Pick Me Up
New products offer consumers unconventional ways to energize
Recently, we wrote about new products that help people get restful sleep and “chill out”. But many consumers are, apparently, seeking the opposite effect in the form of quick and easy energy boosts. The newest energy-infused products to hit the market offer some unconventional ways to put more pep in your step.
Brownies: While mocha lattes are a delicious way to ingest highly caffeinated chocolate, caffeinated brownies might be the ultimate path to snack time satiation for those who want something more solid to munch on. Located in Ames, Iowa, A Snack in the Face bakery creates sumptuously sweet treats infused with pharmaceutical-grade caffeine to keep eaters going beyond the sugar crash. The bakery sometimes makes cookies, cupcakes, chocolate truffles and candies, but it’s best known for its supercharged brownies. Though there are just 200 milligrams of caffeine in each brownie (less than a cup of coffee), caffeine in solid form digests slower than that of liquid—meaning its buzz can last for hours longer than an espresso shot.
Popcorn: Popcorn may be best suited as a buttery movie treat, but the caffeinated variety is sparking serious athletes as well as weekend warriors. BioFUEL caffeine infused popcorn turns sweet and salty kettle corn into a snack that really has pop. The kernels, packaged in five-ounce servings, are available in three varieties: Original, the more heavily-caffeinated XL and a decaf Kids version (which oddly seems to defeat the purpose of the brand). While the packaging contains a warning about the hazards of consuming caffeine, BioFUEL maintains the same health benefits as most popcorn, making it a wholesome snack and a good source of fiber. Maybe, now, we’ll be able to watch a whole movie on the couch without falling asleep.
Inhaler: It’s been a long time since anyone has suggested we put something up our nose for energy. The Boom.Boom inhaler is made from a blend of 100% natural ingredients, including menthol and essential oils, which combine to form an energizing vapor, the effects of which the user feels within seconds of use. The product claims further benefits including improved mood, sharpened mental focus, suppressed appetite, refreshed nasal cavities and improved breath. While the thumping bass on the Boom.Boom website and Twitter posts about partying it up in Vegas give us the feeling that it’s meant for Axe Body Spray loving frat guys, we must admit that there are times we would appreciate feeling energized without having to consume calorie-laden snacks.