Energy Drinks: Malnourishment in a Can

You wake up to the ringing of your phone alarm. It’s four in the morning, and you promised your friend to work out. You don’t feel hungry, so instead of eating a potent meal, you grab two cans of your favorite energy drink on the way out and chug them before leaving. Just ten minutes into your workout, you begin to feel more vibrant than ever, as if your fatigue from four hours of sleep had vanished in an instant. This is what you have been doing for the past three months – not only do energy drinks get you awake fast, they also taste just like soft drinks. Unfortunately, these seemingly-effective drinks will end up draining more of your energy than it ever provides, and leave you with a plethora of health complications. This blog will explain the composition and medical risks of energy drinks, as well as healthier alternatives, hopefully enough to make you think twice before buying another can.

 

What energy drinks are made of

Although there are countless brands of beverages that classify as energy drinks, they all share several similarities. The National Library of Medicine provides nutritional information on an assortment of popular energy drinks, and the common ingredients are often less than healthy. According to the organization, energy drinks are characterized by a high caffeine content, with caffeine being a chemical responsible for making you feel alert and energized. Most energy drinks contain around 200 milligrams of caffeine in an average 16 ounce can. However, these levels can reach as high as 300 milligrams in “energy shots” – drinks designed to provide an overwhelming stimulation in a concentrated 8 ounces. The Center for Disease Prevention informs that most energy drinks also contain other chemical stimulants like guarana, taurine, and L-carnitine, to get you even more jittery. Added sugars are also a harmful substance commonly found in these beverages, aside from zero sugar or diet variations. Lastly, it is noted that energy drinks are shown to have little to no nutritional benefit, aside from traces of vitamin B.

 

Health complications of chronic consumption

Of course, drinking a can of Red Bull or Monster Energy once in a while won’t be enough to make you sick. However, due to the various chemical stimulants present in these drinks, among other questionable ingredients, habitual and routine consumption of these chemical-laden drinks can cause serious damage to your heart, blood vessels, liver, and brain. The monstrous caffeine content present in most energy drinks, according to the National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health (NCCIH), can dangerously increase your heart rate and blood pressure. In addition, the overstimulation of blood vessels from energy drinks increases risk for reversible cerebral vasoconstriction syndrome (RCVS), which can lead to fatal stroke and heart failure. Furthermore, the side effects of energy drinks also include insomnia, restlessness, and dehydration. Children and even teens are particularly vulnerable to the described bodily detriments, as their brains and other organs are yet to develop to a fully mature stage. To sum it up, the unhealthy stimulations inflicted by energy drinks overclock the natural bodily processes, providing you with temporary vigor at the cost of harming vital organs.

 

Alternatives to energy drinks

When it comes to energy drinks, regulation is key. However, there are various products on the market that simply offer similar results to energy drinks, without the harmful stuff.

1. 1. Black coffee is a rustic, natural drink that provides a solid dose of caffeine without the added sugars and chemicals. Coffee has roughly 80-100 milligrams of caffeine, and has also been proven by studies to decrease risk of coronary heart disease, stroke, kidney disease, and diabetes.

1. 1. Tea, preferably unsweetened, provides an abundance of health benefits along with a slightly fainter dose of caffeine – roughly half of that compared to black coffee. Whether it be herbal, green, black, or oolong tea, a cup a day is perfect for those in need of a wake-up call, while decreasing risk of liver, breast, prostate, and colorectal cancers.

Why you should avoid energy drinks

Although energy drinks seem to incite your brain momentarily, the long term repercussions of chronic energy drink consumption will leave you in anguish. Constantly overstimulating your brain and heart for temporary energy is an unhealthy lifestyle that could lead to serious issues, as described in detail within this blog. So, if you are ever looking for a drink that will wake you up, choose natural beverages like coffee and tea, which are infinitely healthier and heartier than these glorified cans of stimulants and sugar.

 

References

1. 1. Are Energy Drinks Bad for You? (2024, February 19). Cleveland Clinic Health Essentials. Retrieved July 2, 2024, from https://health.clevelandclinic.org/are-energy-drinks-bad-for-you
   2. Carpenter, E. K. (2022, March 4). The Hidden Health Benefits of Tea. Penn Medicine. Retrieved July 2, 2024, from https://www.pennmedicine.org/updates/blogs/health-and-wellness/2019/december/health-benefits-of-tea
   3. Energy Drinks | Healthy Schools. (n.d.). CDC. Retrieved July 2, 2024, from https://www.cdc.gov/healthyschools/nutrition/energy.htm
   4. Energy Drinks – LiverTox. (2020, June 20). NCBI. Retrieved July 2, 2024, from https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK559836/
   5. 9 Reasons Why (the Right Amount of) Coffee Is Good for You. (n.d.). Johns Hopkins Medicine. Retrieved July 2, 2024, from https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/health/wellness-and-prevention/9-reasons-why-the-right-amount-of-coffee-is-good-for-you