The Drawbacks of Energy Drinks

Caffeinated energy drinks for students are a controversial topic; they cause medical issues, contain addictive ingredients, and implement dehydration. Many ignore these side effects, but are these fun little drinks really worth it, and how can they be used responsibly and in moderation?

The primary concerns regarding energy drinks are cardiovascular-related issues. The

Journal of Pediatrics maintains that ingestion and overconsumption of caffeine for developing teens is linked to numerous forms of heart conditions. Johns Hopkins Medicine recommends that students ages 12–18 should not consume more than 100 mg of caffeine a day; the average energy drink contains 200 (that's equivalent to two strong cups of coffee). However, the same source lists that consuming 400+ mg of caffeine a day is acceptable for adults. 

Many major brands, including Monster Energy, Celsius Holdings, Red Bull, and Prime Hydration, all contain ingredients like guarana, taurine, and high levels of sugar—all of these are extremely addictive. Companies that include these ingredients are essentially addicting consumers to cardiovascular malfunctions. Additionally, studies suggest that drinks like these lead to insomnia, furthering the dependency and coercing buyers to continue purchasing and crave the short-term energy boost they dish out.

Countless patrons of energy drinks are also athletes who purchase these beverages to improve their performance; they have the opposite effect. PubMed describes this issue, stating, “exercising adults and athletes [should] refrain from caffeine use because it is a diuretic, and it may exacerbate dehydration and hyperthermia.” This further shows how energy drinks mislead consumers and impact their health.

Many argue that, in moderation, caffeine isn't that bad—this is true to an extent. As previously stated, Johns Hopkins Medicine asserts that consuming 400+ mg of caffeine a day is fine for adults, and 100 mg is acceptable for teens. Additionally, high caffeine content stimulates the nervous system, which can increase alertness, attention, and energy levels—the jolt that everyone buys these motivating, fun little drinks for. These are all valid points, but the long-term effects of them are counterproductive. These products are advertised as convenient, but how convenient are heart problems, insomnia, and dehydration?

The big take away: Find brands that give you energy but are still healthy; some examples of these are the brands Alani, V8 Energy, Poppi, and Bloom.