energy drink or coffee beverage.

Additional Resources

Arriba Horchata Energy main page

Caffeine Content in Arriba Horchata Energy – Caffeine Informer

Energy Drink of the Month Reviews – Year 1

July 14, 2014July 30, 2019greeneyedguide

It was one year ago that I first held it. I pinched it, turned it over, smelled it. Deciding that it was real, I laughed heartily and did a little dance of victory. My first book had finally been published. My quest to help people see energy drinks like I do, to explain the tricks and tips to consuming caffeine safely, and to introduce my 5 Levels of Fatigue system for picking the right product had finally materialized into a green paperback. Ten years of research, experimentation and late-night writing all in less than 200 pages.

Energy Drink of the Month — A Year’s Reflection

To commemorate the 1 year anniversary of what I still consider my first child, I’d like to take a look back at a year’s worth of posts about the Energy Drink of the Month. Each of them is highlighted for a different reason and almost none of them matches the typical energy drink you’d hear lambasted on the news.

[June 2014] – Neuro Sonic:

neruo SONIC — I love it when energy drinks have lids!

With a twisty-cap for easy caffeine moderation, this energy-drink-in-disguise features an amount of caffeine perfect for tough mornings. With 100 milligrams of caffeine, carbonation, and no fruit juice (except for color purposes), this product suitable for Fatigue Level 3. Read More: 3 Levels and 3 Reasons

[May 2014] – vitaminwater Energy:

With the best caffeine warning label I’ve ever seen, vitaminwater Energy is perfect for road trips, those on a budget, and those looking for a very mild caffeine boost. Read More: 3 Pros and Cons of vitaminwater® energy drink – from a Food Science, Product Development and Quality Perspective

[April 2014] – Avitae caffeinated water:

caffeine water natural label — Caffeine : Water : : Beet Powder : Lemonade

As far as energy drinks go, it doesn’t get much cleaner or simpler than this. With three levels of caffeine available, this product line is suitable for Level 2, 3 and 4 of the 5 Levels of Fatigue. Also note that since it comes in a bottle you can sip it and reseal it, regulating your caffeine intake in ways that aren’t possible with an open can or a hot coffee. Read More: Redefining “Energy Drink” – 5 Qs with Avitae

[March 2014] – FRS Healthy Energy:

Energy Drink March 2014 Healthy Energy — Visit FRS.com

Champion of the consumer-friendly label, this product is weak-sauce when it comes to caffeine content, but features intriguing “alternative-energy” ingredients like Quercetin. What is Quercetin and what does it have to do with Harry Potter’s mom? Read on my friends. Read More: 5 Reasons to Pick FRS Healthy Energy

[February 2014] – Starbucks Refreshers:

Finding a soul-mate for Valentine’s Day is hard. Finding a Starbucks is easy. With this green-coffee-powered energy-drink-in-disguise, you can still hit on the baristas in the green aprons without buying a source of caffeine that has to be chilled or consumed within the hour. Read More: 5 Reasons Refreshers Deserve Your Love

[January 2014] – V8 V-Fusion + Energy:

Starting the year with PIGs and POAs (Plans, Ideas, Goals and Plan of Actions)? Start the year strong by swapping a Red Bull for a V8. By the way, they have the same amount of caffeine – 80mg/can, which is less than a tall latte from Starbucks. Read More: 7 Little Known Facts about V8 V-Fusion

[December 2013] – Red Bull Editions:

I confess I’m friends with the Monster, and I may or may not party like a Rockstar on New Year’s Eve. But making it through the holiday season requires a special energy drink. How special? Special edition…Read More: How Red Bull Editions Beat the Competition in 5 Different Categories

[November 2013] – Go Girl:

This energy drink is one of the few who donate a percentage of their sales to a charitable donation. Like its caffeine content, the charitable contributions are not overwhelming, but not negligible. Read More: 3 Insights on Go Girl

[October 2013] – Spider Energy:

Other flavors are available but I prefer Widow Maker for its flavor, its tagline atop the can, and its colors scheme.

