Energy drinks have become “all the rage” in recent years. More than 500 brands are now on the market, and it is now estimated to be a five billion dollar-a-year industry in the U.S. Also, many of the drink’s most ardent fans are teenagers, and much of advertising is directed at them. According to a recent survey, almost half (43%) of teens have tried the drinks and many of them consume them regularly.

There’s no question about it: everyone needs a ride once in a while, and most people turn to coffee. However, in increasing amounts, people are turning to energy drinks, especially the very young. Students use them to stay awake while huddling for exams, and young athletes use them in hopes of improving athletic performance. And they’re often paired with energy (food) bars for an even bigger boost.

Do they work? There is no doubt that they do it, sometimes too well. As many people have discovered after using them late at night, it is very difficult to fall asleep after going to bed. And if they’re used to cramming for a test, the dream you missed can be just as critical as the cramming. Numerous studies have shown that a considerable amount of cognitive power is lost when sleep is lost.

So what are they? To give you a boost, they have to do two things: make more glucose and get it into your cells as quickly as possible, and stimulate your nervous system. And energy drinks do both well. They are composed mainly of sugar and caffeine; sugar provides glucose and caffeine stimulates the nerves. But they contain many other things along with sugar and caffeine, and some of them worry health experts.

Although energy drinks work well, they come at a cost. They boost your energy quickly (sugar turns into glucose almost immediately) and makes you feel great, but this effect is relatively short-lived. As the sugar enters your bloodstream, you get a “blast” of energy, but half an hour later you have a “crash” (when all glucose is depleted). You start to feel weak and dizzy, and many of you take another drink as a result. This brings us to the question: are they safe? Most health experts agree that they are relatively safe when used in moderation. After all, you get the same stimulation from coffee and there is no evidence that coffee, if used in moderation, is not safe.

As in coffee, the main problem with energy drinks is caffeine. Several studies have shown that for most healthy adults, up to about 400 milligrams (mg) per day is safe. Above that, however, it can have several side effects: it is a diuretic and can cause fluid loss, and in excess it can cause nervousness, an upset stomach, headaches, and trouble sleeping. So how much caffeine is in these drinks? Let’s start by looking at a regular cup of coffee; averages around 100mg (but can range from 72-175). And it is well known that for most people, more than 5 or 6 cups of coffee a day can cause problems. We will assume that the same applies to energy drinks. So how much caffeine is in energy drinks? In a single serving it ranges from 72 to 150 mg, which doesn’t seem like much. However, one of the problems is that many energy drink containers contain two or three servings. Some of these “oversized” drinks contain up to 294 mg, which is a lot.

Another problem is that while 400 mg per day is safe for adults, it is not necessarily safe for children and adolescents. Also, the coffee is hot and most people drink it slowly; Energy drinks are cold and are generally taken quite quickly. However, the main problem with caffeine is that it dehydrates your body and this dehydration can be serious, it can even kill you. After drinking several energy drinks, people start to feel thirsty (the first sign of dehydration) and therefore drink more to relieve thirst, which only dehydrates them more. Plus, caffeine is addictive, and as you drink more and more, you need more and more to get on.

Next we have the problem of sugar. Although there are some sugar-free energy drinks on the market, most are packed with sugar and some contain up to 30 grams per serving. To give you a better feeling 30 grams is about 4 full teaspoons, and each teaspoon contains about 15 calories. So the total calories per serving is about 120, which isn’t that bad, but as I mentioned earlier, many energy drink containers now contain 2 and 3 servings, so you could get 700 calories in one container. With the obesity problem, particularly among children, an extra 700 calories is something they could do without. If added to your regular (balanced) diet, you could add a pound of weight in a week.

Let’s now look at the other things in energy drinks. They vary from drink to drink, but some of the most common are given in the following list:

Guarana: is a source of caffeine

Taurine (an amino acid): added to enhance the effect of caffeine.

Glucuronlactone – Effects are generally unknown, but it can help excrete toxins.

Inositol – Effects are generally unknown, but some may be positive.

Vitamin B: No problems.

Carnitine and ginseng: Generally considered safe.

Ephedrine: when mixed with alcohol, it damages the heart.

Pyruvate – Added as a “performance” enhancer, but in large amounts it can make you sick.

Glutamine and argenine: Amino acids, without danger.

The biggest problem with these additional ingredients is that, in some cases, the long-term effect of them is unknown. Most are safe if used in moderation, but others are questionable.

This leads us to the question: Who is most at risk? Due to the danger of dehydration, people with high blood pressure and heart problems are definitely at risk. Also, children and even teenagers should be careful and limit its use. Athletes must also be careful; they must not use them during the competition due to the danger of dehydration.

But many people will say, “I thought sports drinks were good for athletes.” And indeed they are, but it’s important to distinguish sports drinks like Gatorade from energy drinks. They are quite different. Sports drinks are designed to overcome dehydration; energy drinks cause dehydration. In particular, sports drinks replace electrolytes that are lost during perspiration and these electrolytes, in turn, maintain the balance of salt and potassium in the body.

I saved the big problem for last. Many people mix energy drinks with alcohol, and it is now well known that this can spell disaster. Mixing energy drinks with alcohol gives a person the feeling that they are not intoxicated. But actually, it is; You cannot perform the usual tests for intoxication better than a person who only drank alcohol. Also, since you don’t feel intoxicated, you think you can drink more, and you usually do. And you can end up very drunk without realizing it.

So while energy drinks are generally considered safe when used in moderation, you need to be careful.