Let’s get right to it: 5150 Juice has landed and it’s no energy drink. It’s no energy shot. It’s the fabled bottle of piss and vinegar, and I’m here to review it for you. Movin’ on

Taste

5150 Juice is basically an eye dropper of liquefied caffeine, without any of those fru-fru flavor ingredients. I shouldn’t have to say much more here, because believe it or not, every one of you has tasted 501 Juice. Don’t remember? Think back to the last energy product you consumed that had a bitter after taste. That after taste? It was 5150 Juice.

Now, 5150 Juice is not meant to be drunk on its own, but mixed with a beverage of choice. Power to the people! When mixing a recommended capful of 5150 Juice with your favorite vending machine product, you won’t have to concentrate hard to pick up on the 5150 aftertaste. It’s noticeable, but by no means does it destroy your drink.

Ingredients

Every cap of liquid gives you roughly 100mg of caffeine. Movin’ on

Effect

A capful of 5150 Juice will go to work with respectable intent, much to my delight. I never found out what more than one cap will do, because one was always enough! There’s not much to expect when it comes to crashing.

Verdict

This one’s got my thumbs up. I just love the idea of having a resealable, highly portable, bottle of concentrated caffeine. Keeping one in a jacket pocket is the epitome of being prepared for an energy lover.

So, while you’re here, fun little story for you. I recently got a job, and drug testing was required. When I got to the drug testing lab, I remembered that I had just foolishly used the bathroom about 15 minutes before. This was a horrible situation, because I needed to get the test that day without choice, the lab was about to close, and I had nothing left for the pee cup.

I panicked a little, and then got smart. The 5150 Juice in my jacket vest pocket had about 1/4 left, so I gulped it all down and followed that up with a greedy water fountain session. 25 minutes later, the caffeine worked its magic and I went through with the drug test! You see, it never hurts to have caffeine in your pocket. You’ll never know when it can come in handy.

Reviewed by Dusty Smith

You can get your own 5150 Juice from KingofCaffeine.com

[This stuff has been flying out the door - people are caffeinating everything with it! Get yours now and STAY UP!

~King]

A Cup of Coffee Can Help Shift Workers Improve Performance, Cut Down on Errors, Researchers Say

By Kelli Miller Stacy
WebMD Health News

Reviewed by Laura J. Martin, MD

May 12, 2010 — Bleary-eyed shift workers appear to make fewer mistakes on the job when they consume caffeine, such as a cup of coffee or a caffeinated energy drink, researchers report.

Shift and nighttime work can sometimes disrupt the body’s natural clock, or circadian rhythm. This can lead to shift-work disorder, a sleep disorder in which a person has symptoms of insomnia or excessive sleepiness related to work schedules. The lack of quality sleep can make workers very drowsy while at work.

About 14% of Americans are shift workers, according to the National Sleep Foundation. Nurses, truck drivers, and emergency personnel are some examples of people who usually work off-hour shifts. Sleepiness on the job has been linked to medical errors, automobile accidents, and occupational injuries.

Researcher Katherine Ker and colleagues of the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine reviewed data from 13 studies regarding the effects of caffeine on shift workers’ performance. Participants were between the ages of 18 and 65, but most were between the ages of 20 and 30.

Depending on the study design, the workers received caffeine through coffee, energy drinks, food, or pills. In most studies, the workers completed neuropsychological tests to gauge their memory, attention, reasoning, and perception skills. Several studies compared the results of neuropsychological testing in participants given caffeine versus a placebo.

The study authors say that, compared to doing nothing at all, the caffeine helped shift workers improve their cognitive performance and reduced job-related errors. None of the studies reviewed assessed the effects of caffeine on work-related injuries.

“It seems reasonable to assume that reduced errors are associated with fewer injuries, although we cannot quantify such a reduction,” Ker says in a news release.

[You know the best place on the web to get your Energy Snacks! Get some now!

STAY UP!

~King]

Where does Caffeine come from?

What people think all caffeine comes from

Almost all Americans consume caffeine at some point during the day, every single day. When the morning rush hits the local starbucks everyone is there for coffee right, no they are there for the caffeine inside. Caffeine can be found in several products we consume everyday but do we actually know where caffeine comes from?

