Energy drinks have surged in popularity with people of all ages becoming a staple in many pantries. It’s a great way to get a delicious, easy, quick boost of energy.
However, one thing many researchers have been able to notice has been the rising trend in energy drink consumption by teenagers as well as rise in health problems in the same age bracket.
Teenagers often use energy drinks to help stay awake during the long and tiring school day or have a little more pep in their step when participating in social activities, and to even enhance performance in sports. But what even is an energy drink?
Energy drinks are sweet, often artificially fruit flavored non-alcoholic beverages that contain stimulants (caffeine). Some of the key ingredients are b vitamins, caffeine, and amino acids like taurine. Energy drinks offer their brief energy boost through these ingredients especially from the caffeine and sugar. But how could this possibly be a problem? They’re just good flavored drinks that give you a little energy boost. Right?
In an article by Mayo Clinic Staff it states ¨up to 400 milligrams of caffeine seems safe for most adults. That’s about the amount of caffeine in four cups of brewed coffee, 10 cans of coca cola or two energy shot drinks¨. Now keep in mind 400mg is our body’s limit however, the caffeine content in energy drinks can range from a low of 80 to over 300mg of caffeine.
A simple average 8oz (ounce) energy drink can have anywhere from 80 to 150mg of caffeine in it, and this definitely isn’t the problem. The real problem comes from people or more commonly teenagers, who drink multiple energy drinks throughout the day. The act of people drinking energy drinks as if they were soda has truly become so normalized even though they are completely different beverages.
The connection to teenagers exceeding their body’s natural limitation of caffeine intake and rising health problems is growing too large to ignore. Let’s say you really enjoy a certain flavor of a 12oz red bull, So on your way to school you stop, grab one and drink it because you’re feeling kinda tired. Then in class your friend gives you the extra one she had, which you obviously accept because who would pass that up. At lunch you feel a little tired again and notice that the school vending machine is full of them, you wouldn’t think much of it because you may just think it’s a sweet flavored drink so… you drink it.
One can of a 12oz Redbull has about 111mg of caffeine and after drinking three of them within hours of each other you have about 333mg of caffeine in your system. This is more then enough to kick start the negative side effects like anxiety, jitters, and a fast heart rate. Even though it’s not hitting the 400mg limit, a daily intake of over 200 is commonly considered a high intake of caffeine. Doing this regularly leads to longer lasting negative side effects like insomnia, migraines, and persistent anxiety.
The over consumption of caffeine is the problem. Not a cup of coffee to start off your day or a singular red bull to help you study. Know the facts and make healthy choices for yourself and your personal health.