Sobe Energy Adrenaline Rush (16 oz)

260 calories
66 g sugars
152 mg caffeine

Their Claim: "Elevate your game with high performance energy for your mind and body. Bold citrus taste enhanced with a unique blend of energizing elements including D-ribose, L-carnitine and taurine. So good."

The Truth Is: D-ribose and L-carnitine sound exotic, but they're simply natural compounds that your body needs for proper metabolism. While research shows that carnitine supplementation may aid in recovery from exercise, there's no strong evidence to suggest either compound helps improve performance or enhances energy levels.  But, the massive sugar load will certainly spike your energy - for a price.  This drink quickly sends blood glucose soaring, which sets you up for a major sugar crash to follow.   British scientists discovered that sleep-deprived people who consumed a sugary drink actually had slower reaction times and more sleepiness 90 minutes later.

Is it safe?  No. Not if you're diabetic or pre-diabetic. Sobe Energy Adrenaline Rush contains as much sugar as 5 and a half scoops of Edy's Slow Churned Rocky Road Ice Cream.  Additionally, taurine is probably fine in small doses, but chug too many energy drinks and the picture becomes less clear.  According to a recent case report from St. Joseph's Hospital in Phoenix, Arizona, three people had seizures after drinking approximately two 24-ounce energy drinks in a short period of time.  Whether the seizures were due to caffeine, taurine, or pre-existing health conditions is unclear. So, if you "must", limit yourself to one a week - at the most... it's best to not even take a sip of any one of these so-called "energy drinks".