Science Behind Runa Clean Energy

February 15, 2015July 30, 2019greeneyedguide

When it comes to food, I’m not a fan of the term “clean energy”. I get what this term is trying to convey, but as a food scientist, the term makes me laugh inside. Same thing with the concept of a “zero-calorie energy drink” (because a calorie is a measurement of energy). “Food Science v Marketing” rant over, let me tell you about a new source of “clean energy”.

The Energy Drink for the Month of February is Runa Clean Energy.

Energy Drink of the Month GreenEyedGuide Runa — Energy Drink of the Month — February 2015

The Berry flavor is my favorite (shocker, if you’ve been following my other monthly picks). I prefer not to drink my calories, but I much prefer the sweetness of the Berry flavor than the zero-calorie version. I tried the “Original Zero with a hint of lime” and, my word, it has an interesting flavor profile. It starts with a carbonated zing akin to citric acid, then the hint of lime shows up, followed by some earthly botanical notes that are reminiscent of iced tea but slightly different, and not unpleasant. The berry flavor is much more my style – short, sweet, and subtly strong.

5 Reasons to Recharge with Runa Clean Energy

ONE — Alternative Energy

Ever heard of guayusa? Pronounced “gwhy-you-sa”, this plant is the Amazonian cousin of yerba mate. While the leaves of guayusa are brewed like tea leaves, the lack of tannins means less of the bitter, astringent taste that’s characteristic of green, black and white teas.

This new source of caffeine has two benefits: First of all, yerba mate and guarana have developed negative connotations due to their use in energy drinks (and the controversy surrounding them). If you want to avoid the bitter taste of tea and the “save-your-liver” lectures from those who believe all energy drinks are bad for you, this new source of caffeine is your answer. The second benefit to guayusa is that because it’s novel, there are less people trying to source it and thus, more of it to go around. When demand of ginkgo biloba started to skyrocket, so did the cases of economic adulteration. Not enough supply to meet demand? Someone’s going to start providing knock-offs to reap those unmet sales requests. Finding new sources of America’s favorite drug (caffeine), means there’s less chance of depleting natural resources.

TWO — Caffeine with a Cause

I love energy drinks with a good story. There are some energy drinks that donate proceeds of each sale to charity, and then there are those who give back in other ways. Runa is fair-trade certified, and supports the small farmers and local communities to build a sustainable supply chain. To learn more about the Runa Foundation, see below.

Runa Foundation — http://www.fundacionruna.org/our-work.html

THREE — Guayusa Your Way

A big part of consuming caffeine safely is about slowing your rate of consumption. In the Energy Drink Guide, Mr. Swift and Mr. Thrift demonstrate that nursing your caffeine instead of chugging it makes the effects of caffeine last longer, and helps mitigate an energy crash. While Runa Clean Energy comes in an 8.4 ounce can, there’s also a bottled version. If you’re trying to wean your caffeine intake, you can take a sip, reseal the bottle, and try to make one serving last a whole day (or two). Note – the glass bottles show a bit of particulate at the bottom so if you’re a “no-pulp” person like me, the cans might be a better option. You could also get fancy with your brewing and try the pyramid infusers or looseleaf tins, or just go the traditional route and get a box of tea bags.

Runa Clean Energy and Other Guayusa Produts — The Runa Family – http://runa.org/products/#Products

FOUR — Polyphenols (antioxidants), Amino Acids, and Liquid Courage

While isolated antioxidants have failed to show the same health benefits in the human body as they do in a test tube, there’s plenty of credible evidence on the health benefits of drinking green tea. Guayusa contains twice the antioxidants of green tea, according to the Runa website. The “super-leaf” also contains essential amino acids (though the energy drink itself contains zero grams of protein). If none of that encourages you to try Runa Clean Energy, perhaps this will: traditional use of guayusa includes consumption before nighttime hunting trips, as the guayusa gave the hunters mental strength, courage and focus. Who doesn’t want more of that?

Guayusa Runa Clean Energy Can Label — What is Runa? Guayusa? Clean Energy?

Runa Clean Energy Label Kosher Non-GMO Organic Fair Trade — Fair Trade Organic Non-GMO Kosher etc

FIVE — 5 Levels of Fatigue = Level 3.99

Knowing your Level of Fatigue will help you find the right energy drink for your situation. Always reaching for the same caffeine concoction is a good way to build a tolerance or habitual craving. Furthermore, you can mitigate caffeine over-consumption by NOT reaching for caffeine when you are tired due to dehydration, or when you’re so tired that only sleep will save you. This is the 5 Levels of Fatigue system, and each level matches a specific set of recommendations.

