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Energy Drinks: A Rockstar Reality Check
In recent years, a not-so-quiet phenomenon has taken hold of the United States that has developed into a billion dollar industry with nearly as many companies trying their hand as there are mysterious ingredients in their product.
From the energy drink giants Red Bull and Rockstar to the smaller, upstart companies trying to make it to the forefront (see Crunk Juice), the supermarket displays are getting brighter every day with luminous cans promising preposterous results. Recent trends have seen a growth in secondary products such as energy chewing gum and even an energy patch. If you are suddenly reminded of stop-smoking aids, you're on the right track.
Are energy drinks bad for you?
Perhaps the most disturbing effect of the energy drink craze will not be the endless stream of cranked-up, jittery co-workers we will deal with on a daily basis, but rather will be the long-term effects of many of the largely unknown additives which these drinks utilize to provide the "kick".
Nearly all energy drinks on the market contain a significant amount of caffeine (unless they are marketed as being caffeine-free), but should be the least of the consumer's worries. We are relatively sure that we know what damage caffeine can cause, and recent studies suggest there are even health benefits to consuming it in moderation.
The real danger lies in the other stuff.
One of the most popular ingredients in energy drinks is guarana, a plant which is common in South America. The berries of this plant are harvested and used in energy drinks for their extreme stimulant effects. Unfortunately, the fluorescent can at the liquor store neglects to warn its consumers of the dangers of combining guarana and many popular diet supplements. In some countries, where the once hugely popular stimulant ephedrine is still legal, the risk of consuming guarana is greatly enhanced. The combination can cause long-term damage to one's circulatory system.
The other popular additive in energy drinks is taurine. Taurine, interestingly enough, is a significant ingredient in bile. It is a sulfur-containing amino acid, and is naturally occurring in many animals, including humans. Apparently unbeknownst to the companies who use it, excessive levels of taurine have proven to be toxic. What hasn't been proven is its effectiveness in stimulating energy.
Its frequent use in energy drinks is less a testament to its effectiveness and more of an homage to the pioneers of energy drinks: Red Bull. In reality, who knows if Red Bull even believes this additive is effective in energy production. Perhaps it was simply an affordable compound to add to the mysterious new beverage, and also just happened to provide the company with a hip name (Taurine stems from the Latin taurus, which means, yup, you guessed it: bull).
But what are the real consequences?
The biggest problem with consuming these drinks is not what they will do to your body after drinking one; we know that you'll most likely feel just fine, and often even better than you felt before! The real problem is we just don't know what the additives will do to your body on a long-term basis.
Think about the end-result of saccharin, or even cigarettes. It didn't hurt anyone and seemed like a great thing one day, and turned out to be poisonous and deadly years later. There's at least an even chance you'll be able to add taurine or guarana to that list in fifteen years.
But look on the bright side. At least you're getting 1500% of your daily value of vitamin B in each serving. That much covers you for two whole weeks!
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