Do Energy Shots Work For Concentration?

Energy shots have increased in popularity over the years and are now widely available on college campuses, in the workplace, and found lining the shelves of every convenience store.

With the global energy drink market currently sitting at a whopping $55 billion USD (projected to double by 2025), energy beverages are the most popular dietary supplement consumed by American teens and young adults, with almost one-third of teens aged 12-17 drinking them regularly.

While everyone consumes these beverages for different reasons, many do so in order to help them concentrate so that they can be more efficient throughout their day.

This article will explore how energy shots impact concentration. Do they help you focus? Is Caffeine good for studying? What type of Caffeine is best? Keep reading. We’ve got you covered!

 

Energy Shots

Energy drinks are widely promoted beverages that energize the body, as well as enhance mental alertness and physical performance. Usually found in an 8.4 - 12 fl.oz can, there are a ton of options readily available on the market.

Energy shots, on the other hand, are usually around 2.5 fl.oz and are essentially an energy drink compacted down into one single shot. These super shots provide the same energy boost as a single canned energy drink, but usually without the added calories.

 

Ingredients in Energy Shots

The main energy-boosting ingredient found in popular energy shots is (surprise, surprise) Caffeine! The way Caffeine works in energy shots is by stimulating the brain to become more alert, which often results in better concentration.

The sugar found in some energy shots also helps to boost energy levels for a short period of time. However, too much sugar can do more harm than good.

Here are some of the ways too much sugar in energy shots can affect your mood, brain, and ability to think:

• Rapid spikes or drops in blood sugar levels can be dangerous and can make you irritable and jittery when it’s low, and lead to diabetes when it’s chronically high.

• Sugar wreaks havoc with your attention span, ability to learn, short-term memory, and mood. 

• Sugar consumption can increase the output of the stress hormone cortisol.

Given these notorious side effects of sugar, food and beverage companies have trended toward "diet" and "sugar-free" products, including energy beverages. Some energy beverages use artificial sweeteners like sucralose or acesulfame potassium (Ace-K), but these are really no better for you than sugar.

Here are some of the other ingredients you may find in popular energy shots and how they affect the body:

Ephedrine - Used primarily as a stimulant that works on the central nervous system, Ephedrine is a common ingredient in weight-loss products and decongestants. There have been concerns about its effects on the heart.

Ginseng - A root believed by many to have several medicinal properties, including reducing stress and boosting energy levels.

Taurine - A natural amino acid that is naturally produced by the body to help regulate heartbeat and muscle contractions. Taurine is not a stimulant, but it does have a stimulating effect on brain function, and may be potentially dangerous in large quantities.

Guarana seed - A popular stimulant that comes from a small shrub native to Brazil and Venezuela.

Creatine - A compound that helps supply energy for muscle contractions.

B-vitamins - A group of healthy vitamins that can convert sugar to energy and improve muscle tone (along with a whole collection of other benefits).

Carnitine - Another powerful amino acid, carnitine plays a large role in fatty acid metabolism.

Ginkgo biloba - Derived from the seeds of the ginkgo Biloba tree, this super ingredient has been used for decades and is thought to enhance memory.

Looking at the list of common ingredients above, energy beverages appear to be part soft drink and part nutritional supplement. However, it’s good to note that not all products are created equal. Always be sure to check the ingredients list, and try to stick with plant-based energy shots that don’t contain any preservatives or artificial ingredients.

 

Do Energy Shots Help With Studying?

Yes! Energy shots can most definitely help to improve your focus and concentration, which can in turn, improve your studying efforts.

Consuming a caffeinated beverage, such as an energy shot, will stimulate your central nervous system. This stimulation will give you a temporary jolt of energy. With the right dosage, your mental performance will also receive a nice little boost, as well.

Many studies support that your cognitive function can improve as a result of consuming energy beverages. This will allow you to get more done in a short period of time. As a result, you can power through a night of last-minute cramming before a big test.

 

Is Caffeine Good For Studying?

Yes! Caffeine can be beneficial while studying, as it improves your mental alertness and focus, but Caffeine’s benefits can be limited if you’re not getting enough sleep.

While energy beverages can help you to stay alert, getting a full night of sleep is of utmost importance. In fact, a lack of sleep can have a detrimental effect on your ability to retain information and your memory, so always be sure to get a good night’s rest.

When it comes to studying, a healthy balance of Caffeine and sleep is best.

 

What Type Of Caffeine is Best For Concentration?

Green tea-derived Caffeine is naturally sourced Caffeine that your body metabolizes differently than the synthetic Caffeine often found in canned energy drinks.

But it couldn’t be that much different, it’s all Caffeine, right?

Well, green tea is actually pretty beneficial. The Caffeine that comes from green tea is absorbed much slower by your body. As a result, you won’t get the immediate overwhelming Caffeine rush and crash that you would with synthetic Caffeine found in most leading energy beverages.

Instead, the Caffeine will release slowly over time, giving you a more sustained energy. An energy shot that has Caffeine sourced from green tea will give you the most bang for your buck in terms of energy duration, which is extremely beneficial for concentrating purposes.

Synthetic Caffeine is known to give people the jitters or the shakes. Green tea is rich in L-Theanine, and when combined with Caffeine, helps foster a hyper-focused, enhanced mental clarity that is ideal for concentration.

Energy shots that are made with natural ingredients like organic Caffeine from green tea can provide great concentration and a jitter-free experience.

Recap

So, do energy shots work for concentration? Absolutely!

Energy shots contain Caffeine, which can greatly improve one’s ability to focus. However, not all energy beverages are created equal. Stay away from products loaded with sugar, preservatives, and artificial ingredients that can do more harm to your body than good.

When looking for an energy shot to boost your concentration, consider trying Proper Wild’s 100% plant-based energy shots. These shots give other energy drinks a run for their money, and are delicately crafted with organic Caffeine from green tea to provide clean, long-lasting energy and concentration to help get you through the day.

Come check out what clean energy looks like at Proper Wild!