Wednesday, February 11, 2009

why you want to fight after you drink coke's vitamin water...

well, not exactly, but i did think the article in adage.com was very interesting. there are certain flavors of vitamin water that can cause players to test positive in banned substance testing. the six banned flavors that create positive results are: Rescue, Energy, B-relaxed, Vital-T, Balance and Power-C. the following are some of the vitamin water ingredients that impermissible:
  • caffeine or guarana seed extract: guarana is a plant native to the amazon whose seeds contain twice as much caffeine as coffee beans. generally, the plant uses this as a defense mechanism, and the plant is used in many south american energy drinks/shots.
  • Taurine: a natural, organic acid found in the bloodstream and is found in bile. this chemical acts like a metabolic transmitter and is known for a detoxifying effect.
  • L-theanine: an amino acid that has psychoactive properties. it has been shown to reduce stress and increase relaxation. when combined with caffeine, it can result in increased cognition and enhance mood.
  • Green tea extracts: an herbal derivative of Green Tea that is 20 times more antioxidant-active than Vitamin C. other potential health benefits include anti-cancer, anti-inflammation, and anti-radiation.
  • Glucosamine: an amino sugar, usually derived from shellfish. it's generally used to help rebuild cartilage and joint pain. there have been mixed results in studies of it's medical uses and effectiveness, and therefore has not been approved for medical use by the FDA. it is available to consumers as a dietary supplement, which makes dosages and other regulations the responsibility of the manufacturer, rather than the government agency.
  • Other banned substances include various amino acids, protein powders and ginseng.
  • Sources: http://www.wikipedia.org and Healing Daily
Link to article in AdAge.com

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