More Than Energy: Why We’re Different than Mainstream Energy Drinks
Google the term “energy drink”, and you’ll be bombarded with a selection of caffeine-packed shots that promise wakefulness at any time of day or night.
Most energy drinks can help you feel awake for a while. The problem is that a quick boost rarely supports how you want to feel for the rest of the day. Energy should feel steady, clear, and sustainable, not like something you have to recover from later.
MTE set out to be something else. From the beginning, our goal was to support more than a temporary energy boost. We wanted to create a new kind of energy that feels good, fits real life, and supports your day without taking from tomorrow.
Empty Energy Promises vs MTE’s Accumulating Benefits
MTE isn’t so much an energy drink as it is a wellness blend. Mainstream energy relies on just-below-dangerous levels of substances like caffeine, taurine, and guarana for an effective but not so sustainable energy boost.
That’s because caffeine sets off a false stress response that tells your body it’s time to respond to a dangerous situation. That’s why energy drinks overstimulate you – your body thinks you’re in danger. It’s also why you feel tired when it wears off, as caffeine depletes you of all your energy stores.
MTE, on the other hand, utilizes nootropics and adaptogens to support the production and balance of neurotransmitters involved in energy, mood, and motivation. It’s not just about feeling awake and alert; it’s about feeling good – good mood, solid nightly recovery, less inflammatory response, and no caffeine.
What Are the Advantages of MTE vs. Energy Drinks?
So, what exactly does MTE promise? And how is it different than what the mainstream energy drink market has to offer?
Our formulation supports your mind and body from the inside out. Adaptogens and nootropics help your body adapt to stress, supporting calm energy, focus, mood, immunity, sleep, and inflammation.
Our wellness powder formula contains only 10 ingredients – a careful combination of powerful adaptogens, nootropics, and superfoods. They work synergistically to promote balance of the systems and signals in your body that help you feel better, which, in turn, supports your body’s natural energy production, use, and storage processes.
What does mainstream energy promise? Let’s take three industry giants: Monster®, Bang!®, and 5-Hour ENERGY®:
Monster’s sales pitch for their OG green energy drink reads like it’s going to do too much:
“Tear into a can of the meanest energy drink on the planet—Monster Energy. It packs a powerful punch but goes down smooth with its easy-drinking flavor. It’s the ideal combo of the right ingredients in the right proportions to deliver the big bad buzz only Monster can. Unleash the Beast!”
Bang!’s sales pitch is admittedly less intimidating:
“Fuel your senses with today’s most exciting energy drink. Take advantage of a spectacular blend of all-natural ingredients and refresh your taste buds with a smooth new flavor that revitalizes your mind, body, and soul! • 300 mg of caffeine • EAA Aminos • CoQ10”
And, of course, 5-Hour ENERGY®:
“Looking for a tried-and-true pick-me-up that’s been a crowd pleaser since Pluto was still a full-size planet? Try 5-hour ENERGY® shots in the berry flavor that made them famous. Trends may come and go, but classics stay around for a reason. Or in the case of Berry Regular Strength 5-hour ENERGY® shots, a lot of reasons. Order a bulk case so you always have a boost whenever you need it.”
To summarize, mainstream energy drinks and shots promise:
- Energy
- Good taste
- Caffeine
- Convenience
As you can see, we’re not trying to play on the same field as these heavily caffeinated drinks.
A Novel Idea: Ingredients that Promote Both Energy & Wellness
Alright, let’s take a look at MTE’s ingredients and the clinical evidence behind them:
MTE’s Adaptogens
There are a bunch of deep-dive articles you can find on our Wellness Blog about each of the ingredients in MTE, as well as profiles on adaptogens and nootropics. Long story short, adaptogens are natural, plant-sourced compounds believed to interact with our central nervous system to help our body better adapt to stress.
The adaptogens in MTE are all derived from ancient medicine that modern science is beginning to uncover the secrets of:
Ashwagandha
This potent adaptogen has been in use in Ayurvedic medicine for at least 5000 years, and it’s mentioned in ancient medical texts across the Old World. Biologically, ashwagandha is believed to interact with our stress response system to curb the production of stress hormones, reducing the production of adverse proteins caused by high stress levels. It may also act on our inflammatory system, central nervous system, respiratory system, and more.
In today’s clinical research, there is solid data to support ashwagandha’s potential use for:
- Stress relief
- Cognitive health
- Mood support
- Fighting fatigue
- Recovery
In addition, clinical research indicates this adaptogen is safe and may even have anti-cancer properties.
Eleuthero
Also called Siberian ginseng, eleuthero is a ginseng cousin that offers many of the same benefits. It’s also got about 5000 years of medicinal use behind it in immunity tonics, pastes, powders, and teas. Its biological mechanisms are more opaque than those of ashwagandha, but the data supporting eleuthero’s adaptogenic properties is just as robust.
Modern research indicates Siberian ginseng may:
- Improve sleep.
