Energy drinks have gained overwhelming popularity among young people who drink them for energy boosts, presumed health benefits and glamorous associations with celebrities and athletes that the beverage-makers sponsor.
Most who consume energy drinks believe they’re safe and healthy and consider them sports drinks that will enhance performance. But what are they really? We’re here to debunk some of those claims and give you the facts about energy drinks.
What Really Is an Energy Drink?
According to the CDC, an energy drink is “a beverage that typically contains large amounts of caffeine, added sugars, other additives and legal stimulants such as guarana, taurine and L-carnitine. These legal stimulants can increase alertness, attention, energy and raise blood pressure, heart rate and breathing.”
Young people drink these for the desired energy increase, not realizing that the stimulants can potentially harm their nervous systems.
Side Effects of Energy Drinks
It’s not uncommon for teens to end up in the emergency room with an energy drink-related emergency. But why are energy drinks bad for you? There are many dangers associated with energy drinks that may land you in the ER and possibly lead to long-term health problems, including:
- Anxiety and restlessness
- Dehydration
- Heart complications, including palpitations and heart failure
- High blood pressure
- Insomnia
Many pediatricians and the CDC recommend that young people not consume energy drinks due to the potential risks, but 30 to 50% of them do.
How Many Energy Drinks Are Too Many?
While the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) doesn’t have a specific regulation for how many energy drinks are OK to consume daily, they estimate that caffeine becomes toxic if you consume around 1,200 milligrams in a day. Always check the caffeine content before you consume an energy drink and remain mindful of how much caffeine you’ve consumed. Be sure to talk to your primary care provider before regularly consuming caffeine to ensure it’s a healthy addition to your diet.
Energy Drinks and Alcohol
According to the National Library of Medicine, recent surveys have shown a rise in alcohol consumption among those who frequently consume energy drinks. Other analyses report that almost 50% of kids between 15 and 19 consume alcohol-mixed energy drinks, which is a dangerous combination.
Caffeine is classified as a stimulant, which means it enhances the central nervous system and causes varying effects, like an energy boost and increased heart rate. On the other hand, alcohol is classified as a depressant, which means it diminishes the functioning of the central nervous system.
So, when caffeine is mixed with alcohol, the caffeine counteracts the sedative effects of the alcohol, leading the consumer not to feel the intoxicating symptoms. Unfortunately, this typically means the individual consumes even more alcohol, raising their risk for varying health concerns like high blood pressure and even stroke. It’s best to avoid mixing caffeine and alcohol and limit consumption as much as possible.
Can Energy Drinks Cause Heart Attacks?
Although a single energy drink won’t cause a heart attack, prolonged consumption may worsen underlying health issues that could lead to a heart attack. Even if there isn’t an underlying concern, excessive consumption alone can result in heart attacks and other heart issues.
Drink to Your Health With These Alternatives
Energy drinks are full of sugar, sodium and especially caffeine — often twice as much as coffee and eight times as much as a soda. They’re an unhealthy beverage for anyone, especially a growing young person.
Although there’s no such thing as a healthy energy drink, here are some healthier options you can substitute:
- Decaffeinated, herbal or low-caffeine teas
- Low-fat or fat-free milk
- Plant-based milks like almond, coconut or oat milk
- 100% fruit juices with natural nutritive value
- Water
Because energy drinks dehydrate you, water is encouraged as the healthiest drink for your body to function optimally. Drinking enough water is what boosts our energy, improves our performance, gives us brain power, helps us maintain a healthy weight, improves our mood and enhances our complexions because it keeps us hydrated. Women should aim for 11.5 cups of water daily, while men should drink 15.5 cups. Children and teens should drink six to eight cups of water each day. Talk to your pediatrician about your child’s unique hydration needs.
Keeping You Energized, Naturally
Making healthy diet and beverage choices is important to maintaining heart and whole-person health. At AdventHealth, our cardiovascular care team is here to help you take control of your health in body, mind and spirit, and manage any ups and downs along the way. Learn more here.
