Are Energy Drinks Dangerous to Your Health?It’s one of the greatest marketing tricks in the history of beverages: Turning a can of obesity-inducing sugar water into the coolest product in the supermarket. Here’s how it’s done.

1. Give your can of sugar water a hip-sounding name, like Monster, Rockstar, or Amp.

2. Promise that the product will do something exciting to your body, like boosting your energy and alertness, so you, too, can be a rock star—or at least stay up as late as one.

3. Make your product sound slightly dangerous. Anything will sound cooler when grown-ups hate it: Dr. Oz calls energy drinks “addictive” and “unhealthy.” Other experts point to thousands of caffeine overdoses among young people 19 and under.

But all the hoopla surrounding energy drinks is just hysteria, right? Sure, drinking them by the six-pack isn’t a good idea, but in moderation, a single can of cold, tangy, eyeball-popping energy fuel can’t be bad for you . . .

Or can it?

Well, the truth is that while you can call a product RockStar, a more accurate name for some of their drinks might be Fat Roadie. Because while massive doses of energy drinks are obviously dangerous, adding even a single can a day of some of them to your liquid intake could cause more than 29 pounds of weight gain in a year! Below, I’ve outlined some of the worst energy drinks, and some much saner alternatives. Making these simple swaps could be the difference between Lady Gaga, and Lady Gargantua.

WORST MORNING JOLT5-Hour Energy (1.93-oz bottle)4 calories0 g sugars  Caffeine: 135 mg

Drink This Instead!Black Coffee (12-oz cup)0 calories0 g sugarsCaffeine: 95-200 mg

 What’s really in 5-Hour Energy? Wouldn’t you like to know! The company claims the product is packed with a variety of vitamins and other compounds that promote energy, but when Consumer Reports recently requested a copy of the supporting research, the company balked. Here’s a golden rule

of food and drink: If the company selling the product won’t put its money where its mouth is, don’t put their product where your mouth is. Bottom line: The only proven ingredient in this bottle is caffeine, and one bottle contains about as much as a cup of coffee. You know what costs much less, contains loads of natural antioxidants, and also has as much caffeine as a cup of coffee? You guessed it, a cup of coffee. No energy drink on the planet is more reliable.

Bonus Tip: 5-Hour Energy may be a lot of hype, but at just 4 calories per bottle, it won't make you fat. These sugar- and fat-laden drinks most certainly will if they're among your go-to options: The 20 Worst Drinks in America.

WORST CAFFEINATED DISASTERRedline Power Rush (2.5-oz bottle)0 calories0 g sugarsCaffeine: 326 mg

Drink This Instead!Sugar-Free Red Bull (8.4-oz can)0 calories0 g sugarsCaffeine: 75 mg

This is what happens when the companies that produce energy shots go to war with one another (7 hours of energy? Really?). Sipping this tiny bottle is the caffeine equivalent of gulping down about three cups of coffee, which is probably why the company's website warns minors not to drink it. Oh, and for those of us with family histories of high blood pressure, enlarged prostates, glaucoma, or any one of six other ailments, we need to consult a physician before use. The company also recommends you drink only half a bottle, but who's going to drink one-half of 2.5 ounces? That's like packing an Oreo in your kid's lunch and telling her to eat only one bite. Sugar-Free Red Bull offers the same low-cal advantage with a more reasonable amount of caffeine, which is about as much as a cup of coffee.

Bonus Tip: I get it—life is hectic. That's why we created our new book: The Eat This, Not That! No-Diet Diet, a complete day-by-day, meal-by-meal weight-loss plan for busy people who hate to diet. You can eat all your favorite foods, at your favorite restaurants, and even enjoy your favorite desserts--while shedding belly fat fast. Check it out.

WORST SODA HYBRIDAmp Energy (16-oz can)220 calories58 g sugarsCaffeine: 142 mg

Drink This Instead!Xenergy Mango Guava (16-oz can)0 calories

0 g sugarsCaffeine: 180 mg

No energy drink exposes the blurred line between energy and soda better than Amp. It is, after all, an offshoot of Mountain Dew. The difference is it’s shot through with more caffeine and all the dubious additives that give energy drinks their questionable energy appeal. But the problem with this can is the same problem that afflicts every other soda on the market—sugar. Guzzling this thing fills your stomach with 14 spoonfuls of sugar. If it’s energy you want, Xenergy promises all the same additives without any of the sugar. Consider it a modest vice.

Bonus Tip: Discover more surprising nutrition and weight loss secrets like this by following me on Twitter right here (where I'm giving a FREE iPad to a lucky follower) or by signing up for our FREE Eat This, Not That! newsletter.

