Energy Drinks Gain or Lose

Energy drink claims are certainly enticing – from Redbull’s power to “give you wings” to Arizona Green Tea Energy Drink’s “explosive caffeine energy” – who is to say that Enviga can’t “invigorate your metabolism”, too?  There is no denying that the energy drink market is burgeoning with hundreds of innovative “functional food” products; however, the one caveat is that the health claims in this beverage category are currently not strictly regulated by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.  With a public hungry for quick energy and easy weight loss potions, these beverages promise a magical solution. But weight loss is never that simple.Enviga/$1.29 to $1.49 per can(www.enviga.com)• a carbonated green tea beverage• contains the same amount of caffeine as a cup of coffee (100 mg per 12 oz. can) plus 200 mg of calcium• Enviga’s so-called superior calorie burning properties are primarily rooted in green tea’s anti-oxidant epigallocatechin (EGCG) – with 90 mg per can. EGCG is purported to speed up metabolism and promote fat burning.  Thus, the claim is that polishing off three cans a day would result in burning an additional 60 to 100 calories a day. Each 12 ounce can contains 5 calories.The research was a brief, three-day intervention of Enviga’s calorie burning potential on 32 lean or normal weight people.  Although the findings revealed that metabolism was boosted by about 100 calories a day, the nutrition science community is skeptical at best. NAASO scientists, as well as the Center for Science in the Public Interest, a consumer advocacy group, are concerned that this product is sending consumers the wrong message about weight loss. The 100-calorie burn is just too insignificant in the weight loss scheme.The bottom line: Why not just drink plain brewed green tea – it’s virtually calorie-free, costs less and may have other health benefits, too.CoffeeSLENDER®/~$6.00 for 21 packets (www.coffeeslender.co.uk)• a powdered instant coffee beverage• contains a green coffee bean extract called Svetol®• claimed to induce weight loss if consumed regularly after meals.  Svetol is believed to be the primary weight loss agent as it does not allow excess blood sugar to be stored as fat.  The CoffeeSLENDER theory of weight loss is that if you reduce your blood sugar “peaks” after meals and eliminate the carbs before the body has time to turn them into fat, weight loss will occur.To date, there have been four human studies performed: three with Svetol alone and one using CoffeeSLENDER.  The Svetol research does point to positive weight loss (up to 5.4 kg) in overweight individuals with BMI > 25.The one caveat is that the ‘maker’s instructions’ require that people drink CoffeeSLENDER after every meal “to make your diet twice as effective”.  They also strongly recommend a calorie-controlled diet (1200 – 1500 calories).The bottom line:Sipping CoffeeSLENDER after every meal might work if it substitutes for a decadent chocolate dessert or crème brulee, but the bottom line is about calories in versus calories out.  If you are following a calorie-controlled eating plan, you will lose weight regardless of if the magic ingredient, Svetol, is present or not.By Victoria Shanta Retelny, RD, LD

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Judy Doherty, MPS, PCII

Judy’s passion for cooking began with helping her grandmother make raisin oatmeal for breakfast. From there, she earned her first food service job at 15, was accepted to the world-famous Culinary Institute of America at 18 (where she graduated second in her class), and went on to the Fachschule Richemont in Switzerland, where she focused on pastry arts and baking. After a decade in food service for Hyatt Hotels, Judy launched Food and Health Communications to focus on flavor and health. She graduated with Summa Cum Laude distinction from Johnson and Wales University with a BS in Culinary Arts, holds a master’s degree in Food Business from the Culinary Institute of America, two art certificates from UC Berkeley Extension, and runs a food photography & motion studio where her love is creating fun recipes and content.

Judy received The Culinary Institute of America’s Pro Chef II certification, the American Culinary Federation Bronze Medal, Gold Medal, and ACF Chef of the Year. Her enthusiasm for eating nutritiously and deliciously leads her to constantly innovate and use the latest nutritional science and Dietary Guidelines to guide her creativity, from putting new twists on fajitas to adapting Italian brownies to include ingredients like toasted nuts and cooked honey. Judy’s publishing company, Food and Health Communications, is dedicated to her vision that everyone can make food that tastes as good as it is for you.

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