Energy Drinks – Health Risks – These Are Not For Kids

Energy drinks are all the rage these days. They are sold everywhere. They are being marketed to consumers under 30, and a niche market has become college students and athletes. More marketing towards young people is happening, even though many energy drinks have warnings on the can that they are not for kids. The manufacturers might claim they’re not marketing to kids, but when the distributors say they want to come to our schools and distribute products for free, and pamphlets, it sounds to me they’re marketing to kids.

They are a convenient drink touted as drinks that give you energy and keep you active and alert. Energy drinks do not offer any good nutrients that our bodies need. They do offer health risks.

o Energy drinks contain large doses of caffeine and sugar in them along with other stimulants such as ephedrine, guarana, and ginseng

o Energy drinks contain as much caffeine as in a cup of coffee. The difference in drinking a cup of coffee and an energy drink is with coffee it’s sipped, energy drinks are guzzled and many times drank one after another

o Consumed quickly, the caffeine and sugar rush into your blood stream, giving you a caffeine jolt and raising your blood sugar levels and blood pressure, making your heart beat faster

o High levels of sugar and caffeine may produce symptoms including irritability, anxiety, sleeplessness, and nausea severe enough to require hospitalization

o Energy drinks have also been known to dehydrate our bodies if we drink them while we exercise

oEnergy drinks have become popular as mixers for alcoholic beverages. The quick energy provided by the caffeine and sugar counteract the drowsiness produced by alcohol, and the drinker will be able to party longer.

oThey’ll also enjoy a bigger hangover the next morning thanks to dehydration produced by the caffeine.

o One hidden danger is that drinkers may be unaware of how intoxicated they are and attempt to drive, or drink to extreme excess.

o Once the stimulant effect of the caffeine wears off, the depression of the central nervous system remains and the drinker could vomit in their sleep, aspirate the vomit and suffocate, or experience respiratory distress.

Pregnant women and children should never drink energy drinks.

My family gets healthy energy through fruits, veggies and more, naturally.