WORST ENERGY SHOTClif Razz Energy Gel Shot (32 g package)100 calories12 g sugars Caffeine: 0 mg

Drink This Instead!Ito En Sencha Shot (6.4-oz can)0 calories0 g sugarsCaffeine: 40 mg

Be wary of any “energy” shot that comes in gel form. These packages are specifically formulated to replenish sugar stores to overworked muscles during bouts of high-intensity training. That’s great if you’re running a 10K, but it you’re not doing some serious athletics, expect it to go straight to your thighs, butt, and belly. For a more sustainable—and less fattening—form of energy, opt for green tea. Ito En’s Sencha Shot is just that, concentrated green tea laced with 152 milligrams of catechins, antioxidants that have been linked to weight loss. One of these tacked on to your daily routine can only do your body good.  

Bonus Tip: For simple steps to live a longer and healthier life, check out Dr. Oz's 25 Greatest Health Tips Ever.

WORST COFFEE BOOSTStarbucks Coffee Frappuccino (13.7-oz bottle)290 calories4.5 g fat (3 g saturated)46 g sugarsCaffeine: 108 mg

Drink This Instead!Rockstar Roasted Coffee + Energy Light Vanilla (16-oz can)

100 calories14 g sugarsCaffeine: 240 mg

I’m not Rockstar's biggest fan, but they do a lot of things right, like this healthier alternative to Starbucks. Do you know how much whole milk you’d have to pour into your coffee to reach the 290 calories in this Starbucks bottle? Nearly two cups. Or how about this for comparison: This Vanilla Frappuccino has more calories than either a Snickers bar or a Wendy’s Jr. Cheeseburger, plus it has more sugar than two scoops of Haagen-Dazs Crème Brulèe ice cream. Switch to Rockstar’s lighter version of a caffeinated morning drink and you’ll cut your calorie load by two-thirds!

Bonus Tip: Here’s a much healthier way to boost your energy levels: Fill your plate—and belly—with these 40 Foods with Superpowers. The best part: You’ll strengthen your heart, fortify your bones, and boost your metabolism at the same time!

WORST ENERGY DRINKVault Red Blitz (20-oz bottle)290 calories78 g sugarsCaffeine: 115 mg

Drink This Instead!Rockstar Recovery (16 fl oz)20 calories2 g sugars And here it is, the biggest loser in the battle of the energy drinks. Vault packs in more sugar than any other energy drink on the market. In terms of sheer calories, Starbucks Coffee Frappuccino fares just as bad, but even it can’t claim to have more sugar than 3½ Hershey’s Milk Chocolate bars. If you’re looking for the daily energy beverage most likely to give you diabetes, this might be it. Otherwise, pick something with less sugar. Rockstar's Recovery is as fine as any energy drink on the market. It contains 160 mg of caffeine—about as much as 14 ounces of Dunkin' Donuts coffee—and it's flavored with lemon juice.

Bonus Tip: If you're serious about losing weight, you need to cut down on sugar first. Problem is, many of us eat too much of the white stuff for breakfast.  You stay full longer when you swap out sugar for fiber, and we'll show you how to do it with ease right here: The 24 Best and Worst Cereals.

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TODAY'S MEN'S HEALTH NEWS: The All-Natural Energy Drink: Are You Brave Enough to Try It? ... How Facebook Boosts Your Ego ... Is Your Dog Too Fat?

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7 Desserts that Fight FatWhat do Darth Vader, King Kong, and an ice cream sundae all have in common? They’re all destructive, havoc-wreaking villains. But if you look deeper, you discover that they all have a good side, as well. Kong may have made a mess of Midtown Manhattan, but his animal rage was driven by his love for Fay Wray. Sure, Lord Vader wanted to destroy the Jedi, but when push came to shove, he put Skywalker first. And, well, the same is true of the ice cream sundae sitting

in your dish.

It might have a bit more sugar than your body needs (technically your body doesn’t need any sugar), but ice cream also delivers calcium, which binds to fatty acids in the digestive tract and blocks their absorption. And ½ cup gives you 17 milligrams of choline, which can lower homocysteine. What’s homocysteine? An amino acid that restricts blood flow, and by lowering it, ice cream might actually help diminish your risk of stroke and heart disease. And so it is with dessert: If you can look at your after-dinner treat as an opportunity to add something more than just calories, you’re on your way to a healthier (and more indulgent) diet.

To that end we’ve pulled together America’s best desserts—the ones that offer something of nutritional substance, avoid the flab-inducing deluge of calories, and short you none on satisfaction. (Think of this list as the antidote to the 10 Worst Ice Cream Treat Treats in America.)

Best Scoop-Shop DessertCold Stone Creamery Tart and Tangy Plain Yogurt (Like It size with walnuts)270 calories13 g fat (1 g saturated)24 g sugars

On its own, the Like It Size Tart and Tangy Yogurt has a mere 140 calories, making it the ideal base for a healthy topping of your choice. Fruit works fine, but walnuts usher in fiber and healthy fats, both of which work to keep your blood sugar in a healthy range as you indulge your sweet tooth.