Well before you stop reading this and say “it comes from the cup/can of [insert drink here] I’m drinking, you might be surprised at what you read. Caffeine comes from several places some natural and some made in a lab. The most commonly known natural sources of caffeine come from the coffee bean the tea plant (Camelia Sinensis) and cocoa. If you drink soda then you are getting your caffeine from the Kola nut, get it Cola. If you’re a fan of energy drinks that’s Guarana

Guarana Berry plant

and it contains twice the amount of caffeine then a coffee bean. I will get into each one of these in more detail in the coming weeks.

Caffeine has been around forever, well no one actually knows when but as long as people have been drinking coffee and tea there’s been caffeine. In the early 1800’s Caffeine made its way to a lab and by around 1900 caffeine was made synthetically. Though it’s not common it’s usually synthesized from dimethylurea and malonic acid. It’s also being used in the medical field for a variety of things since it directly affects the central nervous system.

So to answer the questions caffeine comes from several different things each with different applications but they all have the end result on us we…..STAY UP!

Written by: Joshua Wood

Joshua is the owner and writer for the up and coming MMA website MMAValor.com. The site is dedicated to the world of Mixed Martial Arts and he does his fair share of caffeine consumption.

Caffeine is a stimulant to the body and is consumed by over 80 percent of the world’s population on a daily basis. The body absorbs caffeine within 45 minutes after ingestion, and the effects of this stimulant are diminished after three hours and eventually excreted by the body leaving no accumulation. Caffeine has been researched as good, bad, and indifferent regarding its effects on the body. Recent research indicates that caffeine is beneficial in moderate doses. The Mayo Clinic indicates this to mean up to four cups of coffee a day or 300 milligrams.

Physical Health Benefits
Caffeine targets the central nervous system, stimulates the cardiovascular and digestive system and is known for alleviating mental fatigue. The result of caffeine on the central nervous system is mood elevation, alertness, increased focus and cognitive clarity. Caffeine is also credited for aiding with metabolic functioning and is one ingredient used in weight loss supplements. Caffeine is touted as an aid for increasing energy, which influences fat burning. Additionally, the diuretic effect of caffeine prompts frequent elimination of waste from the digestive system. Caffeine has also shown a protective effect against heart disease when used daily in moderation. However, the type of drink containing caffeine is a consideration as well as pre-existing medical conditions. It is recommended to speak to a physician before utilizing caffeine as a regular health supplement.

Mental Health Benefits
Caffeine increases the feel-good neurotransmitters in the brain, also known as dopamine. The pleasure center of the brain is impacted by the level of dopamine present. Caffeine stimulates the dopamine receptors allowing for improved emotions, bursts of energy and feelings of optimism. Many people who start their day with a cup of coffee tend to be more alert, willing to take on the challenges of the day and have a positive attitude. A study reported by the “American Physiological Society” regarding caffeine’s influence on mood concluded that students who used caffeine prior to attending university lectures reported enhanced mood, mental clarity and willingness to participate versus students who did not use caffeine prior to lectures.

Additional Benefits
Although caffeine has gotten a bad reputation over the years, current research is showing that there are several benefits of use when caffeine is ingested in moderation. The key to caffeine remaining beneficial is not creating a dependency on the stimulant and knowing how much is too much. Additional benefits of caffeine use include pain relief, increased acidity in the stomach that aids in medication absorption, headache relief and wakefulness.

[Stay tuned for our own series on "What is Caffeine?" written by guest blogger Joshua Wood of MMAValor.com. An avid user of caffeine and great friend of KingofCaffeine.com. STAY UP!]

~King

With consumption on the rise, how much is too much?

By Kristi Eaton

VIEW ON HEALTH

Caffeine has received a bad rap for years, with the media dwelling on the dangerous and harmful effects caffeine can have on the body. While too much can be detrimental, research shows that moderate amounts of the stimulant can actually be good for your health.

Caffeine, the most widely consumed stimulant in the world, can be found in everything from coffee and tea to chocolate and soft drinks like Coca Cola. In recent years, a litany of energy drinks, packed with large amounts of caffeine, have appeared on the market, and soap and shampoo companies are now putting the stimulant in some of their products, claiming it can improve the skin.

But as the number of products with caffeine increases, so too does the criticism about its use and consumption. Following are some of the positives and negatives of caffeine to help find the truth behind the stimulant that more than 80 percent of Americans consume on a daily basis.

