Boost Dietary Supplement

Caffeine-Based Supplements

The most obvious and immediate boost dietary supplements are caffeine-based products. A popular ingredient in anything from stay-awake pills found in truck stops to diet pills, caffeine supplements typically have the effect of a couple cups worth of strong coffee. The jolt is quick and lasts for a couple of hours.

One fringe benefit of caffeine-based supplements is that they hike your metabolism. This means it cranks up your ability to burn calories a notch, hence the popularity in over-the-counter diet pills. The downside is that it puts extra strain on your heart, possibly hiking your blood pressure just like regular coffee can do. If you have a medical condition or otherwise, you should be careful with your cardiovascular system, this type of supplement may not be for you.

Ginseng

Gingseng root is a traditional Chinese remedy for a slew of ailments, from depression to the pains of aging. As it has grown more popular in the West, the claims have grown exponentially as various brands try to one-up one another, so take everything you see with a grain of salt.

Still, there's a reason millions of Chinese have relied on Ginseng for thousands of years, and general energy levels do indeed seem to be part of the core benefits that remain once you've peeled away the marketing flimflam. Just make sure to get a quality supplement from a respected brand, so you get the full dosage you're paying for.

Vitamin Cocktails

Many vitamins have energy-boosting qualities, which some companies have seized upon to create specific energy cocktails. These can consist of huge amounts of vitamin B6 and vitamin B12, folic acid, vitamin C, Biotin and others.

In any case, you're most likely better off taking a normal, high-quality multivitamin instead. The multivitamin will contain what you need of all the "energy vitamins", and taking in 100 times the RDI only means you'll flush out the expensive surplus next time you go to the bathroom.

Carb Products

Carb products, notably energy bars and drinks, often come with some Ginseng, bee pollen, creatine and more fringe-esque energy supplements. The primary ingredient tends to be sugar, however, whether it's in the form of honey, fructose or something else.

Sugar is like caffeine in that it works quickly and certainly. The bad news is that too much of it is dangerous for your system, so your body releases insulin to cut down the sugar. Insulin is quite good at what it does, and often knocks down the blood sugar more than needed. Result: blood sugar blues, sending you crashing an hour or so after having your supplement. Having said that, it can be great for certain situations, such as immediately after a tough workout. In these situations, the body needs a sudden jolt of sugar to get back on the right keel, meaning the sugar poses no danger, hence no insulin response and no accompanying crash an hour later.

More on Boost Dietary Supplements

These were some of the most common types of boost dietary supplements. Browsing the aisles you'll also find "oxygen enhancers", Creatine products, herb concoctions and chemical products using only acronyms, all promising to sweep you off your weary feet in a jiffy. You'll also find combinations, with capsules containing vitamins, caffeine, Ginseng and quite possibly the kitchen sink, if you read the label carefully enough.

It is not easy to pick the right thing from hundreds of options, but here are a few guidelines:

• Take all marketing claims with a grain of salt.
• Don't buy the cheapest option. You get what you pay for.
• Research brands online -- ConsumerLabs is a good place to start.
• Check with your doctor before taking a stimulant like caffeine

Good luck!