There are many new energy drinks on the market which may not be healthy for adults and are definitely not healthy for children or teens. They include energy drinks, such as Red Bull, Spike, Shooter, Monster, Reload and Redline, to name just a few. The US sale of these drinks this year is expected to reach $9 billion.
Two studies have shown an improvement in cognitive and mental performance when using an energy drink. However, excessive consumption can induce a mild to moderate euphoria, but also anxiety, agitation, irritability and insomnia. There is a combination of caffeine (the caffeine is usually equal to 1 cup of coffee in an 8 oz. can) and sugar glucose in all energy drinks. Consumption of one energy drink a day is not typically a problem, but consumption of two or more drinks may lead to excessive caffeine intake. Caffeine is a diuretic, and there are no nutrients in these drinks which means it is more likely you can have a “crash and burn” reaction when the caffeine leave your system.
Children should never have these drinks and adults should limit the number of drinks they consume each day as too much caffeine and sugar is not good for your body, plus some have ginseng or guarana to enhance the caffeine effect, overall the diuretic component of too much caffeine causes more physical problems including dehydration. Caffeine can also cause heart rhythm problems, seizures and ER visits. One of the more popular energy drinks is Red Bull which was banned in France after an 18-year-old athlete died within hours of playing basketball and consuming 4 cans of Red Bull.
In a new report doctors state children and teens should avoid energy drinks completely.
There are also new relaxation drinks available, such as Drank, IChill, Mary Jane’s Relaxation Soda, Vacation in a Bottle and Blue Cow, which are advertized as relaxing and able to reduce stress. These drinks are clearly marketed to young people. These drinks contain Melatonin, which is not an FDA approved food additive, Valerian root and rose hips are found in these drinks also. These drinks can cause drowsiness and sedation. There is concern a trend will occur with teenagers using these drinks to make a homemade concoction known as Purple Drink. Purple drink is a combination of relaxation drinks, cough syrup with codeine, promethazine and candy to get high.
There is also concern that people will drink several energy drinks to get through the day, then have to drink several relaxation drinks to be able to sleep at night, so your metabolism is being controlled by drugs around the clock, which certainly isn’t healthy.
The copyright to this article is owned by Pamela Oglesby. Permission to republish this article in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.
Popular Energy Drinks; source Wickimedia