What do you think of so-called energy drinks?

Sunday 06th September, 04:24 AM JST

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Latest 15 of 32 Total Comments Show All

roomtemperature at 04:36 PM JST - 6th September

"They work because people have been hyped into believing they do."

So, you're actually trying to say that they DON'T work? If so, please enlighten us.
jewel at 04:52 PM JST - 6th September

The really expensive health drinks in the refrigerated section of the drug store in brown glass bottles work, but not the cheap stuff like the 100-200 yen "Energy Jelly" or drinks. Whenever I start to get a cold, I get some of those expensive bottles and my cold is cleared up right away and I get a burst of energy because these drinks are made out of high quality herbs. But unless someone has a lot of money, I dont think these are the kinds of drinks people can buy every day for energy. Also, I dont think the "energy drinks" mentioned in this article are talking about the sports drinks which are designed to get the electrolyte balance in place. I think the energy drinks this article is talking about are the drinks on the market that advertise a burst in energy when drunk.
chrisjap at 07:33 PM JST - 6th September

Shark Energy drink does the trick.
Foxie at 10:15 PM JST - 6th September

Ripovitan D tastes really good, I used to like the taste of cough syrups a lot as a kid and it reminds me of them. Plus it comes in a small bottle. But just as with everything, consume with moderation. However I never noticed that they actually work. Sports drinks such as Pocari Sweat etc. are great after doing sports.
herefornow at 06:36 AM JST - 7th September

Simply a crutch for millions of J-guys not eating well or living a healthy lifestyle. If they didn't spend so much time strapped to their desks, leaving only for smoking breaks, and grab their breakfast, lunch and dinner at convenience stores, they wouldn't need this stuff. No substitute for eating right, getting some exercise, and enough sleep.
norinrad21 at 06:59 AM JST - 7th September

I'm still puzzled by what people see in those energy drinks. I have tried Red Bull once in my lifetime and it tastes awful.
Farmboy at 07:56 AM JST - 7th September

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Energy_drink

The key ingredient seems to be caffeine, with sugar, herbs and ginseng mixed in. Drinking water is probably better for one's health, but well, you know, jogging five miles a day is better for one's health, too, and not all of us do that, I'd imagine.
Klein2 at 08:15 AM JST - 7th September

Anyone who spends a lot of money on them is a fool. I have gotten many of these things for free one way or another, and I have to say that RED BULL is impressive. Aside from that, I guess they are all about the same. They might be good for shaking a hangover, but I don't really know. I feel sorry for anyone who needs these things to go through life.
ACrowe at 09:02 AM JST - 7th September

A lot of the drinks contain taurine (タウリン) in addition to copious amounts of caffeine and, yes, sugar. The more expensive variety also have royal jelly and ginseng in them.

Do they work? Yes, but not as well as Modafinil, which was sadly designated a Class A psychoactive drug in September 2006.

More on Modafinil here: http://aonghascrowe.wordpress.com/2009/07/27/2-8-cross-my-heart-and-hope-to-die/
Mittsu at 10:02 AM JST - 7th September

Red Bull is good with Vodka. Definitely keeps tha Sandman away.
timorborder at 10:28 AM JST - 7th September

Just out of interest what ever happened to Jolt Cola.
abromofo at 06:05 PM JST - 7th September

They make me laugh. There's a big market for "quick fixes" for health in Japan. If someone is tired or feeling run down, they need good food and sleep. I have to say the marketing is clever, if your target is gullible Japanese consumers: Put them in small brown glass bottles, with names and labeling similar to pharmaceuticals, sell them at drug stores, and you have a winner. Any energy boost you get is from sugar and caffine, which is not good for a fatigued body by any means. Stoopid.
seesaw at 08:39 PM JST - 7th September

The only one i would bother drink is Pocari Sweat, i.e after the gym, in the Summer...and when I'm down with a flu....
XXXXX at 02:48 AM JST - 8th September

garbage with sugar
Klein2 at 03:35 PM JST - 9th September

"if your target is gullible Japanese consumers: Put "

If you are gullible enough to believe in TAURINE, you don't need to be Japanese.

Reminds me of a scene in IDIOCRACY...

"It's got electrolytes. It's what your body craves."-- All nod in agreement.