Energy Drinks vs Coffee.... Is this even a Contest of Health?

    

     Okay! This rivalry isn't exactly age-old. It's kind of like placing Buzz Lightyear in a fight with the Lone Ranger.

     You have to consider several things. First, coffee has history on its side. For centuries coffee has been the drink of choice for millions. It comes from trees and has that "herbal remedy aura" since it is all natural. Second, energy drinks have quickly become an emblem of popular culture because you can find these beverages at almost any retail store. Lastly, while coffee delivers a nice dose of instant energy, energy drinks provide a stronger "slap" of caffeine, but it does not last as long as the effects of coffee. Which one could possibly come out on top?

     Countless doctors and psychologists conducted studies on which beverage is the healthier choice. In all honesty, neither of them can be all that great for a person, as they are both loaded with the drug of the Internet Age; Caffeine. "For a population complaining of fatigue, exhaustion, stress, and insomnia, it appears a near perfect antidote," said Matthew Edlund, M.D.

     In comparing the cultural differences of energy drinks and coffee, you must understand that coffee has been around seemingly since the dawn of time. Besides activating the minds of countless people throughout history, coffee is highly social, and coffeehouses have been the centers of community life for as long as I've seen them. Energy drinks are so popular for one reason; they provide a quick boost of energy. The quicker you guzzle them, the bigger the hit. Typically, you'll find that youths are the primary buyers of these beverages because of this quick hit.

     To resolve this rivalry, let's bring common sense into it. There is something more effective and far healthier than either coffee or energy drinks. I am referring to sleep. In order to fix your caffeine fix you must make the following changes:

1. Realize that rest is like food and it is necessary for function and survival. Deprive any animal of sleep long enough and it gets sick and dies. People need to get rest.

2. Recognize that caffeine is a drug whose "normal use" can abuse our bodies.

3. Use caffeine the way it's meant to be used - as a food we love. Energy drinks may have their use in sports, where the slightest edge can mean everything to competitors, or for plant workers tending a nuclear reactor late at night. But foods are social glues and forms of celebration. People want to dine, not feed. It's fun to sip a cup among peers, family, and friends, giving us a better chance to enjoy the buzz and enliven our brains.

The winner is.......sleep! It's not the sissy's way out!