Encouraging consumers to “drink what you fear”, this product could have been among the first to challenge notions that all energy drinks are toxic. Some caffeinated products are certainly worse than others, but enjoy this one with caution. The amount of caffeine per container, carbonation and sugar content put this product at Level 4 in the 5 Levels of Fatigue. Read More: Green-Eyed Guide Teaches Man to Fish with Spider

[September 2013] – Rize Energy:

Like the trajectory of a Red Bull flugtag contraption, many people start September with an optimistic lift of energy and determination…before losing momentum and dropping quickly to the ground. I have to plan for Halloween already?!? The sun has set already?!? Midterms, already?!? Don’t give into the fall, rise. You may be powerless to stop the evening fog from rolling in, but you can combat the fog that creeps into your mind – rise. Read More: 3 Ways Rize Helps Body and Brain

[August 2013] – Archer Farms Energy:

With the end of summer comes three specific energy-zappers. Caffeine is not the only solution but it can certainly help, as long as you pick the right product. Read More: Why The End of Summer is Tiring and What You Can Do About It

[July 2013] – Nawgan Mandarin Orange:

This energy-drink-in-disguise was the first product I ever picked for Energy Drink of the Month. This product doesn’t even call itself an energy drink but it’s got more caffeine than the top selling energy drink in the nation. Choosing to avoid or enjoy an energy drink is not as black and white as it seems, but anyone can learn the 10 steps of consuming caffeine safely. Read More: How to Read a Caffeinated Product’s Label in 10 seconds.

Remember, knowledge is power, and the dosage makes the difference between a poison and a cure. Thanks for the support, the comments and all the shares! ~ Green-Eyed Guide

Click this link to get your copy of Are You a Monster or a Rock Star: A Guide to Energy Drinks — How They Work, Why They Work, How to Use Them Safely (also available on Amazon, Barnes & Noble, iTunes and more! Check Goodreads for your favorite source, or just ask your local bookstore)

Please “Like” the Energy Drink Guide on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/energydrinkguide

Science Behind Neuro Sonic

June 13, 2014July 30, 2019greeneyedguide

You know you’re in trouble when you wake up tired. You might’ve slept 6 hours but your alarm goes off and you feel exhausted. This is Fatigue Level 3, and June’s Energy Drink of the Month is dedicated to situations like these.

The Energy Drink of the Month for June 2014 is neuro® SONIC™.

energy drink of the month neuro — Energy Drink of the Month – June 2014

It’s one of those mornings that you hit snooze three times before you finally got up. You’ve been awake (technically) for an hour but you still feel like you’re dragging. At this level, a cup of tea isn’t going to do it. You’re not about to run a marathon or pull an all-nighter or work a vampire shift behind the bar, but you do have a full day ahead of you and you need to gear up for it.

– Excerpt from Are You a Monster or a Rock Star: A Guide to Energy Drinks.

Sometimes I need an energy drink that’s going to take me from I-have-to-look-at-videos-of-baby-huskies-to-get-me-through-the-day to I-want-to-drive-85mph-on-the-freeway-singing-“We’ve-all-got-the-spark”.

So why pick Neuro?

3 Levels and 3 Reasons

1-Closure, Carbonation and Caffeine

When you wake up tired, it’s not easy to tell the difference between I’m-just-not-awake-yet, and I’m-so-tired-my-whole-body-hurts. If you always reach for the strongest source of caffeine, there’s a chance you’ll overcompensate and overconsume caffeine. You should always save the big doses and high-powered energy kicks for the most desperate energy deficiencies.

SONIC’s uniquely shaped bottle features a twist-off cap, which makes it extraordinarily easy to moderate your intake. Take a sip here and there and you may find you don’t need the whole bottle to get you back on your feet. Feeling the fizz of the carbonation often helps the Placebo Effect, plus carbonation slightly irritates the stomach lining and makes it easier for caffeine molecules to be absorbed.

caffeine informer neuro — Caffeine Informer Database

Finally, the amount of caffeine in SONIC is perfect for those tough mornings. With 100 milligrams of caffeine, carbonation, and no fruit juice (except for color purposes), this is suitable for Fatigue Level 3. This drink is stronger than an 8oz can of Red Bull but doesn’t give you as much caffeine as a 16oz Monster or Rockstar — save those higher levels of caffeine for Fatigue Level 4!

