I Swapped My Daily Coffee for This Energy Drink, and Here's What Happened

I have never been an avid coffee drinker, nor have I had a particular taste for it. Born out of necessity, I relied on it during the last semester of my senior year in college, as final exams and lengthy papers tested my limits of cognitive awareness. I rarely required more than a single cup, a standard that has remained true to this day. I’ve undergone detoxes upon gaining tolerance for caffeine, in efforts to bring it back to a self-instated equilibrium. I’ve dabbled with substitutions such as tea, but never quite took to forming it into a habit. 

 

Throughout the past couple of years, I have maintained a relatively steadfast relationship with coffee, eventually coming to rely on it in order to get through the day. In the last month, I began feeling constantly fatigued, regardless of the amount of sleep I was getting each night. Work/life stresses were undoubtedly a factor, but the sweltering summer heat was not helping in the least. So, needless to say, when the opportunity to experiment with a coffee substitute came about, I was thrilled to instate a change that would potentially help me reset, even if it were only temporary. 

 

Enter Dirty Lemon [energy]. The beverage skirts a fine line between traditional energy drink and a naturally-caffeinated blend. Among its modest blend of ingredients, lemon and lime juices establish the base, paired with a proprietary energy blend, which features Ashwagandha: a plant which belongs to the nightshade family. With claims to reduce stress, anxiety, and stress-related food cravings, Ashwagandha is a key component of this beverage. 

 

“The botanical blend of green tea, ginseng, and Ashwagandha was designed to help elevate your metabolic rate while keeping your energy levels sustained throughout the day,” says Sommer Carroll, co-founder of Dirty Lemon. “The L-Theanine in green tea helps to deliver caffeine slowly and consistently throughout the day, eliminating the quick energy spike and subsequent crash that we’ve come to expect.”

 

With this information under my belt, I decided to take on the challenge of giving up my standard morning coffee for a bottle of Dirty Lemon Energy instead. Here’s what happened:

 

Day 2 | Tuesday

Hours slept: 7

 

9:45am: 

Given how long it took me to fall asleep, I had difficulty waking up this morning. I made it to work, had breakfast, and subsequently the Dirty Lemon Energy. I’m not feeling my usual level of tiredness (pre-drink), but I could greatly benefit from some caffeine right about now.

 

11am: 

I’m halfway through the bottle and already feeling the caffeine. This particular bottle boasts a more tart flavor, compared to that of yesterday’s, making it slightly more difficult to get down. I’m realizing that after my usual cup of coffee I feel alert cognitively, whereas the Dirty Lemon seems to be accelerating my heart rate instead. I’ve been nursing the same bottle since morning, and I don’t foresee myself finishing it. If only I could squeeze in a run right about now. 

 

5pm: 

My energy level continues to increase, despite the fact that I was only able to drink about 80 percent of the bottle. I have a few events, post-work tonight, so I skip out my daily workout. 

 

Midnight: 

Ideally, I would be fast asleep by now, but I’m having trouble doing so due to the influx of energy. I try a few meditative techniques to slow my heart rate down, hoping to fall asleep.

 

Day 3 | Wednesday

Hours slept: 7.5

 

8am: 

I woke up feeling slightly energized, although not energized enough to make it to my morning spin class. I feel more alert than usual but that being said, the summer heat is really doing a number on my energy levels.

 

11am: 

Much like yesterday, I got through about 80 percent of the bottle. Today’s blend is relatively low in its level of tartness, and so much more pleasant to consume. Midday, I’m feeling the full force of the energy of the drink, and am completely alert.

 

4pm: 

I begin feeling slightly tired at this point in the day but, I refrain from drinking the rest of the bottle in fear that it will prevent me from falling asleep later in the evening. If you haven’t already noticed, I have a pretty low tolerance for caffeine. 

 

7pm: 

I go for a run after work, making the most of my high energy levels. The adrenalin rush post-run, coupled with the effects of the Dirty Lemon, prompt an even greater surge of energy that lasts well into the later evening hours.

 

Day 4 | Thursday

Hours slept: 7.5

 

8am: 

True to form, it took me a while to fall asleep last night but nonetheless, I woke up relatively easily and didn’t feel my usual need for caffeine. I’m producing a photoshoot today (two, if we’re getting technical) so, if there were ever a day where caffeine was essential, today would be it. 

 

11am: 

I’ve been running around town picking up supplies and even hit the grocery store for a few ingredients for my shoot. Most days, I can’t fathom the thought of doing that much sans caffeine but surprisingly enough, today I have enough energy to do so. I don’t get to my Dirty Lemon Energy until almost midday, and only manage to drink about half the bottle before reaching my energy cap. 

 

4pm: 

For the first time this week, I begin feeling a slight crash, so I opt to drink a little more of the lemon water I had leftover from the afternoon. After a few sips, my heart rate instantly increases, and I’m back to normal.

 

7pm: 

I feel slightly regretful of the fact that I chose to drink more of the Dirty Lemon earlier, as my energy levels have been on an exponential rise with no signs of stopping. Naturally, when it comes to bedtime, I have trouble falling asleep. 

 

Day 5 | Friday

Hours slept: 7

 

7am: 

I woke up feeling under the weather this morning, so I decided to hold out on the Dirty Lemon. While it’s obviously crucial, as well as the intention of the swap, to implement the drink into my daily schedule for the duration of the workweek, it felt wildly derivative to consume even half the bottle today. While still feeling its effects from the prior day’s bottle, I deemed it unnecessary to consume any more.

 

2pm: 

No midday crash here! I’m taking things relatively easy today and therefore not warranting much caffeine. I’ll probably make it through the rest of the day sans any cravings or withdrawals.