Caffeine Informer Runa Clean Energy — If this is too much caffeine for you, the bottled versions have less caffeine and can be re-sealed and saved for later.

Runa Clean Energy provides more caffeine than the most popular energy drink of this size. If 80 milligrams of caffeine isn’t enough for you, or if you want something that tastes a little more like tea and less like over-sweetened juice, Runa Clean Energy is a good option. However, it is on the very cusp of Level 3. Caffeine contents greater than 120 milligrams per serving are considered Level 4, but the lack of carbonation is the reason Runa Clean Energy is still on the high end of Level 3. Carbonation irritates the stomach lining slightly, allowing caffeine to get absorbed that much quicker. You’ll want to save those Level 4 drinks for energy emergencies like all-nighters, swing shifts, and long road trips.

Bottom Line

Runa Clean Energy is not the energy drink you should reach for when you are bored or dehydrated. With 120 milligrams of caffeine per serving, it is best saved for those Monday mornings when you would give up $100 if it meant sleeping one more hour. It’s no coincidence Runa means “fully alive”. Runa Clean Energy is an energy drink you can feel good about drinking, not just because it’s rich in antioxidants, but because the makers of Runa are actively supporting the guayusa farmers to ensure fair-trade and sustainable growth. Finally, when someone inquires about that beverage you’re drinking with the healthy looking leaf on the can, you’ll get encouraging nods (or blank stares) instead of concerned frowns when you respond, “It’s ‘gwhy-you-sa’ “.

— Green-Eyed Guide

References and Related Reading:

Caffeine Informer on Runa Clean Energy

National Geographic: “Ecuador’s ‘Superleaf’ Tea: Could it Replace Your Afternoon Coffee?”

Runa Main Site and Runa Facebook Page

Caffeine Safe Limits: Determine Your Safe Daily Dose

5 Most Shocking Risk Assessments (***including ginkgo biloba***)

Are You a Monster or a Rock Star: A Guide to Energy Drinks — How They Work, Why They Work, How to Use Them Safely

Science Behind Steaz Organic Iced Green Tea

January 13, 2015July 30, 2019greeneyedguide

Do you believe in destiny? I’m not talking about “That wizard came from the moon” Destiny; I’m talking about strange coincidences that catch you by surprise and make you smile. This month’s pick happens to be the source of such a surprising coincidence. It’s a product I’ve wanted to talk about for a while, but was waiting for the right opportunity. Little did I know the stars would align when that opportunity came along.

The Energy Drink of the Month for January 2015 is Steaz Blueberry Pomegranate Organic Iced Green Tea.

Steaz Organic Blueberry Pomegranate Iced Tea Energy Drink of the Month

Other flavors are available, but I’m always a sucker for the blueberry and pomegranate flavors. Steaz also makes an unsweetened iced tea, but I prefer a little sweetness to cover the bitter tannin tea notes.

NOTE – this product only has about 15 milligrams of caffeine, so it’s a very weak energy drink, Fatigue Level 1 for sure. Steaz also has an energy drink line (100 mg caffeine per 12 oz can), but I’m not a huge fan of their energy drink line and I’ll explain why later.

5 Reasons to Love Steaz Iced Green Tea

ONE- When the Stars Align

Aside from being a potentially great tattoo or necklace charm, the Steaz logo has an intriguing story. See for yourself.

Since I write the Energy Drink of the Month blogs the weekend before the 13th, I just happened to be watching the NFL Division Playoffs all weekend. That’s when I saw it:

Three quarterbacks in the NFL playoffs are #12!!! — Three quarterbacks in the NFL 2014-15 playoffs are #12!!! From http://www.nobodywinsontheblue.com/2012/12/121212-brady-rodgers-luck.html

Since three of the four quarterbacks playing for a spot in Superbowl XLIX wear number 12, I find the significance of number twelve in the Steaz logo highly amusing. But there are other, more significant reasons to like Steaz.

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TWO-Green Tea-based Beverages

Chemically speaking, caffeine is caffeine is caffeine. The molecule itself and the effect this molecule has on the body does not change based on the source of that molecule. However, there are “food matrix effects” that can have their own influence on the body. Think of all those little creatures that attach themselves to sharks and whales. Like the shark, certain molecules don’t just float around all by themselves, they form attachments to other molecules, which can change the behavior of each. This is one reason it’s so hard to prove the health benefits of antioxidants – take them out of a food and it’s rare to see the same physiological effect. Eating concentrated blueberry powder is just not the same as eating whole raw blueberries.

