No energy drink is complete without the use of caffeine. That much is settled. So, when we say a caffeine-free energy drink, we mean synthetic caffeine, not organic. This blog post presents an overview of synthetic caffeine and why it is a bad idea to consume it regularly. Also, we will highlight why organic caffeine might be good for you.
What is synthetic caffeine?
Synthetic caffeine is produced artificially using urea and other chemicals as raw materials. It is extremely concentrated and carries a lot of side effects. Since it is chemical in nature, its effects are much faster than natural caffeine. It means your body absorbs it at a rapid pace. Nonetheless, the effects wear off much faster than organic caffeine.
Synthetic vs. natural caffeine
Synthetic is produced in a factory, whereas natural caffeine is extracted from natural sources such as coffee, cacao beans and tea. Natural caffeine requires farming, long waiting, and high costs. On the other hand, synthetic caffeine is cheap and available in abundance. Extracting natural caffeine from plants is common in the food and beverage industry. Caffeine is found in more than sixty different plant species worldwide. It is derived from the seeds of coffee beans, cacao beans, and Kola nuts, as well as the leaves and buds of tea, the leaves of Yerba mate, and the bark of Yoco. There are some other natural sources of caffeine that you might find interesting. These include guarana berries, guayusa, and the yaupon holly. Consequently, natural caffeine is both expensive and takes longer processing times. So, synthetic is the obvious choice for most energy drink producers. However, it must not be yours. Be sure to consume energy drinks which contain a suitable amount of natural caffeine.
Caffeine and energy drinks
Caffeine is a major ingredient in all energy drinks. A synthetic caffeine-free energy drink is okay if it is done in moderation. Also, a lot of energy drinks contain synthetic or artificially produced caffeine. Using it often is never recommended. In many countries, manufacturers are not required to label caffeine as natural or synthetic. Japan is the only country that bans synthetic caffeine additives, ensuring all caffeine is taken from tea or coffee. Also, lack of information on energy drink labels and improper inspection pose concerns.
Can you differentiate between natural and synthetic caffeine?
Differentiating between synthetic and natural caffeine based on taste alone can be challenging or impossible. Look at the ingredients list if you're curious whether a product contains natural or synthetic caffeine. When it comes to natural caffeine, you'll find it indicated as the plant form, such as 'Guayusa'. Otherwise, a product that contains synthetic caffeine will have 'caffeine' listed on the label. Next time, if you're curious whether it's the right type of caffeine for you, simply look at the ingredients.
Conclusion
Caffeine is an integral part of all energy drinks. Aim for energy drinks like King Kong, which uses only natural caffeine to avoid synthetic caffeine's side effects. You can browse or purchase its various flavors here. Do you know of any other synthetic caffeine-free energy drinks? Please let us know in the comments section below. Thank you for reading!
