Caffeine can provide a great boost to your workout. Research carried out by the Journal of Applied Physiology found that those who drank coffee before a workout found it to be easier to complete than those who didn’t.
It’s recommended that you drink a caffeinated drink up to an hour before you workout. This is because it takes between 15 to 45 minutes to fully absorb into your stomach. It’s then most effective between 30 and 75 minutes after consumption.
The suggestion is to have 3 milligrams of caffeine per kilogram of your own body weight – so, for example, if you weigh 150lbs, you’re going to want between 210 and 400 mg of caffeine.
We’ve handpicked some of the best energy drinks out there, giving you something more exciting to drink than a regular cup of coffee:
NOCCO BCAA
The NOCCO (No Carbs Company) BCAA caffeinated drinks are all sugar free and contain 180mg of caffeine per can.
There are eight different flavours to choose from; Carribbean, Apple, Tropical, Pear, Peach, Red Berries, Orange and Citrus/Elderflower. And what’s more, you can pick up a mixed case on Amazon for just £27.48 (just £2.29 per can) -perfect if you’re a first-timer and want to try them all out, or you just happen to love all flavours.
Flyte Clean Energy
Flyte is the first of its kind, bringing us energy drinks that are 100% sourced from nature, low calorie (<40 kcal per bottle), organic, non GMO and carbon positive. So if you’re one who likes organic food & drink, this should be top of your list!
They have just two flavours, Red Berries and Green Mango, and come in quite heavy glass bottles, but they’re perfect to recycle or reuse. You can order a taster pack through the website (you just cover the cost of p&p) and you can order both flavours from Amazon for £5.97.
Myprotein BCAA Drink
Myprotein’s BCAA drink is packed full of amino acids, B vitamins and caffeine. It’s also zero sugar, zero carb and comes in two flavours; Cherry Cola and Strawberry & Raspberry.
You can purchase a case of six cans of your chosen flavour through the site for just £9.99 (just £1.67 per can).
Nutramino HEAT BCAA
Whilst not a UK brand, Nutramino HEAT BCAA is a fantastic go-to energy drinks that’s got a high level of caffeine and nine different vitamins, but with zero calories or sugars.
There seem to be a variety of flavours on their own website, but you can buy a case of 24 Mango Passion Fruit drinks from Amazon for just £36.97 (just £1.54 per can).
Don’t fancy a caffeinated energy drink?
Not everyone loves a cup of coffee or a caffeinated energy drink though. So what do you do if you need a burst of energy?
There are many other drinks that are good to turn to, for example:
- Green tea
- Cherry juice
- Fat-free milk
- Lemonade with ginger
You don’t have to have a drink though, there’s a variety of BCAA and electrolyte tablets you can take instead.
