Energy Drinks – The Good, The Bad, The Ugly
In last Fridays Blog I spoke a little bit about energy drinks and sport drinks – really looking at sport drinks. Today, I want to follow up with my thoughts on energy drinks. First, energy drinks, should not be confused with, or put into the same group as sports drinks. Many energy drinks are a dangerous mix of sugar, chemicals and stimulants. I won’t keep you in suspense – most are not good for you and can have ugly side effects. The good news – if you do drink energy drinks there are some that are better choices than others.
Why They Look Good
EVERYONE IS DRINKING THEM. I have to admit – I was a HUGE RED BULL GUY! I don’t drink alcohol, so when I’d go out with buddies, or attend a social event I’d ask for a Red Bull. It seemed like an easy option, and I could order it anywhere I was. However, I was experiencing negative effects from this consumption over time.
ENERGY DRINKS ARE VERY ACCESSIBLE. If you need a quick pick me up, 5 Hour Energy is at every place you stop. With names like Rocktstar, Monster, Red Bull and Amp they appeal to adolescents, college students and anyone who could use a boost. Celebrity endorsements and sponsorship by athletic teams also add to the appeal. The flashy packaging of these drinks and the fact that you can buy them at any grocery store or gas station leads consumers to believe that they must be safe.
Why They Can Be Bad
Energy drinks are sold as dietary supplements, not beverages, so they aren’t subject to the same scrutinizing safety standards as food and drinks. At best these drinks are too high in sugar, which is no good for your waistline. The calorie free versions (full of artificial sweeteners) aren’t all they are cracked up to be either. Most pack in high levels of caffeine, which can cause health issues. Even at the college and professional levels of athletic participation, too much caffeine in the system can get you into trouble with the governing bodies, and have you on the sideline.
It’s easy to confuse a stimulant boost with “energy.” The major difference is – energy is real fuel, and stimulants only have a short-lived effect on your heart rate.
Aside from all those sugary calories, side effects of drinking energy drinks include increased anxiety and dehydration. Here are just a few of the potentially dangerous ingredients:
Caffeine: Can cause increased heart rate, anxiety, upset stomach and dehydration – many drinks have 2 to 5 times more caffeine than a cup of coffee.
Guarana: A caffeine-like product that compounds the stimulant effect.
Taurine: Promoted to help with focus, taurine may have a sedative effect. Used to treat high blood pressure and congestive heart failure– very little is known about the safety of high-dose or long-term use.
It’s also become trendy to mix energy drinks with alcohol; this creates a dangerous combination of “uppers” and “downers” that may result in dangerous cardiovascular and neurological side effects.
Now saying all this, I want to finish up with saying I’ve come across some GREAT energy drinks, that are backed by great companies and have the right ingredients, good things in the drinks; B & C Vitamins, antioxidants, etc., that may be a benefit to you. Drinks such as XS Energy and VERVE Energy drinks fall into this category.
The key to me, in dealing with ANYTHING that you eat or drink is to read the labels. KNOW WHAT YOU ARE PUTTING INTO YOUR BODY. Take a little time to learn what you are consuming in order to get the best results from your workout!
–Coach Rozy
