Energy drink consumption is increasing, especially among teens and younger athletes, but the energy boost they can provide might not be worth the harmful effects.
Some brands are obviously more harmful than others, including Reign, Bang, and Rockstar, but even eliminating the healthier energy drink options will be beneficial for you in the long run.
Energy drinks contain large amounts of caffeine, added sugars, and legal stimulants such as guarana, taurine, and L-carnitine, which increase blood pressure, heart rate, and breathing.
Several people have ended up in emergency rooms for energy drink consumption. Their diagnoses can range from anxiety, gastrointestinal disturbances, dehydration, nervousness, and tachycardia to more severe outcomes like rhabdomyolysis, acute kidney injury, ventricular fibrillation, seizures, acute mania, and stroke, according to research done by the National Library of Medicine.
As mentioned before, some energy drink brands are less harmful than others. For example, Celsius is an energy drink brand containing only natural flavors and colors and is always free of high-fructose corn syrup and aspartame. Celsius also has zero sugar and calories, but it contains artificial sweeteners. Another healthier option is Nooma, which contains 120 milligrams of clean caffeine without artificial sweeteners, colors, preservatives, or fillers.
Some energy drinks are worse for your health than soda. An average 12 o.z. can of RedBull has 39 grams of sugar, a gram more than a can of Sprite. Now, that might not be a stark difference to you, but imagine drinking a can of soda, plus caffeine, before your workout instead of an energy drink because that is essentially the same thing in this case.
According to research done by the National Library of Medicine, when a 38-year-old male drank a RedBull a day, it only took four days for him to experience Hemorrhagic aneurysms of his anterior communicating artery. A ruptured aneurysm can be life-threatening and requires emergency surgery when a 25-year-old female with pre-existing mitral valve prolapse developed intractable ventricular fibrillation after consuming a 55 mL shot of Race 2005 Energy Blast with Guarana and Ginseng.
Even if you think you need an energy boost, you’re better off without an energy drink. Instead, try focusing on hydration, balanced meals, eliminating sugary drinks and processed foods, regular exercise, and adequate sleep throughout your week so that you won’t crash towards the end.
