The additives in the drinks (such as ginseng, taurine, and guarana) haven’t been well-studied and aren’t carefully regulated by the FDA. One of the main concerns with energy drinks is the lack of regulation regarding their safety. Yet, many companies openly promote the performance-enhancing effects of these beverages to teens while ignoring the health concerns. The American Academy of Pediatrics discourages adolescents from consuming energy drinks as they are possibly harmful. And young men and teens are targeted specifically in energy drink marketing strategies. ![]() Marketing toward adolescentsĪs many as 55% of adolescents and young adults consume energy drinks. They’re also not regulated by the FDA, so the ingredients can be questionable. They’re also heavily marketed toward adolescents and often consumed with alcohol. It’s not just their nutritional breakdown (or lack thereof) that makes energy drinks problematic. What are some other risks of energy drinks? This can lead to dangerous outcomes as people end up drinking more than they regularly would. But it doesn’t lessen the alcohol's effects on your ability to function. When you drink energy drinks combined with alcohol, it can be harder to tell when you are intoxicated. Dangers of energy drinks with alcoholĪbout 25% of college students consume energy drinks along with alcohol. ![]() But the effect of caffeine on teenagers and young adults, who are regular consumers of energy drinks, is less studied. It is generally recommended that adults consume no more than 400 mg of caffeine per day. Researchers are also studying caffeine’s risk for addiction. For comparison, the average cup of coffee has around 95 mg of caffeine.īut it’s important to keep in mind that energy drinks often have other active ingredients, such as taurine, which intensifies the effect of caffeine, and guarana, which also has caffeine (and adds to the energy drink’s total caffeine content). The caffeine in energy drinks usually ranges from 70 mg per 8-oz. But there are other, less-known dangers of high sugar intake, like: Most people know the relationship between sugar intake and obesity and health conditions such as diabetes and heart disease. So, just one energy drink can exceed that amount. For reference, The American Heart Association recommends that women have about 24 g of added sugar per day and men 36 g of added sugar daily. One typical energy drink contains 54 g to 62 g of added sugar. Excess sugarĮnergy drinks are loaded with sugar. There are many reasons experts warn against drinking too many energy drinks. Why are energy drinks considered bad for you? The idea of sugar giving you this boost of energy, or “ sugar high,” is likely more a myth than reality. Sugars such as sucrose, high fructose corn syrup, and glucose are added in high amounts to energy drinks to help with immediate energy. But, more research is needed to confirm these benefits. ![]() ![]() Ginseng is a plant thought to fight fatigue and improve physical performance. Guarana is a plant whose seed has nearly four times the amount of caffeine as a coffee bean. They are thought to help energy levels by supporting the process that converts sugar into energy. But little is known about its effects on the body.ī vitamins are key in many different cellular functions in our body. Glucuronolactone is a naturally occurring substance made in small amounts in the body. It has been reported to possibly improve exercise capacity. Taurine is a sulfur-containing amino acid usually consumed through common foods like eggs, meat, and seafood. Other active ingredients found in energy drinks include: But they usually include other ingredients known to have stimulant effects. The main active ingredient in energy drinks is often caffeine. What ingredients are typically found in energy drinks? These drinks have become popular for their stimulant effect, but they may come with harmful side effects. Some examples of popular energy drinks include: Energy drinks, different from sports drinks, are drinks that contain high amounts of stimulants, such as caffeine.
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