The buzz on energy drinks could shock you
By Hannah Larking
News Editor
September 24, 2008
 The hype behind energy drinks is understandable—pun intended. Students are able to stay up late when they need to cram, and then concentrate early for the morning after class. They’re conveniently located close to the candy aisle at our local 7-Eleven, and The Bookstore was giving them away for free this month.
However, what might appear to be your gift from God in midterm season may in fact turn out to be a serious health problem waiting to happen. Energy drinks have risen in popularity faster than they make your heart beat, but a medical conference in Prince Edward Island has cited a cause for concern in your midnight miracle.
While their benefits seem necessary in the moment, health repercussions have one doctor from that same conference referring to energy drinks as the cigarettes of 30 years ago.
The high amounts of caffeine in the drink claim to increase performance level, concentration and metabolism, but research has displayed that the bad might be outweighing the good; the same ingredients that helped you finish your 12-page essay last night, could also be helping you develop a cardiac arrhythmia—a potentially fatal heartbeat irregularity.
According to an article released by the Pennsylvania Medical Society, other harmful side effects include hypertension, anxiety, headaches and interrupted sleep patterns. In addition to this, energy drinks should be avoided by individuals younger than 18, those who are pregnant or nursing, or those with a family history of heart disease, high blood pressure, depression or glaucoma; however, not all brands bare these warnings.
The same article stated some energy drinks contain up to two or three times the amount of caffeine in a cup of brewed coffee—which ranges from 80 to 135 milligrams—plus an additional equivalent of five teaspoons of sugar.
“Energy drinks contribute to sleep disturbances, obesity, tooth decay, and dehydration … We’re looking at a generation that will have serious problems with osteoporosis based on a lack of calcium intake and obesity from too much sugar. Brittle bones and too much weight just spells trouble,” said Philadelphia physician and Chair of the Philadelphia Assembly, PA Academy of Family Physicians, Suzan Steele.
The vast majority of university students are too young to have even identified a heart condition that may turn energy drinks into personal ticking time bombs.
New concoctions being popularized in bars across the nation combining alcohol with energy drinks are hazardous, Steele explained. There are natural ways to get a burst of energy slowly and safely.
Dr. Anthony Kovatch, a pediatrician from Pittsburgh emphasizes that athletes are no exception to the rule. “In the humid heat of summer … if you drink this stuff because you’re hot, you’re defeating the purpose. Not only does caffeine raise your heart rate, it’s a diuretic. It increases the kidney’s disposal of fluid from the body. You’re likely to go to the bathroom more often, which is a problem in the middle of any sporting event. And you may think you are getting hydrated, but instead, you’re getting dehydrated. And that can be dangerous.”
According to a study released by the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (CBC), one 250 ml can of Red Bull energy drink contains 600 mg of Glucuronolactone, a naturally occurring substance manufactured by the human body that gained notoriety due to rumours that it was a Vietnam War era drug that led to several brain tumour deaths at the time.
One 250 ml can also contains 80 mg of caffeine, a chemical we know best for its ability to interfere or block adenosine—the nucleoside responsible for keeping you awake. Most energy drinks are much higher than the Food & Drug Administration (FDA) limit, according to Judy Foreman in an article published in the Boston Globe. The FDA has a limit of 65 mg of caffeine per 12 ounces in sodas, but does not regulate caffeine levels in energy drinks—some of which, such as Cocaine, contain over four times that amount.
Students looking for alternative and more natural pick-me-ups should know they are available and encouraged. Energy in low fat milk, unflavoured water, diluted fruit juice, vegetable juice, peanut butter, bananas, eggs, figs, molasses, green vegetables, almonds, beets, oatmeal, lentils, bananas, sardines, yoghurt, apples, brown rice, cantaloupe and parsley, are all slow and safe ways to get a healthy burst—and that’s just naming a few.
Other ways to boost your energy are through herbs and vitamins such as ginger, liquorice root, ginseng, green tea, B-50 vitamin formula and NADH.
Exercise is also always beneficial—particularly methods in yoga and tai chi, both of which are geared towards relieving stress, improving energy levels, and increasing concentration.
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