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Yerba mate is a South American shrub belonging to the holly family, loved for its amazing health benefits. The shrub’s leaves are called yerba, which means “her” in Spanish, and mate (infusion) refers to the stimulating warm brew made by steeping those leaves in warm water, which is then traditionally shared in a gourd through a straw.
There are many different companies that manufacture yerba mate, like Guayaki Yerba Mate.
Guayaki Yerba Mate is an organic beverage company specializing in yerba mate products. In addition to offering loose-leaf yerba mate, Guayaki also sells canned as well as carbonated yerba mate drinks and energy shots.
Energy shots have gotten a lot of hype over the years because they offer a quick way to consume caffeine in a short period of time. But what exactly are these popular drinks, and can they replace your morning cup of java?
What Are Energy Shots?
In today’s fast-paced world, you are expected to be on your game just about every waking moment. If your brain isn’t functioning at peak capacity, your productivity suffers, and you may drop the ball in various areas of your life.
While rest is incredibly important for recharging, sometimes you don’t have the luxury to take a break. That’s when a boost from an energy shot comes in handy.
Coffee is arguably the most popular energy beverage people tend to consume. But, as you are rushing from one meeting to the next or high-tailing it to the gym, you don’t always have the time to visit your local coffee shop or make a fresh brew at home. Energy shots are a quick and convenient way to get your caffeine fix when you’re on the go.
Is There a Difference Between Energy Drinks and Energy Shots?
Yes, there are definitely some differences between the two.
In fact, something that you may not know is that energy shots are classified as dietary supplements. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration defines dietary supplements as products taken by mouth that contain a “dietary ingredient.” Dietary ingredients include minerals, vitamins, amino acids, herbs, or botanicals, as well as other substances that can be used to supplement your regular diet.
Many people use dietary supplements for a wide assortment of reasons. Some seek to compensate for diets, medical conditions, or eating habits that limit the intake of essential vitamins and minerals. Other individuals look to them to boost energy or to get a good night’s rest.
In contrast, energy drinks are regulated as conventional foods. “Conventional foods,” which include beverages like energy drinks, are those that are consumed for taste, nutritional value, and aroma. The FDA has further stated that beverages generally are intended, for example, to provide a source of fluids, provide nutritional value, or provide taste and aroma.
The differences between these popular energy beverages don’t just stop at their FDA regulation and classification; they also differ in packaging size and in the amounts of caffeine offered.
This is where things start to get a little tricky.
You see, by size, an energy shot is typically way smaller than a good ol’ cup of joe. The average size of a shot is about 50 mL, or about two fluid ounces. On the other hand, the average size of an energy drink can range from 8.4 fl oz to 24 fl oz.
For healthy adults with no medical conditions, it is generally agreed upon that 400 mg of caffeine can be consumed daily without any adverse effects. However, this caffeine is not meant to be taken all at once. It’s meant to be taken in doses throughout the day, not exceeding 200mg of caffeine in one sitting.
Most energy shots on the market today contain anywhere from 100 to 350 mg of caffeine in a single serving. While throwing back a shot with 200 mg or less is considered safe, taking anything more can come with a not-so-favorable set of side effects, such as:
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Dizziness
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Headache
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Increased thirst
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Fever
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Irritability
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Jitters
Guayaki Yerba Mate energy shots are a good choice because they contain 140 mg of caffeine, which is well under the 200 mg limit. Additionally, since the caffeine is natural and not synthetic, you can expect a gradual release of energy that will keep you motivated and productive throughout the day.
Natural Caffeine vs. Synthetic Caffeine
One of the lesser-known facts about caffeine is that there are actually many sources of it. Some of the sources are natural, plant-based caffeine, while others are synthetically produced.
Synthetically produced from Chinese pharmaceutical plants is the most popular caffeine source in energy beverages. Synthetic caffeine is absorbed quickly into your body, providing you with the energy you crave much faster than that of a naturally-sourced caffeine. However, synthetic caffeine will lead to a much quicker crash and a headache or two.
There are dozens of different types of plants that naturally produce caffeine. Not only does naturally-occurring caffeine provide longer sustained energy, but it also has antioxidant benefits. Additionally, naturally-sourced caffeine doesn’t necessarily come with the same nauseating side effects that are frequently experienced with synthetic caffeine, such as nervousness, insomnia, the shakes, or jitters.
Guayaki Yerba Mate Energy Shots are made using organic caffeine from yerba mate leaves. There is nothing synthetic about these beverages, and they’re a healthy alternative to your cup of coffee in the morning.
Are There Energy Shots That Are Better Than Guayaki?
There are not many products that can stand tall against Guayaki Yerba Mate Energy Shots, though Proper Wild Energy Shots are quite the contender.
With 100 mg of clean, organic caffeine from green tea, and absolutely no artificial ingredients, it’s easy to see why these powerful plant-based shots are a comparable choice.
Matching Guayaki in clean caffeine, there is one major difference between the two energy drink alternatives: Proper Wild adds zero grams of added sugar. Yup, you read that right. ZERO grams. Each energy shot gets its delicious flavor directly from natural fruit juices for a clean, smooth, and natural taste!
A Final Word
So, are the Guayaki Yerba Mate Energy Shots the best caffeine replacement on the market?
They’re definitely one of the best, but there are other companies like Proper Wild that are looking to take clean energy even further.
Proper Wild’s Clean All-Day Energy Shots strive to be the best option for a clean source of sustainable energy, and with 15X more L-theanine than a cup of green tea for focus and productivity, it’s easy to see why the shots have over 500 5-star reviews and an overall review score of 4.8.
Balanced with real, clean ingredients, without artificial flavors, preservatives, or sweeteners, Proper Wild’s Energy Shots could very well be the next head honcho in the clean energy scene.
