Energy Drinks: Do They Really Give Us Energy?

01/04/2024

What are energy drinks actually?

It is not easy to state what energy drinks actually are. Energy drinks come in different varieties with different ingredients and flavors. Energy drinks are the kind of drinks that hold caffeine in large amounts sourced from guarana, ginseng, taurine, and carnitine.

The precise amount of caffeine present varies from one drink to another. However, the amount could range from 80 to 200 milligrams per can. You can refer to the label to know the exact amount of caffeine present in the drink. While the majority of energy drinks are sweetened with sugar or artificial sweeteners, a few are enriched with nutrients, vitamins, minerals, antioxidants, adaptogens, and amino acids.

The FDA does not control energy drinks like nutritional products. Therefore, it is not easy to determine whether the product has similar amount of ingredients as mentioned on the label. 

What do energy drinks do to your body?  

Everyone has a different body that reacts differently to different things. However, there are certain things that you might experience after taking an energy drink: 

Alertness and activeness hit you. 

There are a few studies that connect caffeine in energy drinks with improved mood, alertness, physical endurance, etc. This could be a reason for the popularity of energy drinks among youngsters. People who are short on sleep or feeling sluggish due to any reason may opt for energy drinks to get through the day successfully. Increased mental alertness and staying active are benefits of energy drinks. 

The effects of caffeine vary from one person to another, depending on the following factors: 

• Already consumed caffeine 

• Sensitivity to caffeine 

• Caffeine tolerance 

For instance, if you are sensitive to caffeine or have zero tolerance for it, you may have disruption in your body. 

You might consume more than the recommended amount. 

As mentioned earlier, the FDA doesn’t control the ingredients of energy drinks like Redbull and Monster. Therefore, the amount present in the drink could be higher or lower than mentioned on the label. Therefore, you should take this drink mindfully as it causes caffeine dependency. 

In case you take caffeine in a limited amount, it will result in fruitful outcomes such as increased mental alertness, better mood, and improved physical endurance. However, on the other, if it is consumed in excess amounts, it can cause dehydration, stomach problems, trouble falling asleep, and precipitate headaches. These are the side effects of energy drinks that occur when you take them daily in large amounts. 

Note: The most common side effect of energy drinks is insomnia if used in excess amounts. 

Developing a dependency on caffeine is a real concern and may contribute to many health problems. In order to feel alert and stay awake, your body demands caffeine in large amounts, not moderate. If you are observing such symptoms, you have developed caffeine dependency through energy drinks. You should cut off caffeine consumption to prevent it from worsening. 

There is a precise amount that should not be crossed. The daily recommended amount of caffeine is 400 milligrams for men and women. 

You are increasing your added sugar intake. 

One should not cross the daily added-sugar limit. Men should avoid taking more than 36 grams of added sugar daily. On the other hand, the daily allowance for added sugar for women is 25 grams. Most energy drinks have the daily added sugar in large quantities. 

Added sugar in large quantities can increase your blood sugar levels, making you more fatigued and tired than before. This way it is working against your objective. Therefore, you should look out for healthy energy drinks to keep your added sugar intake in check.  

Who should avoid taking energy drinks? 

There are certain people who should avoid taking energy drinks. If these drinks are consumed by the people listed below, they might encounter several issues. Therefore, it would be better if you avoid taking it. 

• Children who are less than 12 should altogether avoid the consumption of caffeine as it can lead to serious problems. On the other hand, children aged 12 to 18 should not exceed their daily consumption of more than 100 milligrams. 

• Pregnant and breastfeeding women should avoid the usage of these drinks.

• Don’t mix alcohol and energy drinks. Mixing them can cause binge drinking behavior, such as drunk driving and alcohol-associated injuries. 

Last words: 

Energy drinks are becoming more prevalent than ever. Taking these drinks occasionally is fine, but consuming them daily can result in unwanted effects. Daily consumption of energy drinks can result in problems like caffeine dependency, headache, insomnia, tiredness, type 2 diabetes, obesity, etc. Therefore, please keep a check on your consumption to prevent these effects. In addition to this, people living with heart disease, children below 12 years, pregnant women, and caffeine-sensitive people should omit the usage of it. 

FAQs: 

1. Do energy drinks give you wings? 

Energy drinks comprise large quantities of sugar and caffeine, which may result in a temporary energy surge. However, these drinks are not considered healthy options due to a high amount of sugar and caffeine. Therefore, please look for some healthy alternatives for energy boost.  

2. Are there healthier alternatives to energy drinks for boosting energy?

There are plenty of things that can be added to your routine to boost energy other than energy drinks, such as: 

• Coffee 

• Tea

• Fruit juices 

• Water 

• Coconut water 

3.  What ingredients are commonly found in energy drinks?

Caffeine is present in all energy drinks in excess amounts. B vitamins, sugar, taurine, ginseng, tyrosine, L-carnitine, and electrolytes are also present in most of them. 

4. Are energy drinks safe to consume?

Energy drinks are usually high in sugar, caffeine, and other stimulants. Therefore, you should not consume on a regular basis. Taking such drinks once in a while is okay. Consuming energy daily increases your risk of developing conditions like diabetes, insomnia, obesity, etc. You should look out for some healthy options rather than taking these drinks.

5. Are there any age restrictions for consuming energy drinks?

There are certain people who should completely avoid the consumption of energy drinks. If you fall under the category of people listed below, omit its consumption:

• Children who are aged below 12 are not allowed to consume energy drinks. 

• Pregnant and breastfeeding women should also omit its usage. 

• Caffeine-sensitive People should also stay away from energy drinks. 

• If you are under conditions like heart disease, diabetes, hypertension, etc, avoid energy drinks.