- Strengthen the body’s resistance to environmental toxins.
- Increase VO2 Max (indicator of cardiovascular health).
- Strengthen the immune system’s resistance to illness/infection.
- Suppress stress-induced symptoms like gastric ulcers.
- Support cognitive and athletic function under stressful conditions.
Maca
This adaptogen has also been in use for around 6000 years, and was so valuable to ancient Central and South American cultures that it was domesticated around 2000 years ago. Part superfood – part adaptogen, maca is packed with compounds that may help our body bounce back into homeostasis and support our stress responses, among many other things.
Clinical studies demonstrate maca’s potential to be useful for:
- Libido
- Energy
- Physical performance
- Stress response
- Mood health/balance
- Cognitive health
MTE’s Nootropics
Nootropics are natural or synthetic, often biologically native compounds that are believed to support brain function, which is why they’re often referred to as cognitive enhancers. MTE’s formula contains some of the most potent and well-documented nootropics around, including:
GABA
GABA is at once a nootropic, neurotransmitter, and amino acid. Our brain naturally produces GABA, which serves as the main inhibitory neurotransmitter. It tells overexcited neurons to calm down, which helps reduce physical and psychological symptoms of stress. In addition, it increases the availability of feel-good neurotransmitters.
Laboratory studies demonstrate GABA’s effects on our biology:
- It is commonly used in psychiatry for chronic difficulties with mood, affect, and psychoses.
- GABA may help you fall asleep faster.
- It may help you perform better on cognitive tasks and improve the ability to plan and execute.
- GABA may support athletic performance by increasing levels of HGH.
- It functions as an antioxidant, protecting vital systems like the liver, kidneys, and central nervous system.
- GABA contributes to vascular system regulation, lowering blood pressure and balancing blood sugar.
L-Theanine
This nootropic and amino acid is a compound found in black and green tea leaves, as well as various medicinal mushrooms. Experiential evidence supports indications for stress response, immunity, mood health, cognitive performance, sleep health, and attention. These perceived effects are largely due to the fact that this nootropic has been observed to increase alpha brain waves, which support calm energy, learning, and creativity.
A body of data supports l-theanine's potential as an effective nootropic for a variety of maladies. In studies, it has:
- Demonstrated an ability to reduce stress by lowering pro-stress neurochemicals.
- Reduced perceived levels of distress.
- Supported healthy mood via modulation of neurotransmitters associated with cognition, motivation, reward, and pleasure.
- Improved attention and memory in people with mild cognitive impairments.
- Increased self-reported levels of alertness and ability to focus.
- Reduced sleep latency and improved sleep quality.
Paraxanthine
This nootropic is a natural metabolite of caffeine. Until very recently, paraxanthine could only be observed as a caffeine byproduct in laboratory settings. But now we have enfinity®, which is a clean, synthesized iteration of paraxanthine.
With paraxanthine, we get to skip the caffeine but still experience its cognitive and physical benefits in a way that supports bodily processes instead of disrupting them.
The emerging research on this brand-new nootropic indicates that paraxanthine:
- Can increase wakefulness as well as caffeine.
- Doesn't elicit subjective or biological markers of stress.
- Promotes increased metabolism and thermogenesis.
- Supports cognitive function better than caffeine.
- Shows few to no side effects, even at high doses.
Saffron
MTE’s formula contains saffron in the form of Affron®, a potent extract. Saffron isn’t just an expensive herb. And it isn’t just a nootropic, either. Humans, and possibly archaic humans, have been using saffron in some form for at least 30000 years, and for at least 3200 years medicinally. Traditional uses include pain relief, immunity, antiviral, and antiseptic.
Current research supports saffron’s bioactive indications. Studies indicate it may:
- Support health and function of all major bodily systems (heart, liver, digestive, respiratory, etc.).
- Fight cancer.
- Protect brain health by reducing oxidative stress.
- Protect hippocampal activity (cognition, stress response, balanced mood).
- Scavenge free radicals.
- Reduce the severity of emotional dysregulation.
On top of all these plant-powered compounds, chicory root, amaranth, and spirulina round out MTE’s lineup with a super-dose of feel-good nutrients. And that’s it! A plant-powered wellness powder made of 10 healthy, natural ingredients that promotes 7 (probably more) clinically-backed benefits, one of which happens to be energy.
The Most Common Energy Drink Ingredients
Some chemicals and compounds you’ll find in virtually all of today’s energy drinks – call back to Monster, Bang!, and 5-hour ENERGY include:
Caffeine
Caffeine is the go-to wake-me-up stimulant in the US, and probably the most famous nootropic. Depending on the brand, one shot or a can of an energy drink contains as much as 350mg of caffeine. That is just 50mg less than the 400mg daily intake limit.
Caffeine is known to boost energy, reduce fatigue, improve attention, and increase physical performance. However, it achieves this by supercharging the system that mobilizes energy during a stress response. This can cause a whole host of negative sensations like irritability, jitters, heart pounding, and cold sweats. It also increases levels of stress hormones in the body, which keeps your immune system too busy to spend its energy doing better things.
