Energy drinks promise to make you feel more alert and energised, help you focus and give you more stamina and endurance. That is what they are designed to do and they generally are effective in achieving all these promises, at least in the short term, but there are some factors concerning energy drinks that we should be aware of.

Important factors to take into consideration

    • The main ingredients in energy drinks are large doses of caffeine or other legal stimulants such as guarana, ginseng and taurine. The doses of caffeine can be so large that the drinks could be considered highly caffeinated drinks.
    • Most energy drinks also contain amino acids, vitamins and sugar. Some contain as much as double the recommended daily intake of sugar, which is equivalent to up to 14 teaspoons of sugar.
    • Contrary to popular belief, it is not a good idea to drink energy drinks while exercising, as the diuretic effect of caffeine combined with the fluid loss from sweating during exercise could lead to severe dehydration.
    • Energy drinks should not be taken in combination with alcohol. Both drinks have a diuretic effect and combining them can lead to severe dehydration. This can also make a hangover worse. Also, the stimulant qualities of energy drinks can mask the true level of intoxication and also make you think your judgement is better than it actually is.
    • Energy drinks could interact with some medicines. The stimulants in the drinks can boost heart rate and blood pressure and in extreme cases people can develop heart palpitations. Anyone taking chronic or other medicines should speak to their doctor before they take energy drinks.
    • Children should not drink energy drinks. Besides the fact that energy drinks have no real nutritional value, there have been reports that they could lead to anxiety, bed-wetting and problems with sleep.
    • Drinking energy drinks occasionally if you are in good health is ok, but experts advise taking no more than about 500 ml on any given day. People who feel rundown or low in energy should consult a doctor as there might be a better, healthier way to address the issue.

 

Sources
brown.edu
www.doctoroz.com
www.druginfo.adf.org.au
www.mayoclinic.com