subject: Can Energy Drinks Lead To Real Weight Loss? [print this page] In elite weight-loss circles, discussions on energy drinks tend to turn controversial. Opinion on the real effect of these drinks on weight loss tends to be deeply divided, with some people feeling that the drinks don't lead to any real weight-loss; whilst others feel that the drinks hold the key to sustainable weight loss.
Naturally, the makers of the drinks would have us believe that they actually lead to weight-loss. Indeed, this is the promise upon which most of them have been making huge sales, and it is not a position they entertain much discussion on.
The critical thinker won't believe that energy drinks lead to weight-loss just because their makers believe so, of course. More evidence is required, and when that seems to be conflicting, a question arises to whether the drinks lead to any real weight loss.
Briefly, the argument of those who hold the position that these drinks don't lead to any real weight loss is that most of the drinks tend to be so sugar-laden that the marginal weight loss they may lead to (by way of stimulating metabolism) is quickly cancelled out by that which is likely to come from the sugar. The energy drink critics in this side of the argument will further tend to point out that the metabolism enhancing effect of the drinks is too marginal to make any real difference.
The truth of the matter, however, is that some makers of energy drinks have gone to great lengths, to come up with products that can actually lead to real weight-loss.
With regard to the first accusation that what the drinks lead to in terms of weight-loss is canceled by the potential weight brought about by their sugar content, we have tended to see some energy drink manufacturers opting to sweeten their products using low calorie sweeteners. So the said 'cancelling out' effect is not there in this case, as the sweeteners used have low caloric values. Indeed, there are some natural energy drinks that are not sweetened at all, but where all the sweetness in them comes from the natural sugar in the herbal extracts they are made from. There are even some that are outright bitter, and which are taken for that very bitterness - much like beer, which isn't ordinarily sweet, but which is still very wildly loved.
With regard to the second accusation that their metabolism enhancement effect is only marginal, some energy drink makers are going to great lengths to come up with products that lead to truly appreciable metabolism enhancement; which can make real weight loss a possibility. That is how products like Ginseng, Acai berry and Ginko Biloba - which have a very huge effect in terms of metabolism enhancement - have found their way into the manufacture of high impact energy drinks. These are products that can lead to real, perceivable weight loss if used consistently.
