Energy drinks are consumed widely across the world, with a staggering 9% of the worldwide population drinking them daily. People drink energy drinks because they want to increase energy or relieve fatigue, especially if they do not have a good sleep and need to focus on work. That is why half of all adolescents and young adults drink it at least once a week. This is incredibly damaging to health because they contain dangerously high amounts of caffeine, even higher than coffee. Although it may be a safe place for a student to focus on their studies, it is crucial that they keep long term effects in mind in order to invest in the future or their health.
Health organizations generally recommend that healthy adults consume no more than 400 milligrams of caffeine in a day. For teenagers, the limit is lower. Caffeine should not be consumed more than 100 milligrams per day for them. When comparing this to the amount of caffeine an energy drink contains, the potential risk is apparent: there are around 160 to over 300 milligrams of caffeine per can. Out of the teenagers who consume energy drinks, about 25% of them drink two or more cans per day. This significantly exceeds the 100 milligrams of caffeine limit that is recommended. Even drinking one can would go over the limit, yet there are still so many young drinkers who drink multiple cans on a daily basis.
Energy drinks are not only bad for teenagers. The effects of overconsumption apply to everyone, including adults. Due to high caffeine concentrations, cardiovascular risks such as an increase in blood pressure, an increase in heart rate, and even irregular heart rhythms can occur. Energy drinks also have high sugar content, which means that people who drink them can get both sugar and caffeine spikes.
Other than the fact that energy drinks have much more caffeine than coffee, it still gets worse. Energy drinks often contain stimulants that are unregulated, such as guarana, which can act as a source of extra caffeine. This can mean that there may be more caffeine in the label than it actually states to be. Also, as energy drinks are heavily carbonated and cold when consumed, caffeine can be absorbed much faster into the bloodstream compared to hotter drinks. This means that caffeine spikes can be more intense.
Although there are temporary benefits such as increased alertness and focus, the drawbacks outweigh them. Overall, energy drinks are packed with artificial ingredients and synthetic stimulants. Even experts largely agree that coffee is a healthier alternative.
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