Energy drinks- are they worth the buzz?
Energy drinks - they give you wings, no guts no glory, unleash the beast inside you, feel the rush. They promise endurance, performance, mental alertness and stamina- all words of promise- but do they deliver and what are you really getting?
Energy drinks typically contain caffeine and sugar. But wait there's more. They also typically have taurine, glucuronolactone, guarana, and B vitamins. The companies advertise these as good for us- so what's the problem. The problem is the truth.
Caffeine is a stimulant that speeds up messages from the brain to the body. Caffeine is readily available in foods and many people drink coffee daily. Whilst a few coffees may not seem harmful- there are risks. Whilst caffeine will increase feelings of alertness, it can also increase restlessness, anxiety and irritability. People can also become dehydrated, have increases in heart rate and experience headaches. For young people as well as the usual risks with caffeine there are additional risks to developing bones and teeth for more information click here.
Taurine is an amino acid- referred to as a building block of protein. It does not build proteins in your body. Taurine is an essential amino acid- which means your body only needs it or it becomes essential in times of illness and stress.
Glucuronolactone is naturally produced chemical and it is involved in the detox and breakdown of glucose by the liver, because of its role in detoxification it is promoted to help remove harmful substances from the body.
Guarana is a plant that contains caffeine in large amounts. An espresso coffee typically contains 60mg of caffeine. Whereas 1 gram of guarana contains anywhere between 40 and 80 mg. It is promoted to increase energy, but what is really does is increase the effects of other ingredients.
So, what do these drinks really give you?
Headaches, insomnia, tiredness, irritability, stomach aches and hyperactivity and that's just from the caffeine alone. Many young people are already irritable and have sleep difficulty with the hormonal changes occurring from puberty and melatonin being produced later at night in their bodies has a large impact on sleep ability. Energy drinks seem to amplify already occurring experiences.
What do you do?
For most teens water before, during and after sport is enough. For intense sporting workouts sports drinks may be beneficial as they contain carbohydrates- simple sugar that can replace the energy being used, and electrolytes such as sodium and potassium which will be lost in sweat. For more information on food choices before sports and hydration during sport click here
Yours in Health SBYH Liz
Capalaba State College
Energy drinks—Do they really give you wings? - Alcohol and Drug Foundation (adf.org.au)
Caffeine - Alcohol and Drug Foundation (adf.org.au)