CANNED DANGER: WHY ENERGY DRINKS AREN'T THE BEST OPTION

JOHN PETRZELKA'S STASH OF ENERGY DRINK CANS IN HIS CLASSROOM; PHOTO BY LILYAN JANECEK

Bold colors, engaging fonts, trendy flavors, and celebrity endorsements are things that most energy drinks share that make them appealing to teenagers and young adults. On the outside, energy drinks are colorful drinks that come in a variety of fun flavors and are enjoyed by your favorite celebrities. They’re usually low in calories and can help improve your alertness, focus, and reaction time. However, on the inside, most energy drinks contain almost two times the recommended daily limit of sugar and can cause many problems, including heart problems and high blood pressure. Energy drinks can also cause things like sleep disturbances and even seizures. 

 Where Does the Energy Come From?

Most energy drinks are made of energy-boosters like caffeine, ginseng, taurine, and guarana. According to an article on EatingWell, the caffeine in energy drinks is used to increase your energy, alertness, and physical performance. However, energy drinks contain large amounts of caffeine, making it easy to exceed the suggested daily amount. Ginseng is also used to increase energy and reduce fatigue. However, different studies have found different results when it comes to ginseng boosting your physical performance. Some studies found that ginseng does boost physical performance, while others found that it has little to no effect on physical performance. Taurine is an amino acid that is used in energy drinks to boost mental and physical performance. Some energy drinks contain incredibly large amounts of taurine, which can be harmful to your health. Additionally, energy drinks that contain a certain concentration of both caffeine and taurine or that contain large amounts of taurine can cause heart problems. While taurine does not contain caffeine, guarana contains large amounts of caffeine. Because of this, consuming large amounts of guarana can lead to the same negative effects that are caused by too much caffeine. 

 A Can Full of Sugar

Many energy drinks contain amounts of sugar that exceed the recommended daily amount of added sugar. According to the American Heart Association, the recommended daily amount of added sugar for the average adult is less than 30 grams. For teenagers, the recommended daily amount is less than 25 grams of added sugar. The sugar content in energy drinks is usually between 30 to 50 grams, but some energy drinks can contain up to about 80 grams of added sugar. According to Harvard Health, consuming large amounts of sugar such as these can lead to diabetes, heart disease, high blood pressure, inflammation, and fatty liver disease. 

Addictive Energy

Along with being high in sugar and energy-boosters, energy drinks can be addictive. This is mainly because of the high amounts of the previously mentioned ingredients. Being addicted to energy drinks can greatly affect someone’s life, as consuming energy drinks regularly can lead to health problems and, according to a student at Clear Creek Amana High School, can cause “minor withdrawals.” These withdrawals can cause things such as headaches, fatigue, and a depressed mood, according to the National Library of Medicine.

Targeting You

Most energy drinks are marketed towards teenagers and young adults, who are easily influenced by the trendiness of these drinks. Energy drinks are often designed with vibrant colors, bold fonts, engaging advertisements, and limited-edition flavors that draw the attention of younger generations. Many energy drinks have celebrity endorsements with athletes, social media influencers, actors, and more. These endorsements further influence young people to buy energy drinks. However, energy drinks are unhealthier for teenagers and young adults than they are for older adults, according to Seattle Children’s Hospital Research Foundation. By targeting teenagers and young adults, energy drink companies are targeting those who may be unaware of the negative impacts of energy drinks and who are more vulnerable to these negative impacts.

Do You Have To Stop Drinking Energy Drinks?

As previously stated, energy drinks contain large amounts of energy-boosters and sugar, and these large amounts can cause many health problems, such as heart problems, high blood pressure, diabetes, and in extreme cases, seizures. Because of this, drinking energy drinks regularly is not a healthy choice. However, you don’t have to completely stop drinking energy drinks; enjoying an energy drink every so often is not likely to be very harmful if you do not have health problems. With that being said, it is a good idea to watch how your body reacts to energy drinks and only drink them when a quick energy boost is absolutely necessary. If you notice that your body often reacts negatively to energy drinks, it is best to avoid energy drinks and instead find a healthier alternative. Even if you don’t seem to be affected negatively by energy drinks, finding a healthier alternative is still a good idea. Healthier alternatives to energy drinks include plain water or unsweetened flavored water, tea, kombucha, and regular coffee. Now that you know the consequences of drinking energy drinks, will you reach for an energy drink or a healthier alternative next time you need an energy boost?