The Buzz On Energy Drinks

Magical Elixir or Scam in a Can?

-- By Becky Hand, Registered Dietitian

SparkPeople advertisers help keep the site free! Learn more

After taking a look at the ingredients in most energy drinks, it's obvious that they don't really contain many "energizing" properties. Then again, placebo effects can be very powerful. If you believe it will energize you, it just might—even if the research says otherwise. That said, let's summarize the facts:

Most of the "magical" herbs and other ingredients listed have not been proven to increase energy at all and are just part of a marketing scheme to help sell these overpriced potions.

Energy drinks contain a ton of sugar, making them a poor nutritional choice.

Your body can't use the excessive amount of vitamins that are added to energy drinks. You are literally flushing your money down the toilet as your body excretes the extra vitamins out through your urine!

Speaking of money, the cost of energy drinks adds up fast; each can or bottle will set you back between $1.75-$2.50—or more.

Energy drinks have a lot of caffeine, which will give you a short-term energy boost followed by an inevitable crash. After a certain threshold, the energizing effects of caffeine wear off, leaving you jittery and irritable.

Additionally, keep in mind that there hasn't been enough research yet to prove whether energy drinks pose any long-term health hazards. But even without substantial research, we know they can be dangerous; energy drink-related hospitalizations have skyrocketed over the past few years.

The bottom line? Don't waste your money on these overpriced, over-hyped cans of scam. Do what you can to get adequate rest and eat a well-balanced diet to provide your body with all the vitamins and amino acids it needs. If you really want a beverage to boost your energy, sip an antioxidant-packed cup of tea instead. Or, as my 10-year-old son suggested after he gagged at the taste of an energy drink I brought home to research this story, you can pour out the contents of the can and fill it with water. "That way, you'll look cool as you drink the right stuff!"

Sources

Gatorade Sports Science Institute. ”Caffeine and Exercise Performance”, accessed December 2011. www.gssiweb.com.

Huffington Post. ”Energy Drink Hospitalizations Increase Tenfold in 4 Years”, accessed December 2011. www.huffingtonpost.com.

Los Angeles Times. ”B Vitamins Don’t Boost Energy Drinks’ Power”, accessed December 2011. www.latimes.com.

Mayo Clinic. ”Caffeine Content for Coffee, Tea, Soda, and More”, accessed December 2011. www.mayoclinic.com.

Office of Dietary Supplements, National Institutes of Health. ”Dietary Supplement Fact Sheet: Carnitine”, accessed December 2011. www.ods.od.nih.gov.

UC Davis. ”Some Facts About Energy Drinks”, accessed December 2011. www.nutrition.ucdavis.edu.

WebMD. ”Bee Pollen Benefits and Side Effects”, accessed December 2011. www.webmd.com.

Click here to to redeem your SparkPoints

You will earn 3 SparkPoints

‹ Previous Page Page 2 of 2 Return to main nutrition page »

Stay in Touch With SparkPeople

About The Author

Becky Hand
Becky is a registered and licensed dietitian with almost 20 years of experience. Through her company, An Ounce of Prevention, she makes nutrition principles practical, easy to apply and fun. See all of Becky's articles.

Member Comments

CATLADY2012

Good article except the statement:

"You are literally flushing your money down the toilet as your body excretes the extra vitamins out through your urine!"

Literally flushing money? I haven't ever seen that, but figuratively, yes, you are flushing money down the toilet! - 9/15/2012 2:40:12 PM
Report Inappropriate Comment
CRAYANI

Great article. Very Informative. Hope most people will get to know this. I have seen the ill effects of energy drinks in my practice as a Cardiologist /Rhythm specialist. Had a 18 year old who drank a 5hr energy drink and went into atrial fibrillation that needed shock to bring it back to normal . I tell my patients not to use these drinks and kid with them saying " I have enough work, Do not add more"
Thanks for your research.
C Rayani - 9/15/2012 9:39:04 AM
Report Inappropriate Comment
ARTEMISTHEGREEK

Agreed. Eat real food and have some coffee, you don't need "energy" drinks. - 9/15/2012 5:42:45 AM
Report Inappropriate Comment
LATEBIRD

I have never been a fan of energy drinks, and I didn't believe they lived up to their claims. Now I know I was right. I love your son's idea of filling an empty with water. - 8/4/2012 10:41:13 PM
Report Inappropriate Comment

Leave Comment ›

Nutrition Articles › Nutrient Buzz