In a recent set of studies between the University of Houston and the University of Queensland Australia, the contents, effectiveness, and long term health impacts of so called energy drinks have come under investigation. Currently these drinks are being labeled as dietary supplements, which frees the manufacturers from the scrutiny applied to beverages and juices.
However, the ingredients are often far from supplemental, with some of these 16 ounce drinks containing up to 13 teaspoons of sugar, and the equivalent of 4 cups of coffee worth of caffeine. And this says nothing about the jumble of other items tossed into the mix. Guarana, taurine, ginko biloba, glucuronolactone, even alcohol in one of the most recent additions to the field, Four Loko.
These drinks are available for everyones un-metered consumption on store shelves, young children, old people and everyone in between. There have been documented cases of heart attacks and mental state problems related to the abuse and over-use of these types of drinks, and that is only likely to get worse as the "ingredients" battle between the manufacturers escalates. Some of these drinks are now available in 24 ounce cans, which are labeled as 2-4 servings, but are often consumed as a single serving, or even multiple 24oz. cans in series.
There are some very real risks associated with these drinks, and you are advised to understand them before you make the choice for yourself or your children.
There are products available that give your body energy the way nature intended, through proper combinations of nutrients and foods. The long term impact of dosing your body with large amounts of caffeine, guarana, taurine, or any of these other stimulants is not fully understood or documented. Knowing that there are safe alternatives, would you take this risk?
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