Ashley Dinges
Debbie Strong, MBA, RD

Energy drink sales have boomed since 2002, with sales rising as high as $6.6 billion last year. Energy drinks are most popular among young consumers, generally under the age of 25. Some of the most popular energy drinks include Red Bull, Amp, Monster, Rockstar, and Full Throttle. Although these drinks are marketed as a healthful stimulant, consumers should be aware of the potential side-effects, as they can be very harmful to one's health.

What is in an energy drink

The common ingredients of these drinks include sugar, caffeine, taurine, ginseng, guarana, vitamins, and green tea. Some of these ingredients may sound unfamiliar; however, most are added for stimulation of the nervous system. Guarana, which has three times the caffeine content as coffee, is the main caffeine culprit in an energy drink. Depending on the mixture of these ingredients in each drink, consumers can experience several side-effects. Many may experience jitteriness, sleep deprivation (insomnia), increased heart rate, crash episodes, and even high blood pressure and other heart problems. While many consumers may choose energy drinks looking for a quick fix, drinkers should be aware that there can be up to 150 mg of caffeine per serving (it is suggested to limit caffeine consumption to 300 mg/day). The majority of energy drinks contain 2 to 3 servings per can. It is important to read the nutrition facts label to see the serving size of each drink.

The Facts

Most energy drinks have 110-140 calories and up to 40 grams of sugar per serving. If consuming the entire can, one would consume 220-420 calories and 80-120 grams of sugar (1 entire can of regular soda averages 120 calories and 30 grams of sugar). While these are the average values for most energy drinks, certain brands are known to contain up to 250 mg of caffeine and 70 grams of sugar per serving

College students and energy drinks

Energy drinks are very popular among college students. Many consume these as a source of energy for studying, driving, or even while partying. It is very common for bars/restaurants to serve mixed drinks with an energy drink as the base. This can be very dangerous as the energy drink acts as a stimulant and the alcohol as a depressant. When these two are mixed, it causes an increase in mental alertness and a decrease in feelings of intoxication. This allows a person to be able to drink more before feeling the effects of alcohol. The combination of the two can cause severe dehydration, which can be very harmful to your health.

Should young children consume energy drinks

It is important to discourage young children and pre-teens from consuming energy drinks. Some suggest that even one can of an energy drink has enough caffeine to cause sleep disorders, hyperactivity, and bed-wetting in young children. They can also cause dehydration. Energy drinks should not be used for replenishing fluids at any age. Parents should discourage children from consuming these types of beverages.