The mark of any true shyster: dodgy product endorsement.
Boost spray: for the click-wary amongst us...
Note the phrase "Our high absorption delivery system is perfect for people sensitive to coffee and energy drinks..."
This would logically indicate that the product does not contain caffeine, the key 'energy' ingredient in coffee and energy drinks (if you don't count the addition of sugar to these products)
So let's check the label!
THEN, in the ingredients, guess what the main 'energy' ingredient is listed as.... yep. CAFFEINE. But not just ANY caffeine, NATURAL CAFFEINE! Newsflash: there is no discernible difference between 'natural' caffeine and caffeine created synthetically, just that synthetic is cheaper to produce. There's a neat little study that showed little or no difference in stimulous response between 'natural' or commercial caffeine, and synthetic caffeine. Abstract here, but you really only need to read the last line:
http://science.sciencemag.org/content/105/2720/176.1
Also importantly, the second listed ingredient is green tea (50%ECGC), which is naturally high in natural caffeine, so they are not taking any chances here, plus green tea is still a much-vaunted source of energy, and has been touted as such for decades (EGCg-is a standardized green tea extract otherwise known as epigallocatechin gallate). There are millennia's worth of human green tea beverage consumption evidence demonstrating an impressive perception of health, longevity and safety. It has been shown to reduce fatigue and appetite; fight bacterial, fungal and viral infections, inflammation, and certain cancers; it stimulates the immune system and metabolism; improves memory, cardiovascular health and is associated with longevity.2 Many studies have shown that up to eight cups per day of green tea provide significant benefits, and this is easy to consume due to the low cost, availability and portability of tea bags. [Note: a cup of green tea has 10-50 mg of caffeine and up to 180 mg EGCg.]
Source:
http://www.advancedmolecularlabs.com/fa ... at-attack/
But back to the label...Third ingredient: Glucuronolactone. Does bugger all for most intents and purposes (more on that in a second), but looks impressive on the label, and is only in there to give consumers the idea that they've purchased something special. The only circumstances in which Glucuronolactone shows any effectiveness, comes after sessions of repetitive effort; its value only comes into being after second, third, fourth etc. subsequent activity expenditure. So, if you were trekking or cycling with short rests, before resuming activity again (and for some hours, presumably), the combined effect of Glucuronolactone and caffeine CAN mean improvements in how rapidly your body deals with fatigue and handles the negative physical effects of tiredness. So you'd have to be fairly active repeatedly at any one time to unlock this magic ability, and even then, the effects may not be terribly noticeable outside the laboratory.
http://www.ergo-log.com/why-energy-drin ... ctone.html
Fourth ingredient: Resveratrol: Resveratrol is a compound found in grapes, red wine, purple grape juice, peanuts, and some berries, which is thought to have antioxidant properties which can offer some level of protection against heart disease and cancer. Unfortunately, almost all medical studies done with this compound were done in rodents, and not humans, therefore, any valuable propeties or safe levels of consumption are a big question mark. It's probably on the label as it's a good out-there-in-the-media health buzzword.
http://www.health.harvard.edu/blog/diet ... 1405157153
Last ingredient: Vitamin B12 (Methylcobalamin is one of the two forms of vitamin B12 that are active in human metabolism). Good for a host of general health maintenance, it's accorded some value in the formation of red blood cells, which of course, carry red oxygenated blood to the organs and muscles, so on that front, it may have some value, but if you're deficient in B12, taking a gobfull of this BOOST ENERGY SPRAY probably won't do much. Looks good on the label, though.
The minor ingredients on the label are there for sensory appeal - taste and flavour, with a bit of preservative and lots of 'carrier' purified water, in which everything else is suspended. The potassium sorbate is actually a mould-inhibitor, and too much of it isn't a good thing for your health, but I'm going to assume people aren't woofing this miracle spray down as if it were an essential food group, so it's fairly safe in moderation.
So there you have it. You would probably achieve a similar 'boost' from packing a thermos of strong coffee, or a couple of No-Doz caffeine tablets.
My main eye-rolling point here is the attempt to market a caffeine-packed "natural" energy product "for people sensitive to coffee and energy drinks". What a load of BS. This is for the people who may scoff at the Red Bull/Mother/V drinking brigade, and who want a more 'serious' natural product, but if this is you, you're being duped, and buying almost exactly the same thing in a spray can.
TL:DR - Don't waste your money. LOL. End educated rant.
Shazz