The food matrix effect is why I prefer to get my caffeine from green tea. Of course, coffee provides a plethora of health benefits, but tea is the second healthiest beverage on the planet, second only to water. The health benefits of coffee and tea are beyond the scope of this post, but you can learn more about these health benefits and read the “Coffee Vs. Tea” comparison in the Energy Drink Guide.

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THREE-Organic, Natural Ingredients

FACT: Every ingredient put into a food or beverage product must be GRAS (“generally recognized as safe”) or an approved dietary additive. I don’t believe a lot of the fear campaigns about artificial ingredients, but I choose to limit them in my diet. Steaz does not use artificial ingredients, which earns them a point.

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FOUR-Body, Mind, and Soul

Sometimes when I travel for work, my options for caffeine are limited, and I feel compelled to say an apology to my body for what I’m about to put in it. I hate when the only energy drinks available are the super-sugary ones, or when the only freggie smoothies available have more sugar than a half-pint of ice cream. I feel good when I drink Steaz, not just because of its ingredients, but because of the company’s commitment to its farmers, its CO2 footprint, and to Fair Trade.

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FIVE-Flavor and Sugar

I can’t deny my sweet tooth, but I try to limit added sugars wherever and whenever I can. I don’t like to drink my calories unless it’s a protein shake for breakfast en route to the gym. The blueberry pomegranate iced tea product has only 10 grams of sugar per serving, or 20 grams of sugar per can. That’s the perfect range for me, just enough sugar to make it enjoyable to drink, but not so much sugar I feel guilty about it. Plus, I make it a point to never finish a whole can in one sitting.

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The Less-Than-Stellar Side of Steaz

There’s a reason why “marketeers” and food scientists can’t always get along. Marketing will want to say what the consumers want to hear, and scientists often don’t speak the same language as everybody else. Now if we could all just embrace a little more science (and the metric system?), what a wonderful world it would be.

ISSUE A: Steaz energy drinks have 23 grams of sugar per 8 ounces. For a lot of consumers, that’s too much. There is a zero-sugar energy drink, but I have yet to find it anywhere I’ve found the other Steaz teas. When I’m anything more than Fatigue Level 1, the Steaz teas aren’t going to cut it.

ISSUE B: Meaningless marketing claims drive me crazy! “Clean energy”? Just say “sustainably sourced”. As a Quality Assurance professional for a billion-dollar supplement line, I’ve rejected too many green tea leaf powders for heavy metal and food micro issues to swallow the “clean” claim. Sustainability means much more to me, and I can’t be the only consumer who feels this way.

ISSUE C: Fear-mongering marketing claims also drive me crazy. “Chemical free”? Everything in the Ingredient Line has a chemical bond, and doesn’t Sodium Citrate sound like a chemical to most people? Spreading fear of chemicals is a slippery slope that puts the emphasis on the wrong arguments. A claim like “no artificial ingredients” seems much more meaningful to the average consumer. (related post: Fear and FACTS)

BOTTOM LINE

If finding healthier sources of energy is part of your New Year’s Resolutions, give Steaz a try. Oh, and don’t be afraid of “chemicals” because your entire body is naturally comprised of them.

— GreenEyedGuide

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REFERENCES AND OTHER RESOURCES

Healthy Energy Drinks — Is Organic or All-Natural Really Better? By Caffeine Informer

Steaz About Us

Steaz FAQ – including caffeine amounts, store locator, ingredient concerns and more

Caffeine Pop Quiz — YouTube

How to Spot a Bad Product – 5 Signs

Science Behind Mio Energy

December 15, 2014July 30, 2019greeneyedguide

I am writing this in a car. Seriously. Remember when you were a kid and December meant a few weeks off school? Then you get a job and December means all your weekends are booked. Solid. Of course, your downtime and stress level vary by your religion, the size of your family, the proximity of your home to your work, and other things. It is this crazy level of business that inspired my pick for this month.

**The Energy Drink* of the Month for December 2014 is Mio Energy.**

*Technically this is not an energy drink, nor is it a shot. Consuming this as-is would be a horrible idea, and is strongly discouraged. Small enough to fit into a purse or a large pocket, this is THE essential holiday tool to help you keep your energy level up through the hustle and bustle of the holiday season. This portability is why Mio wins December.

5 Fast Facts About Mio Energy

ONE— Mio Energy is only a few ounces more than the most popular energy shot, but instead of 2 servings, you get almost 20. You’re supposed to add it to water, so if you’re smart about your squirts, you can make one Mio container last a whole month (which is exactly how long you’re advised to keep it once it’s been opened).

