Your health: Down side of energy drinks

A wake-up call

For people on the go, an energy drink may seem like the only way to get through the day.

But according to experts cited in the article “Alternative Fuels” in March's Men's Health, energy drinks are not always what they promise.

Often they move you into an up-and-down cycle of stimulation and exhaustion.

How about decaf energy drinks that don't use caffeine, instead boasting huge doses of B vitamins as an energy booster? Ted Cooperman of ConsumerLab.com, which tests nutritional products, tells The Washington Post that doesn't really work.

“You won't feel a B-induced boost, since the energy provided by B vitamins isn't stimulating like caffeine,” Cooperman said.

Men's Health writer Laura Roberson suggests FRS Healthy Energy drinks. She says they contain reasonable levels of B vitamins and quercetin, which a 2010 study found can help fight fatigue and boost your cells' mitochondria over time, energizing your muscles.

Roberson says it's hard to beat simple brewed coffee, which doesn't have ingredients found in coffee energy drinks that may cause problems, such as panax ginseng and guarana.

One helpful suggestion for end-of-day droopiness: a handful of almonds. “Protein helps increase insulin production, and insulin can have an alerting effect,” according to sleep specialist Michael Breus.

A heart to heart

Whether everyone in your family tree died of a heart attack at 50 or remained hale until 100, you need to think about your ticker, says Martha Grogan, a doctor and medical editor of the new book “Mayo Clinic Healthy Heart for Life!” ($26, Time). She offers a few pointers:

• Know the symptoms. Sure, unexpected chest pain, severe weakness and shortness of breath could be something other than a heart attack. But let a doctor determine that.

• Get up. Everyone knows exercise is good for the heart, but you may not know how little you can do and still see a benefit. Just standing helps, says Grogan, who nevertheless recommends doing a bit more once you're on your feet. “I'd challenge people to walk briskly in front of the TV and do jumping jacks,” she says.

• Hit the sack. Fun fact about sleep: You can never get more than you need. So don't worry about overdoing it. And you'll rest easier knowing that several studies have shown there's a strong connection between heart disease and getting your z's.

• Chill out. Walking around angry puts you at a higher risk for a heart attack. Boost your mood by making time to participate in your favorite activities and volunteering.

“People are always putting relaxation off,” Grogan says. But if you wait too long, you might not be around to relax.