This article was checked for nutritional accuracy by: Kathryn Bubeck, Registered Dietician
Sometimes our mind is willing but the body isn’t. Maybe you don’t feel like you have the energy to get through your to-do list. Maybe grabbing an energy drinks can change all that.
If you want to stay energetic and keep doing things you like, a health drink can provide that boost you need. Do check with your doctor about whether or not you should consider consuming energy drinks then keep reading.
Should Seniors Use Energy Drinks?
Energy drinks can be a healthy and safe source of liquid nutrition for seniors. You can consume them without any second thoughts, provided you take proper precautions. For example, you shouldn’t consume energy drinks if you have high blood pressure or heart disease.
Energy drinks increase your energy – usually with added caffeine. You will notice a difference in your blood pressure before and after drinking this type of energy drink. It gives you a kick to get up and start working. This makes your heart beat faster. Therefore, you should avoid energy drinks if you have heart problems or high blood pressure.
You should always talk to a medical professional before consuming any health drink. While most health and energy drinks are safe for seniors, you should run it by someone who knows your medical history first.
Benefits of Energy Drinks for Seniors and Older Adults
According to a study by Science Direct, the caffeine present in health drinks combat adult-onset illnesses. They are beneficial for older adults with liver or colon cancer, diabetes, Alzheimer’s, and Parkinson’s.
The study proves that healthy drinks can improve your resting energy expenditure by as much as 6.7%. Having said that, you should also keep an eye on the amount of energy drink that you consume every day. Too much of anything isn’t a good idea, especially for aging adults.
Instead, doctors recommend older adults maintain a light diet and exercise if they can. Together with energy drinks, you can stay fit and energetic for a longer period.
Potential Disadvantages of Energy Drinks for Seniors and Older Adults
Energy drinks are not for everyone. As already mentioned, older adults and seniors with heart problems and high blood pressure should stay away from these drinks.
Instead, you can try some natural energy drinks, such as coconut water or acai juice. You should also focus on eating a healthy breakfast, keeping leafy greens in your daily diet, drinking ample water, taking short naps, and maintaining a consistent sleeping pattern.
However, if you are already fit and raring to go and need a little boost in your energy, you might consider an energy drink. But, again, it’s wise to consult your physician before consuming it.
What Should Seniors Look for When Buying Energy Drinks?
A bit of research can help you find the best drink according to your diet and health. This guide will list the best drinks you should try.
One of the most crucial things to look for in an energy drink ingredient section is B-vitamins, especially B6 and B12. You may find B6 with the name pyridoxine. It improves your brain health, supports your immune system, and controls your cardiovascular health while providing energy. According to the RDA (Recommended Dietary Allowance), men and women over 51 years should consume 1.7 mg and 1.5 mg of Vitamin B6, respectively, every day.
On the other hand, Vitamin B12 comes under the name cobalamin. It replenishes your nerve and brain cells and boosts the production of DNA and red blood cells. The appropriate dosage for B12 is 2.4 mcg for men and women.
What are the Best Energy Drinks for Seniors?
If you are not sure which drink to start with or which ones are trustworthy, here are a few that you can use. They are the safest in the business and packed with nutritious and vitamins.
1. Proper Wild All Natural Plant Based Energy Shot
Proper Wild Clean All Day Energy Shot is a long-lasting energy drink made using L-Theanine and caffeine. Some of its additional ingredients are ginger, blackberry, and peach mango, depending on the flavor you prefer. This is one of the few energy drinks whose formula was suggested by dieticians.
It doesn’t contain artificial sweeteners or preservatives. The organic caffeine and L-Theanine sources provide long-lasting energy and fuel your brain to stay focused and productive for long hours. If you have trouble concentrating or think you get distracted too easily, give Proper Wild Clean All Day Energy Shot a “shot”.
2. Kate Farms Organic Meal Replacement Shake
These delicious and convenient plant-based shakes come in flavors (vanilla, chocolate, and coffee) with USDA Organic protein and powerful phytonutrients for optimal health.
- High percentage of phytonutrients sourced from various nutrient-rich foods like green tea, acai, turmeric, and broccoli.
- Reputation for using the best ingredients like USDA organic pea protein for high-quality nourishment that keep your aging body fed, energized, and healthy.
- It comes in three flavors: vanilla, coffee, and chocolate.
This delicious vanilla shake is a great source of plant-based nutrition for seniors and is literally heaven on earth. You can also try other flavors, such as coffee or chocolate. This is a gluten-free, nutrient-dense energy drink that can keep you charged up for the entire day. It doesn’t contain artificial sweeteners like some other energy drinks you see in the market.
One of the reasons older adults should try this drink is that it contains 16 grams of USDA organic pea protein. Organic pea protein allows you to maintain your muscular figure. It doesn’t let your muscles droop as you age.
