Know a teenager addicted to energy drinks? The consumption of energy drinks for teens and people in their twenties is the fastest growing group in the soft drink industry, with sales totaling $ 9 billion. In fact, they are quite popular on most college campuses and with adults in the workplace. Many of these energy drink companies are finding ways to outwit the FDA and do not have to report how much caffeine or even disclose certain information to the FDA. Many people are becoming dependent on these drinks, as they feel that they perform better during physical and mental activities, they can stay awake longer to study, combat fatigue, increase metabolism and athletic ability. The CDC reported that “one in three adults had an energy drink in the past week, 21% had had more than once in the past week, and 11% had more than three energy drinks per week.” The most alarming trend is that these drinks are commonly mixed with alcohol, and research shows that college students consume more alcohol when mixed with energy drinks.

Drinks like Red Bull, Monster, Rock Star, AMP, 5-Hour Energy, and others contain ingredients like caffeine, taurine, sugar (even more sugar, like sucralose and high fructose corn syrup), synthetic vitamins, and chemicals . and other aromas. Side effects can include:

Caffeine: According to the Mayo Clinic, caffeine has been shown to cause anxiety, nervousness, tremors and tremors, dehydration, headaches, fast pace, shortness of breath, increased blood pressure, irritability, and poor sleep. It stimulates your central nervous system, making it difficult for many people to sleep. Red Bull, among many other energy drinks that contain a lot of caffeine, causes the body to release calcium, resulting in weaker bone structure, which can then contribute to osteoporosis when taken over a long period of time. Red Bull is banned in Norway, Uruguay, France, and Denmark due to its many adverse effects.

Taurine: An essential amino acid, taurine helps regulate the body’s water and salt levels, and is an antioxidant. It also plays a role in helping heart patients with angina pectoris and respiratory problems. The University of Utah reports that consuming just an amino acid supplement like taurine can upset the nitrogen balance in the body, reduce metabolism, and put undue stress on kidney function. Increasing taurine supplementation in children can cause growth retardation.

Sugar: With an abundance of extra sugar, like glucose and sucrose, cavities and other dental problems can develop, not to mention adrenal and pancreatic problems. Rockstar contains 102 grams of sugar!

A healthy alternative: drink orange juice and eat orange slices to help improve circulation and oxygenate tissues. Apples are also great fruits for boosting energy! As the saying goes, “an apple a day keeps the doctor away.”

The alarming statistics include:

  • A federal agency, the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, reported that energy drinks caused more than 13,000 emergency room visits in 2009.
  • Children drink more caffeinated beverages and an average of 60 to 70 mg per day and sometimes up to 700 mg per day.
  • 33% of American teens and 50% of college students consume energy drinks and caffeinated beverages consistently.

Do energy drinks help athletes perform better? Creighton University conducted a study on 17 college men to investigate the effect of sugar-free Red Bull on weight lifting. The study did not determine any improvement in lifting after consumption. Another study was conducted by Utah State University with a low-calorie caffeine energy drink with taurine on 20 NCAA Division I football players, and they did not run faster or perform better on various athletic events.

When choosing a drink, water is your best option. You can even consider adding lemon / lime drops to your water. Smoothies with added fruit and a quality protein powder also help with energy. Do your research to determine which drink is right for you and what positive and negative effects they can cause.