I might just be 15 years old but I've learned abit about nutrition and how it works on me. I've been lifting weight for a while now, not thaaat long though, and I've changed what I eat to better and healthier food. I've been noticing a big difference in my riding, my bike feels lighter and I can go longer and higher for a longer period of time, which is awesome. I don't eat or drink any proteine shakes or bars or whatever, regular food is the shit. I've been more muscular, and I just feel..better:)
Regarding the energy drinks, I drink them quite often mainly because I tastes so good. But I don't know that much what they contain... My mother is a scientist, but she works with cancer and genes etc. BUT she still knows abit about the energy drinks, the thing she says is that they are bad for you since they contain a subject which dries you out and mostly your cells, this mixed with stress makes some people die because the sells just die out. They aren't good for the heart, but if you drink one every one in a while it's nothing to worry about. The cheaper energy drinks contains a subject which binds with fat which isn't that good for your liver or any part of you haha.