What to look for when choosing an energy supplement

Which ingredients are important, and what should you avoid?

Choosing an energy supplement can be overwhelming. Supermarket and pharmacy shelves are full of products claiming to boost your energy. So, what should you look for? Here’s a simple guide to let you know what to look for when picking an energy supplement.

Which vitamins and minerals help with energy?

You can get most energy vitamins and minerals by eating a healthy diet. But sometimes it can be challenging to eat enough of the recommended daily intake of fruits, veggies and whole foods. That’s when a vitamin and mineral supplement can help. Here’s a look at some common ingredients that can help to boost your energy levels:

B vitamins - help your body release energy from food to support vitality and stamina. They're important for your nervous system as they carry information to and from your brain.
Folic acid (Vitamin B9) - supports your blood cells, helps your body produce energy and boosts your immune system.
Magnesium - magnesium works with B vitamins to help your body release energy from food, and keep your nervous system and muscles working properly.
Biotin (Vitamin B7) - helps you release energy from food.

What sneaky ingredients can hamper energy reserves or health?

Besides vitamins, what else is in your energy supplement? Some ingredients can give you a quick boost but aren’t necessarily great for your health. These include:

Caffeine - a commonly used stimulant, but too much caffeine can cause jitters and increase anxiety in high amounts.
Sugar - a short-lived sugar high is often followed by a sugar crash. Moreover, excess sugar over time can cause weight gain.
Artificial stimulants - some people can react to certain artificial stimulants.

Berocca Performance is formulated without caffeine or artificial stimulants, and does not rely on sugar for its delicious taste. If you can’t resist the caffeine hit, Berocca Boost contains B-vitamins, vitamin C, calcium, magnesium, zinc, caffeine and guarana.

What else should I look for?

Is it water soluble? if you don’t like taking pills, try an effervescent or powder. Effervescents can also help you increase your daily water intake.
Is it from a known, trusted brand? Importantly, Berocca has been around globally for more than 50 years.
Is it backed by science? Berocca has more supportive clinical evidence than any other multi-vitamin in the world, with 7 clinical trials^1-7.

1.D. O. Kennedy et al, Psychopharmacology (Berl), 211(2010),55-68. Study funded by Bayer Consum er Care AG, Switzerland. 2. D. J. White et al, Nutrients, 7 (2015),9005-17. Study funded by Bayer Consum er Care AG, Switzerland. 3. D. O. Kennedy et al, Human Psychopharmacol Clin Exp 2011;26:338- 347.Studyfunded by Bayer Consum er Care AG, Switzerland. 4. A. Scholey et al, Nutrients, 5 (2013),3589-604. Study funded by Bayer Consum er Care AG, Switzerland. 5. D. Carroll et al, Psychopharmacology (Berl), 150 (2000), 220-5. Study funded by Roche Consum er Health, Switzerland. 6. D. J. White et al, Nutritional Neuroscience, 20 (2017),8-22. Study funded by Bayer Consum er Care AG, Switzerland. 7. D. J. White et al, Frontiers in Aging Neuroscience, 8 (2016),288. Study funded by Bayer Consum er Care AG, Switzerland.