Unfortunately, caffeine also comes with tolerance, which is why when you started drinking Monsters, they really woke you up. Two years later, you’re drinking 2 or 3 to get the same effect, and experiencing withdrawal when you don’t. That’s up to 900mg of caffeine a day just to function.
Taurine
Taurine is a native amino acid that supports muscle health and nerve activity while reducing fatigue, and there are a few studies to indicate it may help with cognitive performance. However, there is not currently enough evidence to call taurine a nootropic.
In mainstream energy drinks, taurine is used as a complement and enhancer to excessive caffeine, adding to that brain-busting buzz.
Not everyone reacts well to taurine, and even fewer handle the high doses you find in energy drinks. Negative effects include nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea – all of which can lead to serious dehydration.
Taurine may also put stress on the liver and kidneys, so it’s likely not safe for the immunocompromised. In addition, it has a sedative effect on some people.
Guarana
A natural nootropic compound, guarana contains even more caffeine than the caffeine already added to energy drinks. It may temporarily improve alertness, attention, focus, memory, and processing speed. Its stimulating effects may also provide a temporary mood boost.
However, guarana also comes with drawbacks. Too much or combining it with other caffeine sources can cause nervousness, insomnia, and jitters.
It’s also not safe for people with heart conditions, as it temporarily raises heart rate and blood pressure.
B Vitamins
The most common B vitamins you’ll find in mainstream energy drinks are B6, B12, and folic acid. In regular doses, these compounds are absolutely vital to overall health. They’re important for everything from muscle and bone growth to heart health to cognitive function.
The issue with B vitamins in energy drinks is that the doses are way too high. For instance, one can of Monster contains 10mg of B6 and 40mcg of B12. The daily recommended dose of B6 is 1.5mg and the daily intake of B12 should be around 2.4mcg. That means a typical energy drink contains 6.7x the recommended daily dose of B6 and over 16.6x the recommended dose of B12.
Ever heard of “too much of a good thing”? This is that. Too many B vitamins can cause :
- Nervousness/apprehension
- Irritability
- Nerve damage
- Liver damage
- Skin rashes
- Respiratory distress
MTE approaches energy from a different standpoint. Mainstream energy drinks are formulated from an angle of How can I be the inverse opposite of tired right now?, which is why the list above is all substances that overexcite your central nervous system.
MTE is formulated from an angle of How can we feel better every day without resorting to a mainstream energy drink or 4 shots of espresso?. As a result, the benefits our wellness drink powder offers can accumulate over time, making you more resilient to stress mentally and physically. Mainstream energy can’t say that.
Pricing & Packaging
The Logistics: Cost-Benefit Ratio of MTE vs Typical Energy Drinks
When it comes to MTE, the idea is to take it every day so the adaptogens and nootropics can perform to their fullest extent, so we really should talk about cost.
Let’s break it down per drink. If you have a daily Starbucks habit, you’re looking at $4/day minimum. It’s more like $6 for any kind of espresso-based drink. If you have a daily energy drink habit, you’re looking at about $3/day for a Monster, Bang!, or 5-Hour ENERGY.
So, we’re spending anywhere from $3-$6 on average simply for an arguably unhealthy dose of caffeine. A subscription to MTE's daily feel-good drink mix comes to about $2.58/serving. We’re sitting well within the cost of mainstream energy drinks and caffeine shots, but we’re offering the potential for way more benefits with way fewer side effects.
MTE is also convenient. It doesn’t need to be refrigerated, so you can keep it in your supplement stash and mix it up on the go, whenever. And because it’s a caffeine-free alternative to energy drinks, most users can drink MTE in the afternoon and not worry about being wired well into the night, which is something you can’t say about a 200mg caffeine shot of 5-Hour ENERGY.
Our packaging is carbon-conscious. We ship in cardboard boxes without any stabilizers like plastic, styrofoam, or other bad-for-the-environment-and-sea-turtles materials. So we’re just as sustainable as Monster and Bang! recyclable cans.
A Few More Reasons MTE Feels Different
A few last thoughts and specs on MTE that set us apart from the other guys:
- No sugar
- No artificial flavors or sweeteners
- No caffeine
- Vegan
- Keto
- Gluten-free
- Dairy-free
- Kosher
- Halal
In the end, we’re not really trying to compete in the energy drink market. We’re trying to change it. Right now, we’re an orange in an apple cart. Well, more of a basket of bioactive plants floating in a sea of sugar-packed, high-octane drinks.
MTE isn’t about supporting a temporary energy boost; it’s about supporting feeling better so we have the energy and the opportunity to live our best life. If you’ve been looking for something to replace that energy drink habit, reduce your coffee intake, stop feeling exhausted, or otherwise just boost your well-being, check out the new normal in energy.