CAFFEINE PROMOTES WAKEFULNESS

The No. 1 reason most people consume caffeine it to wake up in the morning or help stay awake during periods of drowsiness. But how much is the right amount? Research shows that a steady stream of low amounts of caffeine can promote wakefulness throughout the day. In 2004, scientists within the Division of Sleep Medicine of Brigham and Women’s Hospital and Harvard Medical School’s Department of Medicine showed that small doses of 0.3 mg (about 20 mg per hour) was effective in “countering the detrimental performance effects of extended wakefulness.” Another study from The Institute for Sleep and Fatigue Medicine at Israel’s Chaim Sheba Medical Center found 200 mg of caffeine is effective at combating the dip in cognitive performance often experienced at night.

However, like with most things, too much of a good thing is possible with caffeine. Doctors at the Mayo Clinic say moderate doses of caffeine — about 200 to 300 mgs per day, or two to three cups of brewed coffee per day — are not harmful for the average person. But consuming large amounts — around 500 to 600 mgs, or four to seven cups of coffee — can start producing side effects like insomnia, nervousness, irritability, headaches and muscle tremors.

Scientists at John Hopkins University have called for warning labels on energy drinks, saying consumers need to be well aware of the amount of caffeine they are buying in the product.

“The caffeine content of energy drinks varies over a 10-fold range, with some containing the equivalent of 14 cans of Coca-Cola, yet the caffeine amounts are often unlabeled and few include warnings about the potential health risks of caffeine intoxication,” said Roland Griffiths, one of the scientists who called for the change in an article published in a 2008 issues of Drug and Alcohol Dependence. Without prominent labels, Griffiths said, people have no idea how much they are consuming. “It’s like drinking a serving of an alcoholic beverage and not knowing if its beer or scotch,” he said in a statement.

REGULAR COFFEE DRINKERS MAY LIVE LONGER

In a 2008 Annals of Internal Medicine, scientists reported that women who drank two to three cups of caffeinated coffee per day had a 25 percent less risk of dying from heart disease compared to non-coffee drinkers. They also had an 18 percent lower risk of death from a cause other than cancer or heart disease compared with non-coffee drinkers.In addition, several studies have shown regularly drinking coffee lowers the risk of strokes for women, and may help protect against Alzheimer’s disease for people with high cholesterol.

CAFFEINE CAN PROTECT AND IMPROVE YOUR SKIN

Several studies have shown that caffeine can decrease the chances of skin cancer. Scientists found that in cells damaged by UV rays, caffeine interrupted a protein called ATR-Chk1, causing the damaged cells to self-destruct. There is no effect on undamaged cells, according to the research team from the University of Washington in Seattle

The stimulant is also popular among dermatologists for facial flushing because caffeine constricts blood vessels.

“For that reason, caffeine can be a tremendous boon to those who suffer from rosacea, which is essentially caused by frequently dilated blood vessels that lose their ability to contract,” said Leslie Baumann, a former professor at the University of Miami’s Cosmetic Center and Cosmetic Medicine & Research Institute.

Caffeine’s ability to constrict blood vessels also makes it popular as an eye cream ingredient because it alleviates puffiness and redness, added Baumann, author of The Skin Type Solution

You can recover from workouts faster by consuming caffeine

A study from scientists at the University of Georgia published in The Journal of Pain said moderate amounts of caffeine — about two cups of coffee — post-workout helped ease muscle pain by up to 48 percent.

In explaining the findings, co-author UGA professor Patrick O’Connor said the caffeine likely blocks the body’s receptors for adenosine, a chemical released in response to inflammation. It’s unclear, however, if the findings are the same for people who regularly consume caffeine.

CAFFEINE CAN BE CONSUMED DURING PREGNANCY

Gone are the days where it’s believe that women should not have a single sip of coffee or soda while pregnant. However, during pregnancy it’s even more vital to consume in moderation. Caffeine crosses the placenta into the baby, so even though you may be able to handle the amount of caffeine consumed, the baby will not be able to properly metabolize it. This can affect the baby’s heart rate, according to the Mayo Clinic. Studies differ on the whether caffeine consumption has any impact on miscarriages or low-birth weight. But experts tend to agree that a moderate amount of caffeine is OK.

[Stay informed, stay caffeinated, and STAY UP!]

~King

Crazy Koru Energy Strips give fast burning instant energy

You know those times when an energy drink won’t do? When a coffee just does not give you the energy you need right at that second? I have found a solution providing almost instant energy – and in the perfect dosage too!

Kingofcaffeine.com has provided me with some samples of Koru Energy Strips, these little tabs you slip under your tongue and absorb the caffeine quickly in your system. This ups the ante from Diablo strips, giving you more power than you could imagine from only 40mg of energy.
While the effect is short lived, for a quick and tasty pick-me-up, Koru really does the trick.

