Canned Oxygen Companies Cashing In On Energy Trend
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MIAMI (CBSMiami) -- Are you feeling a bit sluggish and slow lately. There's a new trend that has people finding a burst of energy in a bottle. It's canned oxygen which some believe can leave you feeling renewed and re-energized.
When Jeffrey Portis gets a headache while skiing, he says a can of oxygen helps alleviate the altitude sickness.
"You no longer have the headache," he said. "You don't feel, you feel like you have a little bit more energy than maybe you did before."
All that from inhaling a couple sprays. So what exactly is in that can?
"Ambient air, which we breathe every day, is 21% oxygen. Our oxygen is 95%, so it's enriched air," said Christine Warren with Oxygen Plus, Inc.
Oxygen Plus, Boost Oxygen, Oxygen 4 Energy, and O2 Naked Air are a few of the companies selling canned oxygen online, in specialty stores and spas. Just spray them into your mouth or nostrils while you inhale. Their popularity is on the rise with athletes in particular.
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"You have increased energy and you feel better. Oxygen is the next bottled water," Warren said.
Some come in flavors like peppermint or pink grapefruit. They're promoted for recreational use only, to help ease altitude sickness, headaches and jetlag, reboot after an aerobic workout, and some claim "a tough night out on the town." Some brands say the relief you find is similar to taking a gulp of water after feeling dehydrated.
"The evidence is fairly weak. Even if the effect is had, it tends to be short-lived because there's not very much oxygen in these containers," said Dr. Mark Green with the National Headache Foundation.
These are not medical devices. You don't need a prescription to buy canned oxygen and currently, the FDA does not regulate them.
Green says canned oxygen may have some limited value with altitude sickness and hangovers, but shouldn't be considered to be a mainstream treatment for medical conditions or headaches.
The canisters are highly flammable and the TSA won't allow them on flights, but beyond that, our experts say there are no known negative side effects to the canned oxygen when used as directed by healthy individuals.
As for Portis, he counts on his canned oxygen.
"It was pretty amazing how quickly you just sort of felt better afterwards," he said.
Some compare these canisters to energy drinks in terms of the impact on the body, but canned oxygen advocates say this is a more natural option without the calories, caffeine or the crash afterwards.
