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An Energy Drinks Roundup?
NecroWraith asks: "Ok, I'm sure most folks on Slashdot have something they eat or drink that helps you stay awake far beyond what your body wants you to for, whatever reason: late night gaming sessions; late nights at work; or late nights in the pub. The big one now is energy drinks. I swear I see a new one on the shelf every week. Rockstar, Red Bull, Monster, Hansen's, Jolt, Red Jak, Lost, Sobe, Bawls, Amp, MDX, the list goes on. So, what have you tried, and what do you like? What tastes best? What works best? Which one is the best deal?"
I don't know if I'm the only one, who thinks like this, but I think a lot of computer jockeys, including myself are fat enough from sitting in front of a computer without needing a drink full of sugar. I just started going to the gym about two months ago, and that gives me more energy than those drinks.
Exercise.
Take your vitamins.
Stick with coffee and drink it in moderation (1-2 cups per day).
Drink water when not drinking coffee.
We computer people already spend hours sitting relatively motionless at our desks. Adding calorie intensive drinks to that habit isn't the smartest thing to do.
Don't abuse your body. If you're too tired to stay awake, then go to sleep. Sleep deprivation is a form of torture [sorry, "information rending"], and it makes you a dangerous driver too. Drink water, it's good for you [if it doesn't have a lot of THMs] and it will keep hangovers away. It will also keep you up if you have to go pee.
Unless you're trying to stay up to entertain a woman [or man if you're a woman I guess], then staying up really late using drugs just isn't worth it.
Saskboy's blog is good. 9 out of 10 dentists agree.
They're a bit harder to find - often a store will only have the sugared version.
Of the ones I've tried (I've tried a lot over the past few months), I can't tell any difference in their actual ability to give me energy. They don't help if I'm totally exhausted (very late at night), they don't make me feel super-tiptop-shape (they are a bit overhyped in this regard.) They DO help me feel a bit more human (more so than caffeine only) if I'm a bit borderline. (Such as any time before noon.)
A list of most of the ones I've tried, one or two are missing - all of these are only the low/zero carb variants (I'm diabetic, so the high-sugar versions are out of the question):
Bawls - Tastes great, but it's very expensive, hard to find, and doesn't give me any more boost than Mountain Dew (that is to say, almost no boost at all.)
Rockstar - Works, but tastes like crap.
Red Bull - Actually, I've only had a small amount of the normal non-low-carb version once at a bar. It tasted like crap and I didn't go near energy drinks for over a year because I assumed they all tasted like crap. From what I recall, it was the same taste as Rockstar.
Von Dutch - UGH HORRIBLE. Even worse than Rockstar and Red Bull. The only energy drink I haven't even been able to finish an entire can of. No wonder it was on clearance where I bought it.
Full Throttle - One of the easiest non-RedBull energy drinks to find, it has a sharp citrusy taste that is somewhat (but not very) similar to Mountain Dew, except with a bit more bite to it. Probably my third favorite as far as taste goes.
MDX - One of the more readily available energy drinks, and typically cheaper than most others. Taste is very similar to Mountain Dew, except a much smoother taste with less bite. My second favorite in terms of taste.
Monster - Also a fruity/citrusy taste, but extremely smooth. Not even remotely close to Mountain Dew though. By far the most delicious of the energy drinks I've tasted (even if it didn't give me any energy, I'd probably continue drinking it just because it tastes so damn good.), and it also does a good job of making me feel human in the morning.
retrorocket.o not found, launch anyway?
"You can combine both caffeine and ephedrine fine and if you do so, I recommend taking a regular strength aspirin as well (it makes it easier on your heart - thinner blood is easier to pump. Try it with and without, you'll notice a difference)."
HOLY FUCK, PEOPLE, YOU ARE GAMBLING WITH YOUR LIVES! Are your lives so fucked up that drugs are your only crutch? Quit your job, switch to an easier degree, go on a freaking nature walk, anything to escape from the false dream people are propping up with these drugs. Why are so many people driving themselves into psychological and physical ruin all so they can grasp briefly at Prestige or Wealth, when both are unfufilling and alienate you from family and true friends.