Energy drinks… not so energetic are they?
Posted by The Skyliner on March 25th, 2009Lauren Hawkins
Guest Writer
In today’s society everyone is on the go. Most people have schedules that consist of racing from one event to the other or spending the day trying to manage everything they are involved in.
Energy drinks such as Red Bull, NOS and Monster have become a popular fix for people who need the quick “pick me up” to make it through their day.
However, studies have shown several negative side effects from consumption of energy drinks. In all actuality, they are simply glorified sodas containing more sugar and caffeine. The average soda holds 25-40 milligrams of caffeine, whereas most energy drinks have double that.
One new type of energy drink advertises a whopping 280 milligrams of caffeine per can! When caffeine is in the system too long, risk of insomnia and dehydration may follow. However, the increase in heart rate and blood pressure from the excessive amounts of caffeine is the main risk associated with these energy drinks.
Although they might provide a short burst of energy needed to tackle certain immediate tasks, they do not provide the necessary hydration and often times result in a “crash” from too much sugar.
So next time you go to purchase an energy drink, think to yourself, “how much energy am I truly getting?”and consider alternatives such as a group sport, a walk or more sleep.