2-Special Ingredients

In my line of work I’ve had the chance to review a plethora of special ingredients; ingredients that are added to a product because of a specific benefit linked to the consumption. Two such ingredients that stand out on the neuro® label are L-TeaActive and choline.
I first discovered the brain-boosting benefits of choline thanks to another energy drink. I’m not entirely sold on the science of choline (because it’s tricky to prove brain health and attribute it to one specific thing), but I enjoy seeing it on labels because it makes me feel good about the product. Very scientific justification, I know. In this case, choline, like glucosamine, is going to do nothing or it’s going to do something positive for your health, so it’s a no-lose situation.
Theanine promotes relaxation and focus, according to numerous studies on the benefits of green tea. It’s not surprising to see it in an energy drink because it’s the manufacturer’s way of making sure you get energized without being jittery. In this case, the theanine is coming from Blue California, who went through the trouble of applying for GRAS status for their brand, L-TeaActive. You can see the GRAS confirmation here: http://www.bluecal-ingredients.com/whatsnew/pr_20101111.php but I also recommend reading more about the implications (and costs!) of applying for GRAS status in this article by Justin J. Prochnow.

3-Another Energy Drink in Disguise

With the variety of energy drinks on the market, it’s always appealing to find one that doesn’t look like an energy drink. As I’ve indicated in several of this year’s Energy Drink of the Month picks, I like to find sources of caffeine without finding myself at the receiving end of disapproving stares or a lecture about how I’m ruining my heart (see Pop Quiz). Yes, I try to get my energy boost from water and tea whenever possible, but sometimes I need something stronger. Since our company mantra is about helping people live healthier lives, I can’t exactly carry a Monster-wannabe around the office. SONIC provides that caffeine boost without the temperature-dependent limitations of coffee or the negative public perceptions of the typical energy drink.

Bottom Line

If you suffer from restless nights of dreaming about your job, give this energy drink a try. It’s perfect for those days when tea or juiced energy drinks (Level 2) aren’t going to give you the boost you need. Challenge yourself to make the bottle last a whole day — it’s got a twisty cap for easy caffeine moderation! ____________________________________________________________________________________________

Resources and Additional Reading

Caffeine Informer – neuro drink review

Caffeine Informer – Caffeine Content of neuro SONIC

neruo SONIC official page

Get your copy of Are You a Monster or a Rock Star: a guide to energy drinks HERE, here or at your local bookstore with the ISBN codes found here.

“Like” the Energy Drink Guide on Facebook to spread the message of caffeine safety

Ask questions 1:1 with Google Helpout: My Listing

Science Behind Vitaminwater Energy

May 7, 2014July 30, 2019greeneyedguide

It just stopped snowing in Wisconsin a few days ago but somehow I’ve already missed all the swimsuit sales. Headed to Florida for a 3-day weekend (which is as close as I’ll get to Spring Break in Grown-Up Land) and forced to fork over more than I intended for a nice swimsuit, I was looking for a bargain wherever I could. I found it at 7-11 where, aside from my pre-flight protein shake, I found a collection of tropical-looking energy drinks that were 10 for $10! Colorful, affordable, low-cal and, better yet, they passed the Food Scientist Label Inspection (meaning they actually had substance and not just amateur combinations of caffeine and sugar) – SOLD!

The Energy Drink of the Month for May 2014 is vitaminwater® energy beverage Berry Punch.

This is not to be confused with the vitaminwater® Energy that comes in a plastic bottle and looks yellow. Other flavors of this vitaminwater® energy beverage product line include Strawberry Lime, Raspberry Citrus, and Orange Mango. I enjoyed all four flavors but I think I prefer Berry Punch, and not just because the can matches the color scheme of my phone, my shoes, my watch and my new swimsuit. Anecdotes and silliness aside, let’s look at the science behind what makes this drink the Energy Drink of the Month.

3 Pros and Cons of vitaminwater® energy drink – from a Food Science, Product Development and Quality Perspective