Do you know a teenager addicted to energy drinks? Energy drink consumption among teens and 20-somethings is the fastest growing group in the soft drink industry, with sales totaling a whopping $9 billion. In fact, they are quite popular on most college campuses and among adults in the workplace. Many of these energy drink companies are finding ways to get around the FDA and not have to report the amount of caffeine or even disclose certain information to the FDA. Many people are becoming dependent on these drinks as they feel that they perform better during physical and mental activities, can stay awake longer to study, fight fatigue, increase metabolism and athletic ability. The CDC reported that “one in three adults consumed an energy drink in the past week, 21% had consumed more than once in the past week, and 11% consumed more than three energy drinks per week.” The most alarming trend is that these drinks are commonly mixed with alcohol, and research shows that college students consume more alcohol when mixed with energy drinks.

Drinks like Red Bull, Monster, Rock Star, AMP, 5-Hour Energy, and others contain ingredients like caffeine, taurine, sugar (even more sugar, like sucralose and high-fructose corn syrup), synthetic vitamins, and chemicals , and other aromas. Side effects can include:

Caffeine: According to the Mayo Clinic, caffeine has been shown to cause anxiety, nervousness, tremors and shakes, dehydration, headaches, fast and hard pacing, shortness of breath, increased blood pressure, irritability, and poor sleep. It stimulates the central nervous system, which makes it difficult for many people to sleep. Red Bull, among many other highly caffeinated energy drinks, causes the body to leak calcium, resulting in weaker bone structure, which can contribute to osteoporosis when taken over a long period of time. Red Bull is banned in Norway, Uruguay, France, and Denmark due to its many adverse effects.

taurine: An essential amino acid, taurine helps regulate the body’s levels of water and salt, and is an antioxidant. It also plays a role in helping heart patients with angina and breathing problems. The University of Utah reports that consuming just an amino acid supplement like taurine can upset the nitrogen balance in the body, slow metabolism and put undue stress on kidney function. Increased taurine supplementation in children may cause growth retardation.

Sugar: With a lot of added sugar, like glucose and sucrose, cavities and other dental problems can develop, not to mention adrenal and pancreatic problems. Rockstar contains 102 grams of sugar!

A healthy alternative: drink orange juice and eat orange slices to help improve circulation and oxygenate the tissues. Apples are also great fruits to boost energy! So the saying goes, “an apple a day keeps the doctor away.”

Alarming statistics include:

• A federal agency, the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, reported that energy drinks caused more than 13,000 emergency room visits in 2009.
• Children drink more caffeinated beverages and have an average of 60-70 mg per day and sometimes up to 700 mg per day.
• Energy drinks and caffeinated beverages are consistently consumed by 33% of American teens and 50% of college students.

Do energy drinks help athletes perform better? Creighton University conducted a study on 17 college men to investigate the effect of sugar-free Red Bull on weightlifting. The study did not determine any improvement in lifting after consumption. Another study was conducted by Utah State University using a low-calorie caffeinated energy drink with taurine on 20 NCAA Division I football players, and they did not run faster or perform better in various athletic tests.

When choosing a drink, water is the best option. You may even consider adding lemon/lime drops to your water. Smoothies with added fruit and a quality protein powder also help with energy. Do your research to determine which drink is right for you and what positive and negative effects it may cause.