# Energy without calories ? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [June 8, 2002, 11:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/energy-without-calories/113026 "2002-06-08T23:04:22Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![aka\_10003](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/87869e/32.png) [@aka\_10003](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aka_10003)\ **Post date:** [June 8, 2002, 11:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/energy-without-calories/113026/1 "2002-06-08T23:04:22Z")
There’s a drink in the market called Energy Fuel, from a reputable health-related company, that promises energy boost while having: Zero Calories Zero Fat Zero Carbs Zero Sugar Is this possible to have a boost of energy without calories? Or is this simple marketing BS? ---
**Author:** ![Mangetout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mangetout/32/19_2.png) [@Mangetout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangetout)\ **Post date:** [June 8, 2002, 11:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/energy-without-calories/113026/2 "2002-06-08T23:09:10Z")
It’s probably overrated at least - if it contains caffeine (and it almost certainly will), that may give you a ‘boost’ from your own existing energy reserves. ---
**Author:** ![Rybotixx](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/b19c9b/32.png) [@Rybotixx](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rybotixx)\ **Post date:** [June 8, 2002, 11:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/energy-without-calories/113026/3 "2002-06-08T23:34:18Z")
guarana? gin-seng? etc? ---
**Author:** ![Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/qadgop_the_mercotan/32/83_2.png) [@Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Qadgop_the_Mercotan)\ **Post date:** [June 8, 2002, 11:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/energy-without-calories/113026/4 "2002-06-08T23:37:36Z")
some substances, such as adrenaline, cause you to mobilize your energy stores even though they have no energy themselves. Sorta like a catalyst. Yeah, that’s it, a catalyst. ---
**Author:** ![Billy\_Rubin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/billy_rubin/32/3622_2.png) [@Billy\_Rubin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Billy_Rubin)\ **Post date:** [June 8, 2002, 11:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/energy-without-calories/113026/5 "2002-06-08T23:48:51Z")
That being the case, Quag, is it not possible to use those substances to help with weight loss, or can the body not stand any level of increased adrenaline etc. for long? If so, why? Jus’ wunnerin. b. ---
**Author:** ![Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/qadgop_the_mercotan/32/83_2.png) [@Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Qadgop_the_Mercotan)\ **Post date:** [June 9, 2002, 12:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/energy-without-calories/113026/6 "2002-06-09T00:39:49Z")
It’s meant to be a short-term effect, Mr. Sterol breakdown product. The system is not designed for that kind of continuous stimulation. It will fail in a variety of unpleasant ways, including heart failure, seizures, intractable diarrhea, and probably impotence too. ---
**Author:** ![scr4](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/59ef9b/32.png) [@scr4](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/scr4)\ **Post date:** [June 9, 2002, 12:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/energy-without-calories/113026/7 "2002-06-09T00:45:34Z")
The [VAAM Hornet Juice](http://www.vaam-power.com/) is another product that makes similar claims. It does have calories, but it supposedly contains a substance that makes your body burn body fat. They claim it is effective for weight loss (but only if combined with excercise) as well as increasing athletic performance. ---
**Author:** ![David\_Simmons](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/9de053/32.png) [@David\_Simmons](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/David_Simmons)\ **Post date:** [June 9, 2002, 12:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/energy-without-calories/113026/8 "2002-06-09T00:48:22Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by aka\_10003 \* > \*\*There’s a drink in the market called Energy Fuel, from a reputable health-related company, that promises energy boost while having: > Zero Calories > Zero Fat > Zero Carbs > Zero Sugar > > Is this possible to have a boost of energy without calories? Or is this simple marketing BS? \*\* I think the answer is that the energy comes from oxydizing fuel. The fuel can only come from food, but it doesn’t have to be the food you are taking in at that particular time. OK nutritionists, make corrections as necessary. ---
**Author:** ![aka\_10003](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/87869e/32.png) [@aka\_10003](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aka_10003)\ **Post date:** [June 9, 2002, 1:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/energy-without-calories/113026/9 "2002-06-09T01:27:13Z")
The ingredients are listed here: [http://www.twinlab.com/prod.cfm?product=efdrink](http://www.twinlab.com/prod.cfm?product=efdrink) ---
**Author:** ![Squink](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b5e925/32.png) [@Squink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Squink)\ **Post date:** [June 9, 2002, 1:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/energy-without-calories/113026/10 "2002-06-09T01:58:57Z")
Your “Energy Fuel” is a mixture of vitamins and [herbal uppers](http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&lr=&safe=off&as_qdr=all&q=+%22herbal+uppers%22&btnG=Google+Search). Coffee with a Flinstone’s chewable dissolved in it would give a cheaper boost. ---
**Author:** ![Wikkit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/c0e974/32.png) [@Wikkit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wikkit)\ **Post date:** [June 9, 2002, 3:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/energy-without-calories/113026/11 "2002-06-09T03:56:24Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by aka\_10003 \* > There’s a drink in the market called Energy Fuel, from a reputable health-related company, that promises energy boost while having: > Zero Calories Just for the pedantic points, I have to point out that if it has no calories, it must have > [@](#): > > Zero Fat > Zero Carbs > Zero Sugar . Sugar is also a carb, so it’s twice as dumb. > [@](#): > > Is this possible to have a boost of energy without calories? Or is this simple marketing BS? I’m with **Mangetout** , it probably has caffeine. Diet Coke would probably be nutritionally equal and significantly cheaper. ---
**Author:** ![MarkyDeSade](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/35a633/32.png) [@MarkyDeSade](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MarkyDeSade)\ **Post date:** [June 9, 2002, 4:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/energy-without-calories/113026/12 "2002-06-09T04:18:49Z")
\ Well, there’s always good ol’ methamphetimines if you want energy w/o calories. One of my favorite SNL skits was “Jimmy Tango’s Weight Watchers” with Jim Carrey. Funny shtuff. \ Sorry 'bout that. Carrey on… ---
