24 Feb

Are energy drinks bad for you?
Source: www.nycapollo.org/are-energy-drinks-bad-for-you/

Energy drinks are not necessarily a healthy choice. They have, however, become quite popular with younger people over the past decade or so. Energy drinks have been promoted as natural products that will help you concentrate and perform better, thus they have become the younger generations primary choice when a pick-me-up is needed.

Popular drinks such as Red Bull and Venom contain excessive amounts of sugar and caffeine. The FDA limit on caffeine in soft drinks is currently 65 mg per 12 fluid ounces. Most energy drinks exceed this limit. Some even have more than 80 mg of caffeine, the amount fo caffeine found in one cup of coffee. However, the levels are perfectly legal as the FDA at this time does not regulate energy beverages.

In addition to caffeine and sugar, some energy drinks contain legal stimulants like guarana and ginseng. Guarana is said to be an effective energy booster. It contains about double the amount of caffeine found in coffee beans. Research has shown guarana may have some metabolic effects such as increased memory retention and physical endurance. Ginseng may be “a promising dietary supplement” when assessed for an increase in quality of life. Studies have shown that ginseng may stimulate mental and physical activity, improve accuracy of work, prevent fatigue, stimulate the endocrine glands, and improve memory. The full benefits of these natural stimulants are still being studied.

So to sum it all up, although energy drinks may not necessarily be bad for you, they are not really good for you either. If you are going to drink them, be sure you are drinking sufficient amounts of water to ensure you stay properly hydrated at all times. Be wary of the claims like “improved performance and concentration”, as these can be misleading. They are basically just highly-caffeinated short-term energy boosters. Be aware of what they contain and how they affect you.