You’re a busy person. In fact, you’re always busy and feeling decidedly energetically lacking. Common causes of energy depletion and fatigue include lack of sleep and stress. There just aren’t enough hours in the day, are there? There are actually many possible reasons why you are constantly lacking in energy, and we'll discuss those and ways to combat your current draining habits.

However, before we begin, if you’re like millions of people, you depend on some substance to get you through the day… the next hour… the next 15 minutes; quick fixes that often cause more harm than do you good. Maybe you have to have your java before you consider yourself “awake” in the mornings. Maybe you like to stay out partying all night, get by on three hours’ sleep, and count on a couple No-Doze to make it through your classes the next day. Perhaps you often stop by the 7-11 on your lunch break, grabbing a Monster or Rockstar energy drink, or a Red Bull (dammit, it gives me wings!).

Without a doubt, these will give you a quick jolt or the high you’re seeking, especially if taken in succession, one after the other. But at a price; there are dangers attributed to stimulants like caffeine and many “natural” stimuli like guarana, which are often the main ingredients in energy drinks.

Here’s a brief rundown of two common forms of energy boosts, and their side effects:

Caffeine. We all know that caffeine is a stimulant. But the effects of caffeine don’t last all that long, up to about an hour and half if you’re lucky. Once they do wear off you end up coming down, and sometimes you’ll crash hard, leaving you worse off than before. Many people over-caffeinate themselves, and many more these days are ending up in the hospital sometimes having irregular heart beats and the shakes. Caffeine is also a diuretic, and can leave a person feeling dehydrated which contributes to even more fatigue. I found some good information specifically directed at athletes, but a good read for anyone, here: http://www.athleticadvisor.com/Weight_Room/Energy_drinks.htm.

Energy Drinks. Energy drinks contain a lot of sugars, caffeine, and a bunch of other stuff that isn’t regulated by the FDA. The FDA doesn’t even define an energy drink. Therefore, the levels and ingredients are unknown. I read an instance of a girl with a heart condition that wasn’t allowed anything with caffeine because of her condition. So she found an energy drink which didn’t contain caffeine, thinking she would be fine, however quickly died from the other stimulating ingredients that had the same quickening effect on her heart. An extreme example, but emphasizes the caution that should be exercised in regards to energy drinks. Since the main ingredient in most of them is caffeine, the same ill affects apply, but the amount caffeine is several times greater than the amounts found even in your average soft drinks. Especially amazing since the energy drinks are often only 8 oz to a soft drinks' 12 or 16 oz. I mentioned sugars; keep in mind that sugars = calories.

WebMD says that “there will be an energy burst, but it could also lead to agitation, difficulty concentrating, hyperactivity, a problem sleeping, nausea, and affect blood pressure”. (http://www.webmd.com/content/article/128/117173.htm)

Mixing alcohol with energy drinks is especially dangerous since it causes a person to feel less drunk than they actually are; it’s along the same adage as drinking coffee to sober up. Dumb up is more like it.

Okay, gee, thanks for the health lesson, so what do I do? I’m still tired and now you’re telling me my coffee’s bad for me.

Like most things in life, the best answer doesn’t come in a can, from a bottle, or happen instantly. The best ways for you to increase your energy levels and keep them there come in the infamous forms of diet, exercise, proper breathing, hydration, and plain ole’ concerted effort.