Are Energy Drinks Safe for Us?
By Stephen R. Farris
By now you're probably used to seeing all of those commercials trying to sell you with their versions of energy drinks. You know the ones. Some suggest by drinking theirs it'll give you wings. Others may claim theirs will provide enough energy as 12 cups of java to get you through your work or school day. While even more swear their product will give you the ability and stamina to do all kinds of gnarly feats.
Most of the advertisements are aimed at our kids and the majority of them have cool products like hats, T-shirts and other items to entice them to try their drinks.
A Scary Prospect
But are energy drinks good for our kids to have? Are they even good for adults to consume? What about the healthiness of energy drinks? Well, to answer those questions, you might get online and do some research. What you'll find might scare the dickens out of you. For instance, they all contain high amounts of caffeine and generally loaded with other unhealthy ingredients like sugar.
Did you know that caffeine is considered a drug? A legal one, but the effects from too much caffeine in our bodies can lead to fast heart rate, insomnia, anxiety, hypertension and even complications in pregnancy for women, according to research studies at John Hopkins University.
The study went on to suggest that adults should consume no more than 500 milligrams of caffeine per day and kids, no more than 100 milligrams a day.
On average, energy drinks have anywhere from 50 to 500 milligrams of caffeine packed in them. Imagine if you drink 4 to 5 per day with the highest amount. That's about 2,000 to 2,500 milligrams of caffeine in your system. In some cases, where energy drinks are the only thing consumed all day, they have produced serious health related problems severe enough to make a trip to the emergency room. Worst case scenario, they've even been linked to several deaths.
If more energy is what your aim is out of consuming energy drinks, maybe look more towards fresh fruit products or raw vegetables that can provide you with the proper nutrients and minerals your body needs. Make sure you get enough rest each day as well. However, if you or your child continue to consume energy drinks, read the labels to see what the percentages are for ingredients. It might seem like a buzz-kill but being informed could also prevent future health conditions or problems.
To learn more about your health, wellness and fitness, see your local chiropractor at The Joint Chiropractic in Gahanna, Ohio.