TWO— Mio Energy features no ordinary caffeine warning label. Like other energy shots and drinks, Mio warns the consumer about using caffeine in moderation and drops the novel idea of talking to a doctor if you’re pregnant. But then Mio goes one step further. I applaud Mio for specifying that the product is not to be combined with alcohol. Combining alcohol and caffeine is another awful idea, and it’s one of the reasons energy drinks get reported as more dangerous than they truly are (See the DAWN Report — Energy Drinks and the ER). It’s also interesting that the Mio warning label specifies “For Adult Use Only” because other energy companies have been accused of marketing to kids and teens. Mio is watching its back. It’s worth noting:

…the American Academy of Pediatrics recommends a caffeine limit of 100 milligrams per day for adolescents…Canada’s caffeine recommendations are even more strict: the daily limit is 60 milligrams for 7-9 year olds and 85 milligrams for 10-12 year olds. Health Canada recommended 400 milligrams per day as the maximum dosage considered safe for ages 13 and up. — Excerpt 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. (available here)

THREE— Mio doesn’t exactly have a clean label, but what do you expect from something that’s the flavor of “Green Thunder”? Now don’t panic when you read the label. Don’t avoid any ingredients out of fear; get the FACTS first. In Mio Energy’s case, most of the ingredients are either vitamins or extracts associated with ergogenics. It takes a few ingredients to preserve this wonderful caffeine concoction, one or two to make it that gorgeous green color I love so much, and another one or two to keep the whole thing homogenous. Since caffeine, guarana and B-vitamins can taste bitter on their own, it also helps to have a few sweeteners in the mix.

FOUR— Mio means “mine” in Italian and Spanish, and it’s precisely this customization that Mio was intended for. Mio represents innovation, from the name to the size to the method of launching the product. If you’re curious about the behind-the-scenes strategy, I highly recommend this article:

MioMarketing — http://www.chicagonow.com/marketing-strategist/2013/02/krafts-breakthrough-innovation-with-mio-marketing-to-millennials/

FIVE— Mio is simultaneously one of the safest and most dangerous energy products available. How is this possible? Consumer responsibility. As Caffeine Informer points out, Mio contains 60mg caffeine per 0.5 teaspoon (the recommended dosage), or 1,080mg caffeine per bottle. Some will say, “now who would be silly enough to try to consume the whole container at once?” And yet, I have asked myself that same question about those 20 oz energy drinks, and THERE ARE people who consume that in one sitting. Caffeine safety IS a matter of product design, but it is also a matter of personal responsibility.

Please enjoy. Responsibly. Happy Holidays!

— GreenEyedGuide

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Mio Resources

* FAQs
* MIO on Facebook
* Make It Mio page

Energy Drinks to Avoid

November 13, 2014July 30, 2019greeneyedguide

This month I thought I’d switch it up and talk about the products I DON’T recommend. What they are and what they stand for bothers me. Some of the following products may be outdated, their formulas revamped or phased out entirely. Yet, my concern over these products is still valid as their wannabe’s still live among us.

4 Products That Put the “NO” in November

The Alcoholic Energy Drink

When you drink too much alcohol, your body has an automatic safety feature: you fall asleep. This is your body’s way of saying “Stop drinking, Doofus!” When you have caffeine with your alcohol, that safety feature doesn’t work anymore, and you can literally stay up and drink yourself to death. To make matters worse, when you do get rushed to the ER, people write stories about the Dangers of Energy Drinks (see “Energy Drinks and the ER”), and you ruin energy drinks for the rest of us. Don’t do that.

The Green-Eyed Guide Solution — Have caffeine first

Look, I’m not an old lady yet but I’m usually ready for bed around 10 pm (and ready to wake up, without an alarm clock, by 7 am). If I’m going to enjoy the night with friends, I’m going to need some form of caffeine. If I’ll be drinking any alcohol at all, the caffeine needs to come first. Sticking to a 100 mg caffeine limit and consuming zero caffeine with or after the alcohol makes it easier to enjoy the buzz. Combining caffeine and alcohol either mutes the tingly feeling that you’re buzzed, or makes you go from zero to plastered without warning. Also, this combo poses a greater risk to everyone because it makes people wrongly assume that their reflexes are not impaired.

For a longer, more detailed and more colorful ~~rant~~ discussion on alcoholic energy drinks, check out the Energy Drink Guide.

