The Value of Energy Drinks for Older People

Traditionally it was the young people who devoured energy drinks for their caffeine content, in preference to the lower amounts available in coffee. Now however, older people are becoming increasingly attracted to these energy boosts to help them stay active and feel young. Free samples of such energy drinks have been made available at promotional events, and so many older people have been able to try them out.

Consequently, shops are now stocking drinks such as "5 Hour Energy" and "Relentless" alongside other products targeted at older people, such as wrinkle cream and nutritional milkshakes.

A can of Red Bull contains a whopping 76 milligrammes; over twice as much as the 35 milligrammes in a can of coca Cola - and in the market leading product 5-Hour Energy Drink there is a whopping dose of 207 milligrammes as compared to 150 milligrammes in a 16 0z Starbucks vanilla latte.

Older people find these high caffeine drinks help to keep them alert, especially while driving. For example, 65-year-old salesman Ron Moerbe takes up to three a day to keep him alert on the road.

Mr Moerbe from Raleigh, N.C. said to the Wall St Journal: "I'm reverse discriminate. I don't see why kids need 'em."

Nevertheless, there is scepticism from some health experts about the health claims of such drinks. Geriatrician Evelyn Granieri told the Wall Street Journal that she was not convinced of any health benefits from them and thought they would do little else other than wake you up.

However, the better energy drinks available do contain a beneficial herbal blend of, usually, ginseng and gingko biloba. Ginseng has long been known for its ability to increase stamina and endurance and for toning the adrenal glands, enabling the body to deal with stress. Gingko biloba is good for the brain as it increases cerebral circulation.

Older people should look at the list of ingredients in the energy drinks available in order to make an informed and healthy choice. It's best to choose those with more nutritional compounds, herbal extracts and natural additives, avoiding sugars and synthetic additives. They will then be actively selecting natural anti-ageing products to benefit their health.

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