**Author:** ![Smeghead](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/f1d935/32.png) [@Smeghead](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Smeghead)\ **Post date:** [June 9, 2002, 6:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/energy-without-calories/113026/13 "2002-06-09T06:02:25Z")
Yep - just plain old caffeine here. Guarana, the first ingredient, is a natural source of caffeine, which is listed as the second ingredient (sometimes you’ll see these types of products list “guarana extract” instead of caffeine). ---
**Author:** ![Speaker\_for\_the\_Dead](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c77e96/32.png) [@Speaker\_for\_the\_Dead](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Speaker_for_the_Dead)\ **Post date:** [June 9, 2002, 6:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/energy-without-calories/113026/14 "2002-06-09T06:17:30Z")
While we’re on the hijacked subject - how does ‘sugar’ differ from glucose/fructose (sometimes billed with a dash instead of the slash)? ---
**Author:** ![Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/qadgop_the_mercotan/32/83_2.png) [@Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Qadgop_the_Mercotan)\ **Post date:** [June 9, 2002, 1:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/energy-without-calories/113026/15 "2002-06-09T13:42:46Z")
glucose and fructose are both ‘simple sugars’, i.e. different variations of the basic sugar molecule. Sucrose is two glucose molecules stuck together (I _think_, it’s been a loooong time since organic chemistry). Sucrose is also the basic molecule of common table sugar. There’s also lactose (milk sugar), mannose, and I’m sure many others that I’m not remembering off the top of my head. They all taste sweet to some extent. I love reading the ingredients on some products: Sugar high fructose corn syrup (meaning: sugar) concentrated cane extract (sugar) ---
**Author:** ![Squink](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b5e925/32.png) [@Squink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Squink)\ **Post date:** [June 9, 2002, 2:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/energy-without-calories/113026/16 "2002-06-09T14:22:10Z")
Actually, sucrose is a molecule of glucose stuck to a molecule of fructose. Lactose is also a disaccharide, consisting of galactose and glucose. Corn syrup is a mixture of fructose and glucose molecules. The proportion of the two sugars varies depending on how the syrup is made. The higher the proportion of fructose, the sweeter the syrup. ---
**Author:** ![CC](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f1d935/32.png) [@CC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CC)\ **Post date:** [June 9, 2002, 4:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/energy-without-calories/113026/17 "2002-06-09T16:43:34Z")
an attempt to answer the op: food energy is measured in calories, or more correctly, Calories - a measure of heat. We can release energy from food we eat and that energy, while not always converted to heat, is measured in Calories. If something you eat contains no carbohydrates, no protein, and no fat, it contains nothing that can in itself ultimately provide you with energy. On the other hand, since the claim is that it provides an “energy boost” it is indeed a marketing ploy, since it can only contain caffein or some stimulant that will RELEASE already stored energy at a higher rate. Sugar IS a carb - a carbohydrate, and carbohydrates (mainly sugars and starch which is turned into sugar inside us) provide on an average about 4 Cal per gram. Fats provide about 9 Cal. So - as usual, the uneducated or ignorant public is fair game for the folks who make that stuff. ---
**Author:** ![barbitu8](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/839c29/32.png) [@barbitu8](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/barbitu8)\ **Post date:** [June 9, 2002, 5:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/energy-without-calories/113026/18 "2002-06-09T17:40:18Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by David Simmons \* > \*\* > > I think the answer is that the energy comes from oxydizing fuel. The fuel can only come from food, but it doesn’t have to be the food you are taking in at that particular time.\*\* The body uses chemical energy, not oxygen, with carbs as the substrate (fuel). This is done by the breakdown of ATP (adenine triphosphate) into simpler triphosphate molecules. This process results in pyruvate acid which converts into lactic acid if there is a lack of oxygen. If there is sufficient oxygen, the lactic acid build-up is minimal. The body can actually get energy without oxygen. This is known as anaerobic. However, in order to keep exercising or doing anything a constant replenishment of ATP is necessary. If there is no oxygen available, ATP is replaced but at a much lower rate than if oxygen were available. I am not a nutritionist. This is what I can recall from my readings off the top of my head. Some chemist can fill in the details, but what I’ve said is basically correct. ---
**Author:** ![barbitu8](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/839c29/32.png) [@barbitu8](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/barbitu8)\ **Post date:** [June 9, 2002, 5:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/energy-without-calories/113026/19 "2002-06-09T17:42:00Z")
I forgot to add that EnergyFuel contains some B vitamins, and those it contains are the B vitamins that form co-enzymes necessary for the energy derivement process. ---
**Author:** ![barbitu8](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/839c29/32.png) [@barbitu8](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/barbitu8)\ **Post date:** [June 9, 2002, 10:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/energy-without-calories/113026/20 "2002-06-09T22:09:46Z")
You may want to read more about the Krebs cycle and the electron transport system. The web has many references. Here’s one: [http://ntri.tamuk.edu/cell/mitochondrion/ets.html](http://ntri.tamuk.edu/cell/mitochondrion/ets.html)