Buzz:9
I really did not expect much from this, being only 40mg of caffeine. Surprise, Surprise, I felt a definite and marked improvement of my concentration levels, my energy and my focus. Within 15 seconds or so, I was very alert, and able to get down to business, even after a rough weekend including sick children, bad movies, and $2.00 bottles of wine.

Mind you, because the 40mg hits you quick, it also leaves you quick. Within a couple hours, I was ready for more. I spread the 4 doses out during the day, giving myself enough energy to last the whole day,and still get enough sleep at night. You can even take a hit of Koru after work without fear of being kept awake all night! While the 40mg might seem tame, in actuality it is a great way to control your energy throughout the day

Taste:9
I have dissolved quite a few things on my tongue, and none of them have been this tasty! This is like a small mint that quickly turns into a lovely minty aftertaste. Within 10 seconds, it is no longer in your mouth leaving you with fresh breath. I enjoyed the flavor quite a lot, better than any other breath strips on the market today. My only issue is that they used aspartame as one of their sweeteners, and you can really taste it. With all those other sugars out there, why not pick one without that bitterness? While I don’t mind the flavor all that much, I know of some who would get pretty turned off.

Packaging:9
Well? Just look at it! The big tribal design just screams at you the directions of what to do with the product – and looks scary and cool in the process. The whole delivery method of the foil pack is easy to get at, and a brilliant design. Everything about this is unique and stellar, from the color choices to functionality. The only thing I found that was lacking was the caffeine information – only presenting the user with a “High Caffeine Content” warning. I really would have preferred to know this straight out – as opposed to hunting around on the internet to find out.

[Get them here]

Stay up

~King

We love you guys! Thanks for supporting us!

STAY UP!

By Big Red Boots:

Let’s say that there was a book written about the dangers of sugar. This book wrote how sugar is addictive, and too much of it can lead to all sorts of serious health problems, like tooth decay and obesity. This book then goes on to link the serious medical dangers of diabetes – and urged the public to give up on their sugar addiction. It even mentions how a person should stay away from eating foods with natural sugars, such as apples and grapes. There could even be a chapter on the hidden dangers of corn.

Almost no person would be surprised by this. The fact that too much sugar could be bad for you is widely known to children and adults alike. Still, this has not slowed down the purchase of candy, chocolate or even fruit. There are no Sugar Anonymous groups, no fructose treatment centers and no one blaming a sugar rush for the cause of accidents and bad behavior, running to the hills hiding from gangs of schoolchildren with Slurpees in their veins.

There certainly is no Sugar Awareness Month. Although this March is the National Play-the-Recorder Month, so Sugar Awareness .

However, there is a Caffeine Awareness Month this March, call attention to the dangers of caffeine dependency and intoxication. 3 states have instituted this awareness month, are Nebraska, Connecticut, and Oklahoma. The 4 cities that have issued proclamations so far have been Euless and Grapevine Texas, Roanoke Virginia, and Buffalo New York. Other states and cities are expected to issue similar proclamations.

Marina Kushner, an author of two books on the “hidden” dangers of caffeine, is the woman behind Caffeine Awareness Month. In the 2 books that are featured prominently for sale on her non-profit website, caffeineawareness.com, she reveals “frightening evidence” that caffeine can produce mood swings and insomnia, increased muscle tension, impair digestion and nutrition, restrict blood circulation to the brain, raise blood pressure and accelerate the heart rate.

Of course, the “frightening” evidence that caffeine can keep you awake at night, make you grumpy if you don’t have your morning cup of Joe, and that too much can make your tummy sour must be revelatory. Caffeine is the world’s most used drug, and found in substances all over the world. People have been drinking caffeine for thousands of years, and the effects of caffeine addiction are common knowledge.

What is revelatory is how a woman who wrote an easily dismissed book on the “dangers” of a non-dangerous drug has somehow managed to work herself a nice public relations gig, driving people to her website to buy her books and subscribe to her e-newsletter on the dangers of green tea and decaf coffee. Not that this is the only “month” for march, as the list of awareness month groups have piled on.

This march is also Chronic Fatigue Syndrome Awareness Month, Clean Up Your IRS Act Month, Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month, Craft Month, Credit Education Month, Eye Donor Month, Irish-American Heritage Month, Women’s History Month, Workplace Eye Health and Safety Month, Kidney Month, Listening Awareness Month, March into Literacy Month, Poison Prevention Awareness Month, Red Cross Month, Save Your Vision Month, Multiple Sclerosis Education and Awareness Month.