Not That!Oreo Crème Ice Cream (Like It Size)440 calories31 g fat (14 g saturated)38 g sugars

Best Classic DessertSonic Junior Banana Split200 calories6 g fat (4.5 g saturated)22 g sugars

Whoever decided that banana splits should have three scoops of ice cream obviously wasn’t worried about body fat. So let’s agree right now: The only banana split worth eating is a single-scoop banana split. Thank you, Sonic, for giving us what we want.

Not That!Banana CreamPie Shake (14 oz)408 calories29 g fat (20 g saturated)77 g sugars

Bonus Tip: You know what’s more threatening than dessert? The soda you drink alongside dinner. But maybe you already knew that—check out the 20 Worst Drinks in America for some truly shocking waistline offenders.

Best Dessert ParfaitRuby Tuesday Berry Good Yogurt Parfait162 calories3 g fat26 g carbohydrates

The parfait is an entirely underutilized dessert. Ideally it should be a little sweeter than a breakfast parfait (this one is), yet still offer significant hits of fresh fruit, protein, and fiber (this one does). Order this in place of Ruby’s Italian Cream Cake and consider yourself 828 calories thinner.

Not That!Italian Cream Cake990 calories56 g fat108 g carbohydrates

Best Chocolate BarChocolove Strong Dark Chocolate Bar, 70% Cocoa (1/3 bar, 30 g)157 calories12 g fat (7 g saturated)8 g sugars

It’s time to swear off milk chocolate. The dark stuff is a far richer source of epicatechin, an antioxidant that helps blood vessels relax, and studies show it migh reduce your odds of developing diabetes. After years of taste-testing dark chocolates, Chocolove’s Strong Dark still wins out—dark enough to corral cocoa’s benefits, yet sweet enough to taste like dessert. Discover more perfect foods like this when you sign up for the Eat This, Not That! newsletter. It's completely free. And if you subscribe today, you'll also receive our most popular download ever: Shop Once, Eat for a Week!

Not That!Hershey’s Mr. Goodbar (49 g)

250 calories17 g fat (7 g saturated)23 g sugars

Best ShakeWendy’s Jr. Original Chocolate Frosty150 calories4 g fat (2.5 g saturated)22 g sugars

It seems like every year Wendy’s comes out with some new, tricked-out Frosty. There are now Frosty Floats, Frosty Shakes, and Frosty-cinos, and every one is worse than the original Frosty. Stick to the classic, and make it a “junior.” Up-sizing to the small will more than double the calories in your cup. Want to see what other restaurants have transformed your favorite foods into your belly’s worst enemy? Check this out: The Craziest Food Creations of 2010.

Not That!Oreo Twisted Frosty440 calories14 g fat (7 g saturated)55 g sugars

Best YogurtChobani Strawberry Nonfat Greek Yogurt140 calories0 g fat19 g sugars

With other flavored yogurts, “strawberry” amounts to little more than corn sweeteners and red dye, but on Chobani’s ingredient statement, fruit is second only to Greek yogurt—just as it should be. That fills your dessert out with more natural sugar and good stuff like vitamins C and A, which bolster your immune system while mopping up free radicals in your body. (While you're at it, strengthen your heart, fortify your bones, and boost your metabolism with our list of the 40 Foods with Superpowers.)

Not That!Yoplait Original 99% Fat Free Strawberry170 calories1.5 g fat (1 g saturated)27 g sugars

Best Caffeinated DessertP.F. Chang’s Mini Tiramisu100 calories11 g fat (5 g saturated)10 g carbohydrates

Thanks to the arms race of oversized foods currently underway in America’s kitchens, proper dessert portions now come with qualifying terms like “mini.” So be it. Chang’s Tiramisu consists of multiple decadent layers, just enough to hit your sweet tooth and reward a good day of eating. Eat this instead of a slice of New York-Style Cheesecake and you’ll save 820 calories. Make a dessert swap like that three times a week and you’ll shed nearly 3 pounds every month.

Not That!New York-Style Cheesecake920 calories56 g fat (36 g saturated)92 g carbohydrates

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LOSE 15 POUNDS OF BELLY FAT FAST! Check out the brand new Men's Health Diet or the Women's Health Diet! You'll lose weight and get healthy faster than ever--thanks to a plan that draws on the easiest and most effective research ever published!

MEET YOUR 24/7 VIRTUAL PERSONAL TRAINER!

EAT RIGHT RULE: If your food can go bad, it's good for you. If it can't go bad, it's bad for you. FOLLOW DAVE ZINCZENKO RIGHT HERE ON TWITTER and get FREE health, nutrition and weight-loss secrets like this one every day! You'll lose weight and get healthy faster than ever!

Check out these cutting-edge guides to fast and easy weight loss, the brand-new Men’s Health Big Book of Exercises and Women’s Health Big Book of Exercises.

Get more nutrition, health, and fitness secrets from Men's Health: Subscribe today with this special offer and save 50% off the cover price.