Energy Drinks
Whenever you go to a convenience store or supermarket these days, you will find many drinks that claim to give you energy, like Red Bull®, Full Throttle®, Monster®, or many others. You may be wondering if these drinks actually give you energy, and if they are healthy to drink? This guide is designed to help you understand what the ingredients in energy drinks are, and whether energy drinks are healthy for you.
Do energy drinks actually give you energy?
The amount of caffeine in an 8-ounce can of an energy drink is about the same as that contained in 5 ounces of coffee – about half a small cup of coffee. Caffeine works by exciting your nervous system, and in small amounts, it can make you feel more awake and energized.
What can happen if I have too much caffeine?
If you have too much caffeine, you may experience negative side effects, such as dizziness, nervousness, insomnia (trouble sleeping), upset stomach, or arrhythmia (irregular heartbeat). After a long time, too much caffeine can even remove calcium from your bones. In addition, caffeine can be addictive, and people going through withdrawal may get headaches and become cranky or tired.
Will the sugar in energy drinks help give me energy?
Energy drinks contain a lot of sugar – about the same amount in a can as in 8 ounces of Coca-Cola. This sugar might give you a burst of energy (on top of the caffeine), but when it wears off, you may have a sugar “crash” and become tired all over again. While it is ok to have sugar-containing foods and drinks occasionally, eating or drinking too much sugar can cause cavities and weight gain.
Why are herbs added to energy drinks?
The manufacturers of energy drinks claim that added herbs like guarana (gwahr-uh-nah) or yerba mate (yer-bah mah-te) help to boost the energy content of their beverages. The problem with taking herbs or other supplements – either in pills or in energy drinks – is that they are not regulated by the US Food & Drug Administration. As a result, there is no guarantee that the herbs are actually what they say they are, or that they do what they’re supposed to do. Some herbs can even have harmful side effects - they can cause an allergic reaction or they can interact with medications.
Are the vitamins and amino acids in energy drinks good for me?
Many vitamins are added to energy drinks; but if you are eating a well-balanced diet, you probably do not need vitamin supplements. On the other hand, if your diet is not quite “balanced” a multivitamin supplement is a much cheaper way to get in your extra vitamins than drinking an energy drink, without the extra calories and sugar!
Many energy drinks have added amino acids. You might see them listed on a label as taurine (tawr-in), glutamine (gloo-tuh-meen), or arginine (ahr-juh-neen). Amino acids are needed by the body to serve as the building blocks of protein. If you are eating a well-balanced diet, you should not need these additional amino acids. If you have too much of one amino acid, your body may not absorb enough of the others that it needs.
Should I use energy drinks while I’m exercising?
Energy drinks should be avoided before, during, and after exercise. They are not the same as sports drinks (like Gatorade), and will not replace water and minerals that you lose in sweat. The caffeine and sugar in energy drinks actually can make you more dehydrated.
Is it safe to combine energy drinks with alcohol?
Combining energy drinks with alcohol can be dangerous. Alcohol is a depressant, while the energy drink is a stimulant. Combining the two may limit your body’s ability to realize how much alcohol you drank and give you the feeling that you are not impaired. Dehydration may be worse because you will have to urinate more often due to the combined effect of the alcohol and the caffeine from the energy drink.
So what is the bottom line on energy drinks?
While energy drinks may actually give you energy in the short term, they may end up making you more tired in the long run because the sugar and caffeine that gave you the initial energy boost will wear off. You should weigh the benefit of short-term energy with all of the potential harmful side effects when considering whether to drink an energy drink.
How can I get more energy without energy drinks?
To increase your energy level without energy drinks, make sure to get a good night’s sleep, eat a well-balanced diet with plenty of fluids, and participate in regular physical activity.
Updated: 8/1/2008
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