What To Look For In Healthy Energy Shots

Nutrition trends and fad diets are constantly changing, but one thing is consistent: more and more people are taking an interest in improving their overall health than ever before.

A cup of coffee or an energy drink first thing in the morning can be second nature, but people are starting to take the time to really think twice about what they’re putting into their bodies to get that jolt of energy. However, with so many choices on the market, it can be difficult to determine which option is best.

For those with busy lifestyles that commute to work or don’t have much time in the morning, energy shots are a convenient way to pack a powerful punch. But it’s important to keep in mind that not all energy shots are created equal; and that the majority of the options dominating the shelves are loaded with artificial ingredients and ridiculously high Caffeine dosages.

The good news is that there are healthier options. Here are several things you can look for when choosing a healthier energy shot…

 

The Right Amount of Caffeine

It can be pretty tempting to opt for the most bang-for-your-buck when it comes to energy shots. This mentality, however, can be quite harmful.

Many leading energy shots can contain up to 350mg of Caffeine, which is like drinking four to five cups of coffee in a single setting! Just 51mg more and you’ve already exceeded the amount of caffeine that the FDA considers to be the safe daily limit for the average adult.

Caffeine is not inherently unhealthy—in fact, the opposite is true. Caffeine supports metabolism and can be helpful to stimulate weight loss. It also has been proven to vastly support memory, attention, reflexes, and other functions. When paired with drinking enough H2O, caffeine’s status as a diuretic can help flush out impurities and maintain urinary health.

The key to Caffeine is moderation, and making sure you’re getting clean Caffeine from natural ingredients. Proper Wild’s Clean All Day Energy Shots, for example, have 100 mg of organic Caffeine from organic green tea leaves, making them a safe way to get a clean, yet powerful boost of energy.

 

Lower Amounts Of Sugar

You may be surprised to know that most energy drinks are rarely better than soda when it comes to sugar content. Even “healthier” energy shots often use substantial amounts of sugar to help mask the taste of Caffeine and other beneficial ingredients.

Too much sugar combined with the natural diuretic Caffeine causes rapid dehydration. When you’re dehydrated you’re much more likely to experience heightened levels of anxiety, stress, fatigue, and headaches.

In general, lowering your sugar intake is one of the first steps toward improved health. Proper Wild’s Clean All Day Energy Shots are one of the rare brands of energy shots that can boast no added sugars while also not including any artificial sweeteners. Instead, they use juices from natural fruits like grapes, peaches, mangoes, and pineapples to provide a sweet taste, rather than turning to heaping teaspoons of sugar or artificial additives to end up with a yummy flavor.

The right kind of sugar is also important in choosing an energy shot. White granulated sugar poses a great health risk, as modern Americans consume way more than the recommended daily allotment. Natural sugars from fruit are considered less bad, as are newer forms of alternative sugar, like coconut sugar.

Artificial sweeteners have grown in popularity, but may not be worth the trouble. Aspartame, a common sweetener additive, has been linked to headaches, diabetes, and muscle spasms. Additionally, many versions of Stevia are not FDA approved. When opting for low-sugar, it’s best to stay as natural as possible and avoid artificial sugar commonly found in popular energy shots today.

Energy-Supporting Ingredients Other Than Caffeine

Moderate doses of Caffeine can do wonders for energy levels and daily health. When choosing an energy shot, it makes sense to maximize the energy-boosting properties as much as possible. However, there are many other ingredients that can assist Caffeine in getting the job done.

L-Theanine is one such ingredient. This amino acid was discovered in green tea leaves in the 1940s by Japanese scientists, though the benefits of green tea have been known for centuries.

This powerful amino acid works wonders for concentration and focus. In a study, participants were evaluated on a scale for alertness. There was a dramatic increase in focus for participants that had ingested L-Theanine compared to the participants who had not.

L-Theanine, when combined with caffeine, supports focused efforts while reducing jitters, and prevents the typical post-Caffeine crash. This improved, crash-free focus can help you get the most productivity out of your time!

This powerful amino acid can also improve your mood. Neurotransmitters associated with happiness and energy like dopamine and serotonin are supported by L-Theanine. With that in mind, it goes without saying L-theanine is one powerful amino acid.

You may be thinking: “sounds great. Why don’t I just drink green tea then?” You can! But to get the L-theanine of a single Proper Wild Energy Shot, you would have to drink 15 cups of green tea!

 

Flavors That Taste Good

Here’s the good news: if you are trying to move away from your standard chemical-laden carbonated energy drink, taste does not have to be sacrificed!

Energy shots with natural ingredients and real fruit juices can take on a wide spectrum of delicious flavors. There is certainly no need to settle! Even with just a quick 2.5 fl oz. shot, better ingredients can make all the difference when it comes to taste.

Proper Wild, for example, uses natural and organic ingredients to craft their Ginger, Blackberry, and Peach-Mango flavors. The antioxidant benefits of using real fruits like blackberries, as well as the holistic properties of ginger root, are added health boosters to the green tea-based shot.

Proper Wild’s flavors are also free of preservatives and hard-to-pronounce artificial ingredients — Another good practice to maintain when selecting a healthy energy product: avoid labels with long lists of ingredients that you don’t even recognize!

Recap

So, what should one look for in a healthy energy shot, you ask? In the simplest of terms, look for an energy shot with clean ingredients, the right amount of organic Caffeine, low sugar, and a short list of ingredients that you can easily recognize and pronounce!

There are a ton of energy products on the market today, but the truth is that not all of these products are created equal.

When looking for a healthy energy shot, stick with the following:

• No preservatives

• No additives

• No added sugar or artificial sweeteners

• Low in calories

• Made from organic Caffeine and natural juices

By sticking with organic Caffeine and staying away from harmful chemicals and excess sugar, you can avoid experiencing the jitters and the notorious post-Caffeine crash.

Stick with 100% plant-based energy shots like Proper Wild and experience the difference that a healthy energy shot can make!