But that’s not all. Other Dubious awareness groups are celebrating their months as well. March is also Ethics Awareness Month, Employee Spirit Month, Expanding Girls’ Horizons in Science and Engineering Month, Frozen Food Month, Humorists Are Artists Month, Music in our Schools Month, On-Hold Month, Optimism Month, Peanut Month, Sing with Your Child Month, Small Press Month, Social Work Month, Spiritual Wellness Month, and of course, who can forget National Umbrella Month.

Rather than have another reason to stress out that even your coffee has nefarious plans to turn you into a zombie, celebrate your caffeine addiction at work with safety goggles, be optimistic while drinking your Coke and meditating, and enjoy your energy drink while singing with your kids in the rain.

for more information on the siliness of Caffeine Awareness Month, click to energyfiend.com.

Have you ever thought about what is actually going on in your body when you throw back that energy drink or sip that coffee?

How is caffeine broken down and how does it affect your metabolism? How long does caffeine stay active in your system and why do people crave the stuff?

We’ll try to answer those questions and more in the simplest terms possible so you can be an educated consumer when it comes to caffeine metabolism.

Caffeine From the First Sip

Caffeine easily passes through body membranes so from the first sip the caffeine is entering your blood stream through the lining of your mouth, throat, and stomach. It only takes 45 minutes for 99% of the caffeine to be absorbed through these membranes. In humans the half-life for caffeine is anywhere from 2.5 to 4.5 hours in humans which explains why the average energy drink or coffee’s effect lasts about 2 to 3 hours. Things like age, medical conditions, and drug interaction can have an affect on the half-life.

Caffeine in the Blood Stream

While most research on caffeine has been conducted using animals, the data has been converted to show the most likely effect in the human body. As soon as the caffeine enters the body it is metabolized by the liver and broken down into theophylline, theobromine and paraxanthine.

From there these chemicals travel throughout the body where they effect various body functions. The most studied of these is the way caffeine is similar to the molecule adenosine in the brain. The molecules bind to the adenosine receptors in brain cells and block adenosine from binding. This causes elevated levels of adenosine in the blood which is believed to cause feelings of alertness and energy. The compounds also interact with the dopamine system in the brain which influences mood and prevents dopamine’s calming effect.

There also has been research into the way adenosine may play a role in the sleep-wake cycle. Caffeine doesn’t replace the person’s need for sleep, but just covers up drowsiness symptoms.

Theophylline relaxes smooth muscles which has been beneficial to those with asthma and is the reason why after drinking caffeine the person often feels the need to use the bathroom as it is affecting the smooth muscle of the colon. Theobromine increases the amount of oxygen and nutrients that can be used by the brain and muscles.

There have been many other researched effects of caffeine covered by Energy Fiend, but the above represents the most researched and common.

Caffeine’s Exit from the Body

The caffeine metabolites are then filtered by the kidneys and they exit the body with the urine. Caffeine has been shown to have a diuretic effect on the body which basically causes the body to release more water in the urine. However, new research suggests that this is only in people who have not built up tolerance to the caffeine molecule.

When caffeine has exited the body or has been used by the various cells of the body the person can experience a “crash” which is caused by elevated levels of adenosine and dopamine finally being able to attach to brain cell receptors, causing feelings of tiredness and fatigue. Prolonged use of caffeine also causes withdrawal symptoms.

I think it’s time for another coffee or energy drink to keep the caffeine metabolism process going don’t you think?

Sources:

Biology Online

Wikipedia

Just to show you we wanted to announce a few great partnerships that have popped up and are taking us into the second decade of the new millenium.

MMAValor.com – the best up and coming opinion blog on MMA today. MMAValor has a genuine point of view that represents what most of us are thinking but haven’t said. We are a proud sponsor of the blog and what he is doing for the MMA community.  Check out his picks, fighter interviews, and take on MMA today.

MMAScrapsRadio.com – the premiere weekly MMA radio show with hosts Travis McPherson and Pat “HD” Barry. These guys have fighters on weekly with reviews of the latest fights all with the inside commentary from one of the up and coming Heavyweight’s in the UFC.

There is more coming up for 2010 but this is an amazing start. Look for more unique caffeinated products and more caffeine kits.

STAY UP!

~King