When I think of ingredients such as taurine, guarana, gingko biloba and others I think of a wise old man in the hills of China, crushing and mixing herbs to create the elixir of life. Unfortunately, this is not the case. Energy drinks, with appealing names such as Rockstar, Redline and Full Throttle, are becoming rapidly popular. But are they really helpful or are they nothing more than sickness in a can?
What is in them?
Energy drinks contain a wide variety of “all-natural” herbal ingredients. They have exotic names and claim to be revitalizing for all kinds of bodily functions. The makers of the hugely popular Red Bull energy drink claim that their drink “vitalizes body and mind”. But what exactly makes these drinks so amazing?
The primary ingredient in most energy drinks is caffeine. Caffeine, which is a natural stimulant, can have multiple effects on the body and, when consumed in moderate amounts, such as the occasional cup of joe or a can of Coke, is not harmful. However, when taken in large amounts and over extended periods of time, a condition called “caffeinism” can occur. Caffeinism is a caffeine dependency which leads to such disorders as nervousness, irregular heartbeat, insomnia and headaches.
Even though caffeine is found in many drinks that are normally consumed by the average, healthy person such as coffee and soda, energy drinks have much, much more than they do. A regular cup of instant coffee contains anywhere between 80-130 milligrams of caffeine per liter. A zero-carb can of Rockstar energy drink contains 500 mg/L. Another popular drink, Redline, contains over 930 mg/L. And, as if that wasn’t bad enough, Fuelcell contains 2000 mg/L- more than fifteen times more powerful than a strong cup of coffee!
Another very common ingredient in energy drinks, especially Red Bull, is taurine. Taurine, Greek for “bull”, was first derived from bull bile and, like caffeine, has no adverse affects on the body in moderate amounts. The startling thing about taurine is that it has never been tested when mixed with other ingredients like caffeine, guarana and ginseng. Why? The FDA doesn’t monitor the production of these drinks therefore very little research has been done concerning the combination of ingredients and their effect on the body.
Playtime fuel?
Industry leader, Red Bull, associates their drink with sports and exercise. This conveys the feeling that Red Bull would be just as adequate, if not better than Gatorade or even water when involved in physical activity. However, the company has said that this is not so. In a prepared statement, Red Bull spokeswoman Kim Peterson, said that the drink is not a “thirst quencher” or “fluid replenishment drink”. But then the company turns right around and contradicts itself with a statement on its website claiming that Red Bull “is an ideal energy drink…prior to demanding athletic activities, or in a performance drop during a game.” So which is it?
Although energy drinks and the ingredients that are in them act as stimulants, they are not the right kind of things that the body should be consuming during physical activity or exercise. Caffeine sucks the water from the places that you need it the most and most of the drinks are saturated in sugar, which is contradictory to working out. So, while a can of Monster may provide you with a short-term boost of energy, that boost is an unhealthy and inefficient one.
Mixing energy drinks with alcohol
Red Bull and vodka has become the latest craze in bars and clubs across the nation. This is because the stimulating “buzz” derived from energy drinks helps to mask the impairing effects of alcohol. This means that you drinkers get all the high and don’t feel the low. However, this doesn’t mean that those negative effects are still there. It encourages people to drink more alcohol and then feel like they are okay to get in their cars and drive home when, in reality, they are not. Another downside to this craze is that caffeine is a stimulant and alcohol is a depressant. Mixing the two confuses the body and can create some disastrous results.
Marketing to the teen masses
The energy drink industry is worth over $1 billion annually. With that kind of profit, there must be some really creative- or crafty- marketing going on. The drinks are bottled and canned in a variety of flashy and modern-looking containers. Many, including Red Bull, make use of the sleek and sexy looking bullet-can design that attracts many people to pay the almost 2-3 dollars for a drink. But the real marketing genius comes from the glamorous advertising that the 18-30 year old target market blindly buys into.
Last year, the makers of Go Fast! Energy drink sponsored an annual bridge-jumping event in Colorado. Many teens and young adults came out to watch the adrenaline fueled stunts, all the while being inundated with ads from the drink company. In response and not to be outdone, Red Bull hired a jumper to parachute off of France’s Millau Bridge- the tallest bridge in the world. It was a huge event and the crowds drank it up, so to speak.
Hip-hop is also a huge aspect of marketing for some drink makers. Incidentally (but not accidentally), hip-hop is all the rage for energy drink consumers. Such artists as Lil Jon and Nelly sponsor their very own drinks and encourage their massive fan base to keep up with the times and drink their products. And it works.