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The Caffeine-Loaded Pre-Workout Supplement

Caffeine may actually help someone get a more efficient workout, or muster up the energy to NOT skip the gym. However, too much caffeine before a strenuous workout may push the body too far, too fast. Think of how many times a super-set or a cardio-combo has left you winded. Caffeine can definitely make that worse. Caffeinated workout supplements are the THIRD Most Dangerous Caffeinated Product, according to Caffeine Informer.

Caffeine per bottle from all sources - 250mg. Glad they label it! — Caffeine per bottle from all sources – 250mg. Glad they label it!

The Green-Eyed Guide Solution — Know how much you’re lifting and consuming

You wouldn’t walk over to the weight rack and pick up any weight without checking the number on the side, would you? Probably not. So why would you do that with your workout supplement? Many caffeinated products nowadays list the amount of caffeine per serving. Even if they don’t, you can check the amount of caffeine in Caffeine Informer’s caffeinated workout supplement database – here. Just like with bicep curls, the answer to “How much is enough?” will vary from person to person. Keep in mind that a healthy, non-pregnant/nursing adult can have up to 400 mg caffeine per day. Try not to max out all in one shot.

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The Dehydration-Hydration Combo, aka Caffeinated Coconut Water

I can’t stand the taste of coconut water — it reminds me of the first time I stood up on a surfboard and subsequently got a mouthful of ocean water. If you do like coconut water, don’t let me change that, just let me say that I don’t understand combining something that is known to be a (mild) diuretic, with something that’s supposed to enhance hydration.

The Green-Eyed Guide Solution — Pick one: coconuts or caffeine

If you’re someone that sweats profusely when you workout, coconut water can be a good substitute to the sugary sports nutrition drinks. However, many companies have taken advantage of the fad — beware of products containing a wee-bit of coconut water and just as much sugar as the more popular sports drinks. Also keep in mind that if you ARE dehydrated, (Fatigue Level 1), try hydrating yourself BEFORE you have any caffeine (save the caffeine for Fatigue Level 2 and above).

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The Caffeine Toxicity Challenge

“Drink Half Bottle Only” — So why not make the bottle half as big? #Liability!

If you’re you’re not pregnant, nursing, sensitive to caffeine, under 18, or Canadian (see #5 here), you can have up to 400mg caffeine per day. This number isn’t arbitrary, it comes from a carefully designed scientific study [See “Effects of Caffeine on Human Health“]. It’s up to the consumer to know their own limits and keep track of how much caffeine they’ve had in one day. That’s personal responsibility. HOWEVER, it irks me to no end when a company decides to provide a day’s worth of caffeine in one container. At this point, personal responsibility shifts from the person consuming that product to the person who said it was okay to put that much caffeine in one handy little bottle. “But we have clear instructions that say you should only consume half.”

Not Impressed — Here’s what I think about that.

The Green-Eyed Guide Solution — Learn how to find the caffeine on the label

Due to the political controversy involving energy drinks many companies are now including caffeine content on the label. Your mission, should you choose to accept it, is to learn how to find the caffeine on the label. If you want to learn how to read a label like a pro, check out this video, or use the “How To” section in your copy of the Energy Drink Guide. If all else fails, Caffeine Informer’s database lists the caffeine and sugar amounts of thousands of food, beverage and supplement products.

This info-graphic from Compound Interest helps put things in perspective. Disclaimer, this article is about the amounts consumed all at once. Nonetheless, it’s a great resource.

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Bottom Line

Know your limits, know how to read a label, learn to love (and use) the 5 Levels of Fatigue, and you’ll be a living, breathing example that it’s possible to consume caffeine safely.

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Science Behind Rockstar Roasted Energy

October 15, 2014July 30, 2019greeneyedguide

Food Scientists, Quality professionals and those in marketing (“Marketeers”) don’t always see eye to eye. As the Green-Eyed Guide, my goal is to challenge myself and others to expand perspectives, to try to see a situation from another’s eyes. Thus, for this month’s energy drink pick, I wanted to provide my interpretation of how three different professionals in the food industry would see the same product.

The Energy Drink of the Month for October 2014 is Rockstar Roasted with Almond Milk

Ever since my first exposure to energy drinks (back in 2003), I wanted others to see what I saw, wanted them to know the tips and tricks I know when it comes to reading labels and deciphering the contents of an energy drink. In place of my usual written review for the Energy Drink of the Month, I present this review:

Three-Point Perspective on Rockstar Roasted Energy Drinks with Almond Milk

Caffeine in Rockstar Roasted – Caffeine Informer
Rockstar Energy Drink – main site

Five Levels of Fatigue –booklet on Ebay; excerpt 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

Energy Drink Guide FACEBOOK PAGE — Help push it to 100 Likes!!!