Entry #8: Need Some Energy?

           Did you know that approximately 90% of adults consume caffeine every day, making it the most common stimulant in the world? Well, now you do! It’s really no surprise. Caffeine is widely known for its renowned ability to increase alertness, improve focus, and boost physical AND mental performance. In a world as busy as ours, you practically need to consume caffeine to keep up with it all. There’s no shame in indulging now and then, especially when most beverages containing caffeine taste so GOOD. However, be cautious with your consumption; too much of a good thing can eventually become bad. In this week's blog post, we will be discussing energy drinks! Are they truly as unhealthy as people say they are? Let’s find out. Crack open a can and join me as we figure out the answer!

          Energy drinks gained popularity in the United States late 1990s with the introduction of Red Bull. The industry quickly grew as well-known competitors such as Monster and Rockstar entered the field in the early 2000s. Today, coffee and soda, respectively, hold the first and second places for the most consumed caffeinated beverages that people consume. Tea has been on the decline in the third place, and energy drinks are quickly making their way up the ranking. A study has shown that 30% of young people (aged 13-35) consume energy drinks regularly. Despite this rise in popularity, energy drinks have a… complicated reputation. These caffeinated beverages are usually comprised of the same ingredients across every brand: caffeine, sugar, B-vitamins, and additional stimulants like taurine, guarana, or ginseng. Let me give you a few brief descriptions of these words.

• Caffeine - A crystalline compound that is found especially in tea and coffee plants and is a stimulant of the central nervous system.

• Sugar - A sweet crystalline substance obtained from various plants, especially sugar cane and sugar beet, consisting essentially of sucrose, and used as a sweetener in food and drink.

• B-vitamins - A compound containing several or all of a group of vitamins and nutrients that the body needs in very small amounts to function and stay healthy.

• Taurine - A sulfur-containing amino acid important in the metabolism of fats.

• Guarana - A substance prepared from the seeds of a Brazilian shrub, used as a tonic or stimulant.

• Ginseng - A plant tuber credited with various tonic and medicinal properties, especially in East Asia.

           Now, here’s the big question… are energy drinks inherently bad for you? No, they aren’t. I wasn’t just making up a corny saying in the introduction; too much of something CAN really be bad. Drinking energy drinks only becomes a problem when they are consumed frequently. The FDA recommends that teens limit their caffeine intake to 100mg or less per day. This is a primary cause for concern because energy drinks are marketed towards teenagers and can contain anywhere from 6mg to 242mg of caffeine per serving. According to Harvard Health Publishing, Emergency room visits related to caffeine overdose or adverse effects more than doubled for middle school children from 2017 to 2023. To further support this point, we can examine America’s Poison Centers and observe a similar upward trend in 2022-2023, where there was a 24.2% increase in cases of pediatric exposure to energy

drinks among children and teens under 20 years old. 

          Everyone’s body responds differently to caffeine. Some people naturally have a higher tolerance to its effects than others, so it’s important to listen to your body. Studies show that consuming too many energy drinks can harm many different organs, causing mild issues such as anxiety, stomach problems, dehydration, nervousness, and rapid heart rate. They have also been associated with more serious conditions, including rhabdomyolysis, acute kidney injury, ventricular fibrillation, seizures, acute mania, and stroke. In addition, there have been documented cases in which energy drink consumption was linked to death. Read more here to see a cohesive list of side effects to look out for! A caffeine overdose is real, and it can be fatal. If you experience any of these symptoms while consuming energy drinks, it is important to stop and go see a medical professional immediately. It’s better to be safe than to be sorry. Thank you for reading this week’s blog post! Leave a comment below and tell me if YOU have a favorite kind of energy drink, and check back for more from the Phoenix Times with Jordyn H.