The folks at KateFarms were kind enough to send me some samples to try and I can tell you I loved them immediately. They don’t have that chalky, chemical taste that many of the health drinks on the market seem to have. I tried the chocolate flavor which was a lot like a chocolate milk. The coffee flavor will be my next order!
RELATED: Best Meal Replacement Shakes for Older Adults
3. RUNA Organic Clean Energy Drink
- Only contains ten calories from organic cane sugar with no artificial sweeteners.
- Provides clean energy clean energy by using real, organic ingredients with multiple certifications to prove it.
- Vegan and gluten-free drinks.
- 150 mg of natural caffeine in every bottle.
If you believe that a product’s certification determines its quality, then you should go for Runa Energy Drink with your eyes closed. It has certificates from USDA Organic, Non-GMO Project Verified, Kosher, and Certified B Corporation. The drink contains organic ingredients, such as brewed guayusa leaf, L-Theanine, polyphenols, and natural caffeine that focus on one thing – to provide long-lasting energy without a crash.
Runa doesn’t use sugar to make its energy drink. Instead, it uses only a couple of grams of organic cane sugar for a refreshing taste. The refreshing flavor also comes from the brewed guayusa leaves that add a hint of fruit flavor to the drink.
4. MatchaBar Hustle Sparkling Matcha Energ Drink
- Ceremonial-grade, hand-blended matcha that grows in Kagoshima farms.
- Vegan product that doesn’t contain milk or any dairy items.
- Four flavors: mint, peach, lemon-lime, and berry.
MatchaBar is one of the most popular brands when it comes to energy drinks. It is also the first plant-based energy drink from Matcha. The best part about this drink is it doesn’t contain anything artificial. The makers use only natural ingredients and no added sugar. So if you love energy drinks that give you an instant kick without increasing your heart rate or blood pressure, you should drink MatchaBar Hustle Energy.
It has the perfect balance of natural ingredients, such as L-theanine, natural caffeine, and antioxidants that make you feel energetic. In addition, green tea helps detox your body. The MatchaBar Hustle Energy contains powdered green tea leaves that keep toxins away and boosts your energy.
5. V8+Energy Natural Energy Health Drink
- Excellent source of various types of vitamins, especially Vitamin B3 and Vitamin B6.
- Provides the same caffeine as other energy drinks from a trusted brand.
- The healthy combination of fruits, vegetables, and high-quality green tea leaves keeps you fit and energetic without jitters.
- Contains 1 serving of fruit/veggies combined since many seniors struggle to get those in due to dental/digestive issues
Do you feel drowsy even after you get up in the morning? Or feel like taking a nap after lunch? If you don’t want to waste a significant part of your day sleeping and resting, you should start taking V8 +Energy.
This energy drink is a combination of tea, fruits, and vegetables. It also contains the same amount of caffeine as some of the other energy drinks. You can add V8 +Energy to any well-balanced diet and boost your energy within a few minutes.
The primary ingredients are juicy blueberries, tart pomegranate, apple juice, carrot, and sweet potato. It doesn’t contain artificial colors and added sugar. Additionally, it’s appropriate for those who prefer gluten-free and non-GMO products.
6. Guayaki Yerba Mate
- USDA-organic, non-GMO, and Kosher-certified product.
- Hint of lime flavor makes this drink one of the tastiest among its counterparts.
- Unsweetened variety doesn’t contain added sugar or artificial sweeteners.
- Not suitable for those with heart diseases or increased blood pressure levels.
The Guayaki Yerba Mate is ideal for those who don’t like carbonated energy drinks. Many carbonated energy drinks in the market claim they can boost your energy within a few minutes.
Sure, they can. But they contain a mixture of caffeine and sugar. The caffeine rush, along with sugar, keeps you energized. However, they are not the best choice for your aging body. Too much sugar can make you gain weight regardless of your age.
Instead, you should drink Guayaki Yerba Mate, a noncarbonated drink made from organic fruit juice and yerba mate. The rich caffeine content comes from yerba mate that contains caffeine. The caffeine boost increases your energy significantly.
Summary
You may come across various energy drink brands that claim that they can provide instant energy without any side effects. Don’t trust them until you go through the ingredients in detail.
If you want to drink healthy and safe energy drinks that are also nutritious for seniors and older adults, stick to the ones mentioned above. You can start with Proper Wild Clean All Day Energy Shot as it’s the most cost-effective and has all the benefits you can expect from energy drinks.
About the Expert
Because I strive to provide you with accurate information, I had this article fact-checked by Kathryn Bubeck, RD, LDN a registered dietician in North Carolina. She has dual bachelor degrees in Nutrition and Health Behavior Management and is currently pursuing a medical degree with a focus on oncology.
