Energy Drinks

Did you know New Zealand was an early pioneer of energy drinks? 

Energy drinks are a type of non-alcoholic beverage, usually containing caffeine, that aim to give you an energy boost during the day.

The amount of caffeine in a 250ml energy drink is roughly equivalent to that found in a cup of coffee.

Energy drinks may include other energy boosting ingredients such as:

• Ginseng, which has been used in traditional Chinese medicine for centuries as a medicinal herb and has reputed benefits such as increased energy, improved memory and stress relief.
• B Vitamins that help you convert carbohydrates into energy.
• Guarana, a source of caffeine from the seeds of a South American plant.
• Taurine, an amino acid that occurs in the human body naturally and is involved in many important functions.
• Glucuronolactone, a derivative of natural sugar and is produced in the liver through the metabolism of glucose.
• Inositol is a form of carbohydrate produced from glucose and is also found in the human body.

Energy drinks are safe.

All ingredients used in an energy drink must be approved by Food Standards Australia and New Zealand.

New Zealand also has some of the strong regulations in the world relating to energy drinks, and must comply with the Australia and New Zealand Food Standard 2.6.4 Formulated Caffeinated Beverages.

This states that energy drinks must not have more than 32mg of caffeine per 100 ml. They must also comply with caffeine labelling requirements, contain recommended daily usage declarations, and include advisory statements that the product is not suitable for children, pregnant or lactating woman.

Energy drinks, like all products containing caffeine, should be enjoyed in moderation and can provide an energy boost to help you get you through the day.

You can learn more about energy drinks by visiting the website: What's the go with energy drinks?