If you’re like nearly 80% of U.S. adults, you already consume some kind of caffeinated beverage daily, but are you taking advantage of adaptogens? 

You probably know about the energizing effects of caffeine, but more and more people are discovering the benefits of using both caffeine and adaptogens together in products like e+™ and BĒA™ Sparkling Energy Drink. 

How do caffeine and adaptogens work together in the body? Here’s a little background on each. 

Caffeine 

Caffeine, when consumed at a moderate dose, does a great job at keeping you energized and alert. Because caffeine is a stimulant, it quickly results in wakefulness and helps fight fatigue (1). 

On a molecular level, caffeine works because it’s similar to the neurotransmitter adenosine. Throughout the day or when you’re lacking rest, adenosine builds up near certain receptors in the brain and signals the brain to slow down nerve activity. This, in turn, causes feelings of drowsiness and tiredness. 

When you consume caffeine, it takes the place of adenosine on the receptors in the brain. By keeping adenosine from signaling tiredness, caffeine speeds up nerve cells, waking you up and improving focus. 

Adaptogens 

Adaptogens are a variety of bioactive plant compounds that work in a completely different way than stimulants to improve physical and mental performance. 

Unlike caffeine, adaptogens work by normalizing the body’s functions under stress (2-3). Adaptogens do this by specifically helping the body “adapt” (hence the name) to better resist the effects of a given stressor. These can range from physical stressors like athletic activity to mental stressors like writing. 

Recent studies have found that adaptogens reduce mental fatigue, improve physical endurance, and can aid recovery after intense physical activity (4-6). 

How Caffeine and Adaptogens Work Together in e+ and BĒA 

Adaptogens are conveniently paired with 85 milligrams of naturally sourced caffeine in e+ and 125 milligrams of naturally sourced caffeine in BĒA Sparkling Energy Drink. The combination of adaptogens and a moderate dose of caffeine delivers a steady rise of energy and improved focus. These two ingredients work together so you can benefit from the unique energizing effects of each.  

Isagenix also offers caffeine and adaptogens separately in the forms of Isagenix Coffee and Ionix® Supreme. There are plenty of options, so be sure to get your daily doses of each! 

References 

  1. Ribeiro JA, Sebastião AM. Caffeine and adenosine. J Alzheimers Dis. 2010;20 Suppl 1:S3-15. doi: 10.3233/JAD-2010-1379. 
  2. Panossian A, Wikman G. Evidence-based efficacy of adaptogens in fatigue, and molecular mechanisms related to their stress-protective activity. Curr Clin Pharmacol. 2009 Sep;4(3):198-219. Epub 2009 Sep 1. 
  3. Panossian A, Wikman G. Effects of Adaptogens on the Central Nervous System and the Molecular Mechanisms Associated with Their Stress—Protective Activity. Pharmaceuticals (Basel). 2010 Jan; 3(1): 188–224. Published online 2010 Jan 19. doi: 3390/ph3010188 
  4. Darbinyan V, Kteyan A, Panossian A, Gabrielian E, Wikman G, Wagner H. Rhodiola rosea in stress induced fatigue–a double blind cross-over study of a standardized extract SHR-5 with a repeated low-dose regimen on the mental performance of healthy physicians during night duty. Phytomedicine. 2000 Oct;7(5):365-71. 
  5. Kuo J, Chen KW, Cheng IS, Tsai PH, Lu YJ, Lee NY. The effect of eight weeks of supplementation with Eleutherococcus senticosus on endurance capacity and metabolism in human. Chin J Physiol. 2010 Apr 30;53(2):105-11. 
  6. Amagase H, Sun B, Borek C. Lycium barbarum (goji) juice improves in vivo antioxidant biomarkers in serum of healthy adults. Nutr Res. 2009 Jan;29(1):19-25. doi: 10.1016/j.nutres.2008.11.005.