Are Energy Drinks Good Or Worse For Health? Everything Is Here
Energy drinks are widely promoted as products that increase energy, enhance mental alertness & physical performance. Next to multivitamins, energy drinks are another most popular supplements among youngsters. Energy drinks like Red Bull, AMP, Monster, Rockstar, and many more are intended to boost your energy alertness and concentration.
Like all energy supplements, energy drinks or beverages also contribute to controversy if they are good or bad for health. Some health professionals have warned that energy drinks may have harmful consequences.
So what makes energy drink so popular among teens and young? The simple desire from an energy booster is alertness which is the major factor of course. Energy drinks have become coffee for youngsters, all because of marketing campaigns, taste, availability, and cheap prices. But what about their health factors? Well, negative feedback seems a common experience, but a small deterrent.
What Are Energy Drinks?
Energy drinks are beverages that contain ingredients to boost instant energy, mental alertness, confidence, and physical performance. Not all products are the same but the common ingredient included in all energy drinks is caffeine that stimulates brain function and enhances alertness and concentration.
However, the amount of caffeine is different from product to product. We have crafted a table to show the actual amount of caffeine present in some popular drinks.
PRODUCT | PRODUCT SIZE (ml) | CAFFEINE AMOUNT (mg) |
Red Bull | 250 | 80 |
5-Hour Energy | 57 | 200 |
AMP | 473 | 142 |
Rockstar | 473 | 160 |
Monster | 473 | 160 |
Caffeine- Caffeine is the main ingredient that is found in all kinds of energy drinks because of some important factors. This ingredient is widely found in plants like tea, coffee beans, and guarana which is known as a mild stimulant and cognitive enhancer that eventually helps to revamp mood and focus, at the dose ranging from 5mg to 200mg. However, the amount of caffeine energy drinks often exceeds the recommended dose. This is why the short term energy boost provided by energy drinks is a good idea.
Energy drinks also typically contain some other ingredients such as Vitamin B, Artificial Sweetener, Taurine, Ginseng, Yohimbe, Carnitine, and Bitter Orange. Fewer other than caffeine is listed below with its important factors-
Sugar- The main source of calories and the taste enhancer in energy drinks. Though, some do not contain it, hence as they are low-carb friendly.
Vitamin B- This component plays an important role in converting the food you eat into energy so that your body can use it.
Herbal Extracts- Herbs like ginseng may have a positive effect on brain function.
Amino Acid Derivatives- Being an example of Taurine and L-carnitine, both are naturally produced by the body and have roles in several biological processes.
The Good
- Energy Drinks Can Improve Brain Functions- The presence of main ingredient caffeine can solely be the reason for increasing brain function. Multiple studies confirm that energy drinks can indeed improve the measure of brain functions like memory, & concentration, while also reducing mental fatigue.
- They Can Boost Up Your Energy- Another reason people consume energy drinks is they help people to react fast and boost their energy when they are tired. Multiple studies have concluded that energy drinks can increase alertness and reduce sleepiness. That makes it popular among the people who love late-night trips.
- Energy Drinks Enhance Your Mood– Energy drinks are actually loaded with various components that are known for their activeness and alertness such as caffeine, Vitamin B, etc that enhance your brain function, boost up your energy and eventually revamp your mood.
The Bad
- Energy Drinks May Cause Heart Problems- Some studies have concluded that some energy drinks may contribute to heart problems. Furthermore, multiple studies have also indicated that consuming energy drinks may increase blood sugar levels and heart rate.
- Some Varieties Are Loaded With Sugar- Most energy drinks are sweetened with sugar that directly leads to blood elevations that can be bad for health, especially for diabetic persons.
- Mixing Energy Drinks With Alcohol Have Serious Health Issues- This is often very common in youngsters but it may cause major health risks. The caffeine in energy drinks overrides the depressive effect of alcohol. The combination of two can be very troubling and may leave you intoxicated.
Every drink delivers on some promised benefits such as increasing brain functions, helping boost your energy when you’re tired, or sleep-deprived. However, there are several health concerns with energy drinks and other supplements like Creatine, particularly related to those which are loaded with caffeine.
If you choose energy drinks, firstly concern a health professional and secondly limit the intake to 16 ounces per day. Additionally, stay away from extra shots.
People like pregnant ladies, nursing women, diabetics, children, and teenagers should avoid energy drinks altogether.