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Energy Drinks: What Do They Really Do?
As we go about our day, sometimes we need a little “pick me up” as fatigue begins to set in. Many
people are leaving the line at Starbucks as the use of energy drinks is increasing in popularity, especially
among adolescents. However, there is much controversy and along with growing concerns on the
regular use of energy drinks. Red Bull may give you wings, but what risks are you taking on your body as
a result? To understand the concerns with consuming energy drinks, it’s important to understand what
goes into making them.
Caffeine is the most prominent ingredient in all energy drinks, and is used to increase
catecholamine signaling to improve focus. Over time, your body develops a tolerance to the caffeine,
which can cause you to still feel tired, but not able to fall asleep. While other types of drinks like sodas
and coffees are under specific regulations for their amount of caffeine, energy drinks are not, therefore
the levels of caffeine are often many times higher than even listed. For example, a cup of coffee can
have anywhere from 80-120 mg of caffeine, while a can of Red Bull has 154 mg (Sifferlin, “What’s in
Your Energy Drink?”). There is no official limit of how much caffeine a person can consume, however
extremely excessive amounts have been shown to lead to high blood pressure and even sudden death.
Sugar is another main source of energy that is found in all brands of energy drinks. While in small
quantities sugar can be good for you, it is particularly dangerous in drink form as it is found in larger
quantities and you can continue to consume it without realizing how much sugar you are taking in.
Sugar can come in forms of sucrose, glucose or high fructose corn syrup, and can range anywhere from
21–34 grams per 8 ounces. This can be especially damaging for those who drink several energy drinks a
day, as their sugar intake could go up to six times the daily recommendation, leading to obesity and
even dental problems. While there are sugar-free alternatives for many brands, there is still controversy
regarding the affects those types of substitutes on the body as well.
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Taurine is another common ingredient found in many brands of energy drinks. It is a naturally
occurring amino acid in the body that supports brain development, regulating water levels, and has
been thought to even improve athletic performance (Zeratsky, “Does Your Energy Drink Contain
Taurine?”). Most people produce enough taurine naturally on their own, but the amount from
consuming energy drinks is much greater than what is in our normal bodily routines. There has been no
conclusion that the extraneous amounts of taurine in the body from energy drinks are either unhealthy
or beneficial.
Guarana, which is derived from a plant typically grown in South America, is said to have the highest
caffeine component of any other plant, and is used in many drinks as an energy source. “One gram of
guarana is equivalent to 40 grams of coffee”, (Sifferlin, “What’s in Your Energy Drink?”). Some energy
drinks market themselves as containing “caffeine plus guarana”, which essentially means that it has