All in all, the occasional energy drink is not going to kill you. But there definitely are some risks involved. So the next time you need a boost, drop the Rockstar and head to Starbucks. Or better yet, get some sleep.
What is in them?
Energy drinks contain a wide variety of “all-natural” herbal ingredients. They have exotic names and claim to be revitalizing for all kinds of bodily functions. The makers of the hugely popular Red Bull energy drink claim that their drink “vitalizes body and mind”. But what exactly makes these drinks so amazing?
The primary ingredient in most energy drinks is caffeine. Caffeine, which is a natural stimulant, can have multiple effects on the body and, when consumed in moderate amounts, such as the occasional cup of joe or a can of Coke, is not harmful. However, when taken in large amounts and over extended periods of time, a condition called “caffeinism” can occur. Caffeinism is a caffeine dependency which leads to such disorders as nervousness, irregular heartbeat, insomnia and headaches.
Even though caffeine is found in many drinks that are normally consumed by the average, healthy person such as coffee and soda, energy drinks have much, much more than they do. A regular cup of instant coffee contains anywhere between 80-130 milligrams of caffeine per liter. A zero-carb can of Rockstar energy drink contains 500 mg/L. Another popular drink, Redline, contains over 930 mg/L. And, as if that wasn’t bad enough, Fuelcell contains 2000 mg/L- more than fifteen times more powerful than a strong cup of coffee!
Another very common ingredient in energy drinks, especially Red Bull, is taurine. Taurine, Greek for “bull”, was first derived from bull bile and, like caffeine, has no adverse affects on the body in moderate amounts. The startling thing about taurine is that it has never been tested when mixed with other ingredients like caffeine, guarana and ginseng. Why? The FDA doesn’t monitor the production of these drinks therefore very little research has been done concerning the combination of ingredients and their effect on the body.
Playtime fuel?
Industry leader, Red Bull, associates their drink with sports and exercise. This conveys the feeling that Red Bull would be just as adequate, if not better than Gatorade or even water when involved in physical activity. However, the company has said that this is not so. In a prepared statement, Red Bull spokeswoman Kim Peterson, said that the drink is not a “thirst quencher” or “fluid replenishment drink”. But then the company turns right around and contradicts itself with a statement on its website claiming that Red Bull “is an ideal energy drink…prior to demanding athletic activities, or in a performance drop during a game.” So which is it?
Although energy drinks and the ingredients that are in them act as stimulants, they are not the right kind of things that the body should be consuming during physical activity or exercise. Caffeine sucks the water from the places that you need it the most and most of the drinks are saturated in sugar, which is contradictory to working out. So, while a can of Monster may provide you with a short-term boost of energy, that boost is an unhealthy and inefficient one.
Mixing energy drinks with alcohol
Red Bull and vodka has become the latest craze in bars and clubs across the nation. This is because the stimulating “buzz” derived from energy drinks helps to mask the impairing effects of alcohol. This means that you drinkers get all the high and don’t feel the low. However, this doesn’t mean that those negative effects are still there. It encourages people to drink more alcohol and then feel like they are okay to get in their cars and drive home when, in reality, they are not. Another downside to this craze is that caffeine is a stimulant and alcohol is a depressant. Mixing the two confuses the body and can create some disastrous results.
Marketing to the teen masses
The energy drink industry is worth over $1 billion annually. With that kind of profit, there must be some really creative- or crafty- marketing going on. The drinks are bottled and canned in a variety of flashy and modern-looking containers. Many, including Red Bull, make use of the sleek and sexy looking bullet-can design that attracts many people to pay the almost 2-3 dollars for a drink. But the real marketing genius comes from the glamorous advertising that the 18-30 year old target market blindly buys into.
Last year, the makers of Go Fast! Energy drink sponsored an annual bridge-jumping event in Colorado. Many teens and young adults came out to watch the adrenaline fueled stunts, all the while being inundated with ads from the drink company. In response and not to be outdone, Red Bull hired a jumper to parachute off of France’s Millau Bridge- the tallest bridge in the world. It was a huge event and the crowds drank it up, so to speak.
Hip-hop is also a huge aspect of marketing for some drink makers. Incidentally (but not accidentally), hip-hop is all the rage for energy drink consumers. Such artists as Lil Jon and Nelly sponsor their very own drinks and encourage their massive fan base to keep up with the times and drink their products. And it works.
All in all, the occasional energy drink is not going to kill you. But there definitely are some risks involved. So the next time you need a boost, drop the Rockstar and head to Starbucks. Or better yet, get some sleep.
1 comment:
oh im sick and having some redbull now. i was searching for adverse effects of the stuff. big 500ml can. scary news huh
Post a Comment