Buzz Kill
Popular drinks fall short for energy
fix
by Caroline Basile, editor-in-chief
Students and others often need a
pick-me-up during their busy and sometimes stressful days.
Even with many different options, energy drinks remain as a
common choice for a fast energy fix.
During the past 10 years, the energy
drink business has expanded its worth to nearly $2.5 billion
in the United States, according to a 2006 report in Fortune
magazine. Brands of energy drinks such as Red Bull, Monster
and Rockstar are targeted toward teenagers and young adults.
The beverages, which range in cost from $1.50 to $3, provide
a cheap, quick caffeine rush. But, they can also have
detrimental effects on a person's health.
Energy drinks appeal to many because of
the burst of energy one can get from it. But soon it becomes
a fatiguing crash, leaving those who consume them with even
less energy.
An energy drink is promoted to contain
energy-boosting ingredients such as caffeine, amino acids,
taurine, carnitin, ginseng, glutamine, ginger, and cranberry
extracts. But, these drinks also contain a high amount of
sugar and caffeine, which help propel the energy boost. In
addition, caffeine is the most widely used psychotropic
substance in the world, and it is highly addictive.
"Caffeine is a stimulant drug that
makes us feel more alert and energetic, and less fatigued,"
says Keila Ketchersid,
assistant professor of
nutrition at South Plains College and a registered
dietitian. "Caffeine is very well absorbed by
the stomach and the intestine, and it usually enters the
bloodstream within 45-60 minutes after ingestion. That’s
when we feel the effects. The so-called 'crash' occurs when
it has left the bloodstream."
The side effects of energy drinks are
related more to caffeine ingestion and can include increased
blood pressure and heart rate, dizziness, insomnia,
headaches, and gastrointestinal distress. Caffeine is also
a diuretic, so it is not a good option for athletes or
anyone trying to replace fluids lost.
Long-term side effects from constant
consumption of energy drinks have been the focus of more
health studies. There are studies to support the fact that
increased caffeine consumption is linked to an increased
risk for coronary heart disease.
A popular practice is to mix energy
drinks with alcohol, such as Red Bull and Vodka. According
to Ketchersid, this can be very dangerous, as intoxication
from alcohol occurs faster when the two are mixed.
"The
two oppose one another," Ketchersid says. "Alcohol is a
depressant, and caffeine is a stimulant. Quite simply put,
this confuses the body and can even result in heart
failure. Studies also show that the combined use of
caffeine and alcohol increases the rate of alcohol-related
injuries."
Another beverage marketed as an energy
enhancer is the popular Vitamin Water by
Glaceau. While it has been
touted as a healthy option, most flavors and types of the
drink do not contain sufficient levels of vitamins to
contribute to a boosted energy level.
"Most people do not benefit from the
low levels of vitamins and minerals found in these
functional drinks," Ketchersid says. "Vitamin Water does not
usually contain the vitamins and minerals that most people
are lacking in their diets like calcium, potassium, folate,
and vitamin D. If a person is concerned about their vitamin
and mineral intake, they would more likely benefit from a
daily multivitamin/mineral supplement that does not exceed
their daily recommended value."
While these drinks may be a quick fix
for energy, they are not the healthiest solution to regain
energy. Ketchersid adds that the best way that anyone can
stay well-energized comes from a balanced diet that
incorporates good vitamin intake from fruits and vegetables,
whole grains, lean meats and low fat daily while limiting
caffeine and sugar.
According to Ketchersid, students who
want to boost their energy without becoming dependent on
drinks such as Red Bull or Monster should avoid processed
and fast foods, get an adequate night's sleep and add a
daily
physical activity to help boost
metabolism.
"My advice to students is to consume
these 'energy drinks' in moderation," Ketchersid says.
"While one per day will probably not harm you, I discourage
anyone from consuming more than that due to the possibility
of caffeine intoxication and dependency. I strongly advise
people not to mix these highly-caffeinated beverages with
alcohol for the fear that it could reduce your perceptions
of alcohol intoxication and lead to serious injury, or
worse."
Can I have two info graphs, or can we
combine them? The first one is from Ketchersid and the other
I found on a caffeine-junkie website.
In three cups of coffee per day, there
is 300 mg caffeine, while some popular energy drinks can
contain much more than that. Amounts of caffeine in some
popular energy drinks include:
Amounts of Caffeine in Popular
Beverages:
According to www.energyfiend.com's
caffeine database
8 ounces of tea (brewed): 47 milligrams
of caffeine
12 ounces of Coca-Cola: 34 milligrams
of caffeine
12 ounces of Sunkist: 41 milligrams of
caffeine
8 ounces of coffee: 108 milligrams of
caffeine
8 ounces of Red Bull: 80 milligrams of
caffeine
8 ounces of Redline RTD: 250 milligrams
of caffeine
All photos by
Britni Palomino and Caroline Basile/Plainsman Press
