There’s the question of what else is in your protein drink, like a lot of sugar or an artificial sweetener that you personally might not want to consume regularly. If you want to drink one on a daily basis, weigh the pros and cons – yes, you could be consuming more protein, but you could also be ‘doing yourself a disservice in another department,’ White says. Each bottle of UPBeat Protein Water contains spring water for hydration, real fruit, for a great and refreshing taste, and the whey protein is vegetarian and contains all nine essential amino acids to keep the body strong. It also has essential vitamins B5 to support mental performance and vitamins B5, B6 and B12 to support metabolism and to help reduce stress and fatigue. Also, it’s not great to consume a super large dose of protein right before exercise. ‘It's too slow-digesting and then you risk stomach upset or maybe just not getting those calories available for the activity,’ she adds. Note: With this being the highest concentration caffine beverage on our list, we would encourage you to employ caution and restraint when consuiming it. Always follow the manufacturer’s guidelines as well as any advice you may have received from healthcare professionals. Red Bull is one of the most well-known and popular high-caffeine brands on the market and has become synonymous with energy drinks. The company is also known for its support of high-octane sports, record-breaking stunts and up-and-coming electronic musicians.

For example, Danone launched its Evian+ range earlier this year in cans: a flavoured water enriched with magnesium and zinc.​​ Another factor to consider when consuming energy drinks is that they tend to be high in sugar, which, similar to caffeine, is fine in moderation. To be mindful of this, however, we’ll also link to sugar-free versions of our favourite drinks where available.Sugar content remains a key consumer for UK consumers – as well as for manufacturers, given the 2018 introduction of the UK’s sugar tax. This will continue to be a factor for functional waters and the wider water plus category.

Here, then, is everything you need to know about protein water, including what it is, the options, if you can drink it every day, benefits, downsides, and more. What is protein water? It contains all nine essential amino acids to keep the body strong, aid muscle repair and reduces bone loss. L-carnitine is a nutrient that helps transport fatty acids to your cell’s mitochondria, where they can be turned into energy. While we’re still learning about the various roles it plays in the body, it’s generally agreed that L-carnitine contributes to brain and heart function, muscle movement, and many other bodily processes. Vegans tend to produce lower amounts of L-carnitine, so supplemental amounts of this may be beneficial for those avoiding animal products. Functional waters took one of the bigger hits in the UK in 2020: and yet, at the same time, could also see one of the bigger rebounds as consumers think increasingly about health post-pandemic. Taurine is important to many of the body’s metabolic processes and helps improve cardiovascular health. It’s also thought to have antioxidant properties. This amino acid occurs naturally in meat, fish and dairy products. There isn’t much consensus as to the positive effects of taurine, though some studies suggest it improves athletic performance, as well as mental performance when consumed alongside caffeine.

FREE DELIVERY OVER £35

Meanwhile, other brands have looked at how they can become more sustainable in other ways: Danone’s Volvic brand, for example, has switched to 100% renewable energy. The sweet spot Whether you’re sipping it on a run or as a post-workout refresh, Upbeat Protein Hydration delivers 10g of Clear Whey Isolate Protein, vitamin B complex, 3000mg BCAA and absolutely zero sugar. With 62 calories per 500ml bottle, Upbeat Protein Hydration combines all the benefits of protein shakes and vitamin waters in a juicy and refreshing Mixed Berry flavour. Enter: protein water. If this phrase sounds a bit foreign to you, don’t be intimidated – protein water is exactly what it sounds like. It’s a type of water ‘enhanced with some sort of supplemental protein,’ says Dana White, MS, RD, ATC, a registered dietitian and nutrition consultant specialising in sports nutrition.

Energy drinks, like most things in life, are perfectly safe when consumed in moderation. That being said, their high caffeine content can be hazardous for those with pre-existing heart conditions, pregnant women and younger children. For the best safe consumption advice, always refer to the label or can and follow the manufacturer’s guidance and instructions. Meet the experts: Dana White, MS, RD, ATC, is a registered dietician and nutrition consultant specialising in sports nutrition. Sohee Carpenter, CSCS, is a fitness and nutrition coach, WH advisor, sports science PhD student, and author of Eat. Lift. Thrive. Sophie Medlin is the founder of City Dieticians and a registered dietician.If, however, you’re veggie or vegan and you struggle to include protein in your diet – or you’re training in the gym, lifting weights and wanting to gain muscle, you may want a little more than 0.75g per kg per day. Protein has been a buzzy topic in the health and wellness space for, well, a while. We have protein porridge, protein pancakes, and a myriad of protein powders to satisfy every craving under the sun. And with more and more research coming out about how much protein you should actually be consuming each day to reap the many benefits – which consist of muscle synthesis, building and maintaining bone tissue, and more – every little bit counts to up your protein intake and reach your goal. We think Grenade ® is one of the most exciting sports nutrition companies in the market today. Thanks to their great taste and performance properties, we’re seeing sales soar at gyms, universities and health conscious work places. Upbeat Protein water

While they may sometimes get a bad rap, the best energy drinks have plenty of positives. They offer an alternative stimulant for those who don’t enjoy the taste of coffee – or its high price – when out and about. Energy drinks also tend to come in a variety of tasty and interesting flavours, offer a significant caffeine boost that even some stronger coffees fail to match and are easily portable and storable for long periods of time. Another interesting thing about energy drinks is the tight-knit communities and fan-followings they sometimes develop due to their fun, maximalist aesthetics and sponsorship of extreme sports and up-and-coming music scenes. Functional waters are essentially those with added functional ingredients: such as botanicals, vitamins, minerals or oxygen. Functional waters can be still or sparkling and can be flavoured or unflavoured - their point in common is they are marketed as having a functional positioning.

Rewards For Life

How to choose the best energy drink for you Energy drinks have a lot of supplemental ingredients – what do they all do? At best, energy drinks can help you feel more awake, giving you a boost after consumption. However, feeling energised and feeling focused are two different things. Functional water relies on sales away from home, especially in places like gyms for protein water,"​ explained Robin Bell, Senior Consultant, Zenith Global. ​ "As gyms and sports centres were mostly closed down in 2020, functional water sales were severely hampered. ​