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Are they really all that different?

While I drank my coffee, the line grew to 8 good-looking people appearing to be stressed out. It made me think about the way we cope with our energy crisis.

So I looked for other "fixes." A quick trip to the 7-11 revealed 12 energy drinks with caffeine derived from decaffeination. All of them contained Guarana. I tried three drinks that I will not identify because I want to focus on their contents.

Brand A contained Guarana and Juniperberry. Guarana is a small tree native to Venezuela and Brazil whose seed is a central nervous system stimulant that produces heat within the body. It increases memory retention while reducing stress.

Juniperberry helps clear the mind. This brand has 100% Vitamin C and 130 calories. I sensed a gradual rise in my energy level that was calming. Guarana is not to be mixed with ephedrine. Juniperberry is not to be taken by people with kidney disease and may cause skin irritation.

Brand B contained Guarana, Taurine and Ginseng. Taurine is a non-essential amino acid in the body that helps people deal with anxiety. Ginseng is a root native to Asia and North America which promotes relaxation.

Although it made me uptight (since nervousness is a side effect), I slept well. Ginseng is not recommended for women with breast cancer or people who have chronic gastrointestinal diseases. Taurine is manufactured within the body and can also be found in meat and fish. Taurine is not be mixed with high intake of alcohol because the body may not be able to use it fully.

Brand C contained Guarana, Taurine and Gingko Biloba. The gingko tree is the sole survivor of the oldest species of the world's living trees and increases circulation to the brain. I had unusual stamina within two hours of taking it. Although I was able to focus better on my work, it was hard to get to sleep.

Brand C should not be used by people taking blood lowering medications or aspiring daily. All three brands are not recommended for children, pregnant women or nursing mothers, those who are caffeine sensitive or drink alcohol. Beer drinkers should check: http://en.wikepedia.org/wiki/Guarana to find out which two beers contain Guarana.

On this cheerful note, I realise that the brand that works best for another person may not necessarily work as well for me. The reason is that the benefits and cautions that go with each one are not the same.

My body is the one that I need to listen to and it has sent me a clear message. No matter how dynamic the packaging is, the way a product makes you feel counts more! The smell of a yellow rose is as fragrant as a red one.

RED BULL The brand power of this leading energy drink is amazing despite its complaints from consumers about the "painful taste". Red Bull brands itself as being able to give you "wings". Industry professionals question if this carbonated energy drink has the power to stay number one, with industry leaders such as Coke and Pepsi introducing new energy drinks. Red Bull has one main advantage; it's the only energy drink currently with international business and customer popularity.

SOBE ADRENALINE RUSH This is SoBe's first entry into the US energy drink market. The taste of Adrenaline Rush is said to have a "sweet and refreshing passion fruit flavor". Consumers and industry experts like this particular energy drink because it does not contain the "after-taste" that many of the others have. SoBe is also under the PepsiCo name; therefore AMP will be competing against one of its own.

IMPLUSE EXTREME SUGAR-FREE This energy drink has triple the caffeine, no sugar, and only 5 calories. Clearly, Impulse is different than the other energy drinks. The flavor is slightly bitter and sweet at the same time. The design of the package has been popular because of its bright red packaging allures customers. Impulse is only one of the few sugar-free energy drinks on the market aside from Red Bulls sugar-free version.

MONSTER Recently reformulated to give it a new and improved taste, Monster is definitely a top competitor. The new taste is sweeter and no longer has the bitter after-taste associated with energy drinks. Monster differentiates itself in the energy drink market by making the only 16-ounce can.

KMX Lightly carbonated this energy drink "goes down smooth". Its berry blue color and taste have been a hit with consumers. However, KMX has been criticized for its drab packaging and lack of customer appeal.

PIMP JUICE This non-carbonated energy drink is an 8-ounce serving of a tropical berry flavored apple juice. This particular energy drink brands itself on being non-carbonated; perfect for demanding sports and intense workouts. There is current market criticism over the drinks offensive name