Energy drinks are marketed heavily to boost stamina, concentration, and overall productivity.
American teenagers and young people use more energy drinks than other dietary supplements.
Nearly a third of 12 to 17-year-olds routinely take energy drinks, with consumption peaking among men aged 18 to 34.
Two distinct categories of energy drinks exist. One can be purchased in bottles that are 16 ounces in size, the standard for soft drinks.
The other variety, sometimes referred to as “energy shots,” comes in smaller vials holding only two to two and a half ounces of concentrated liquid.
A 16-ounce energy drink often includes between 70 and 240 milligrams of caffeine. Whereas an energy shot typically contains between 113 and 200 milligrams. (A 12-ounce can of cola has around 35 milligrams of caffeine. And an 8-ounce cup of coffee has around 100 milligrams.)
Caffeine isn’t the only thing found in energy drinks; Yohimbe, carnitine, glucuronolactone, Yohimbe, and bitter orange are also common.
The Consumption Of Energy Drinks raises important Safety Issues:
- The number of people seeking medical attention after consuming an energy drink quadrupled between 2007 and 2011. One in ten of these visits in 2011 led to inpatient care.
- About 25% of college students mix alcohol with energy drinks, and those who do are much more likely to binge drink than their counterparts who don’t.
- High-intensity binge drinking, defined as six or more drinks in one sitting, is four times more frequent among drinkers aged 15 to 23 who mix alcohol with energy drinks, according to data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
- Mixing alcoholic beverages with energy drinks increases the risk of unwanted or unprotected sexual encounters, drunk driving, traveling with an impaired driver, and alcohol-related injuries among drinkers.
- In 2011, combining an energy drink with alcohol or drugs accounted for 42% of all emergency room visits due to energy beverages (such as marijuana or over-the-counter or prescription medicines).
As A Result:
There is mounting evidence that such beverages, especially among young people (children, teenagers, and young adults), are harmful to health.
There is some evidence that energy drinks increase strength and power. But most research has only shown that they increase physical endurance.
Although energy drinks have been shown to increase alertness and reaction time, they may also cause shakiness, which could lead to accidents.
Caffeine concentration varies greatly among energy drinks, and it may be challenging to determine precisely how much caffeine each drink contains.
Depending on the manufacturer, energy drinks can be sold as either beverages or nutritional supplements. Caffeine content need not be listed on the packaging of either product.
Safety
- Excessive coffee consumption has been linked to significant heart and blood vessel complications. It includes arrhythmias, elevated heart rate, and blood pressure. Children’s still-evolving cardiovascular and nervous systems may be particularly vulnerable to caffeine’s adverse effects.
- Anxiety, insomnia, gastrointestinal distress, and dehydration have all been linked to caffeine consumption.
- Caffeine is found in guarana, a plant often found in energy beverages. Therefore, guarana adds to the caffeine level of the drink.
- Caffeine can mask the effects of alcohol, so someone who mixes the two might not realize how drunk they are. Caffeine might make someone feel less drunk than they actually are. But it can still impair their ability to move and think clearly.
- Teens who drink too many energy drinks may have trouble sleeping, which may be linked to more risky conduct.
- Some 16-ounce energy drinks have as much as 62 grams of sugar, which is more than the daily maximum allowed.
