Lets Talk Energy...Drinks
My husband loves energy drinks. I don’t know when it started, but ever since we started dating he has drank them. Most often it’s during a long road trip when he needs to stay awake an extra bit, and I don’t make a huge deal about it, but recently a bulk order of energy drinks arrived on our door step and though he doesn’t drink them daily, it got me thinking about education and intervention.
It all begins with the marketing strategies of these companies, they truly are clever, and as a result consumers don’t understand or even see the concerns that are associated with energy drinks. Let us bring those to attention.
First, lets’s discuss what is in an energy drink, and why they might not be the best option. Typically, energy drinks contain some combination of caffeine, B- vitamins, sugar and/or artificial sweetener, a “proprietary blend” of sorts, and more. Immediate red flag for not only energy drinks, but any sort of supplement is the commonly seen phrase of “proprietary blend”. The unique blend of herbs and stimulants, combined with the caffeine and other ingredients in the drink increase the risk for all sorts of side effects- dehydration and cardiovascular effects to name a few. If you see the words “proprietary blend” I would suggest you run in the other direction. Furthermore, there is no limit or regulation on the amount of caffeine allowed in energy drinks- so we really have no proof that the amount they claim to have on the label is true.
Second, let’s discuss how much caffeine is safe. It’s recommended that daily intake of caffeine doesn’t exceed ~ 400 mg. While consuming energy drinks that already have high levels of caffeine (Red Bull for example = 111 mg) might not get you to this level, the amount of caffeine in conjunction with ingredients such as taurine plus these “proprietary blends” is what pose a risk. Recent studies have found that drinking 32 oz of an energy drink for just three consecutive days can disturb electrical activity in the body, potentially bringing on irregular heart rhythms and high blood pressure (JAHA) . Many of these findings cannot be attributed to caffeine, and therefore brings it back to the point that it is the combination fo these various ingredients that are of utmost concern.
Finally, there are ways to increase energy levels without the use of energy drinks.
Eat enough. It’s important to consume adequate carbohydrates and protein throughout the day. Carbohydrates are the most prominent source of energy (provides glucose), and consuming protein along with carbohydrates helps to maintain blood glucose levels, preventing the afternoon “crashes” when you energy level bottoms out.
Drink coffee or tea. You don’t have to worry about whacky ingredient combinations, and they’re more affordable as an added bonus.
Sleep well. Get 7-8 hours of sleep a night to maintain energy levels as well as athletic performance and focus.
While energy drinks are appealing, they aren’t the answer to all your problems, so it might be time to try something new. Breaking habits is hard, but it’s never too late to start!
- Brooke
Shah, Sachin A., et al. “Impact of High Volume Energy Drink Consumption on Electrocardiographic and Blood Pressure Parameters: A Randomized Trial.” Journal of the American Heart Association, vol. 8, no. 11, 2019, doi:10.1161/jaha.118.011318.