Do you ever turn to an energy drink when you need a quick boost of energy? Afterward, you might experience a burst of energy or you might feel even worse. Whatever the case, it's difficult to dispute that energy drinks have proliferated in popularity, especially among young people.
We spend millions of dollars each year on drinks that claim to increase our physical and mental vitality. However, many of these commercial energy drinks are laden with artificial flavors and sweeteners, which can make us feel worse after drinking them.
Thankfully, there are other options out there. For centuries, people have turned to plant-based beverages for a natural boost in stamina and mental clarity. So why are so many of us still drawn to those bright, fizzy cans with "energy drink" written on them? Let's take a closer look and find out!
Does Energy Drink Drain Your Energy or Boost It?
Are you looking for an instant energy boost? Just do a quick Google search, and you'll find an endless array of energy drinks with various flavors and promises to suit your needs. It's a multi-billion-dollar industry that has taken the world by storm, with top brand names like Monster, Red Bull, and Rockstar leading the way. Energy drink sales have surpassed those of Starbucks!
According to Extrapolate, the global Energy Drinks Market was valued at USD 60.7 billion in 2021 and is anticipated to reach USD 91.6 billion by 2028, at a CAGR of 7.3%. These drinks claim to provide a boost in physical and mental energy, alertness, and clarity. Some even promise to keep you awake all night long, but relying on them to skip sleep is never a wise choice and can have some negative side effects.
More and more people are beginning to question the safety of these energy drinks beyond their claims. Popular energy drinks, with their high levels of artificial caffeine, have been linked to headaches, heart palpitations, insomnia, irritability, chest discomfort, upset stomachs, and more. Excessive consumption of energy drinks has even led to hundreds of ER visits and sadly, a few fatalities each year. It's essential to be aware of these potential side effects before reaching for the next energy drink.
How Does Your Body React to Energy Drinks?
Have you ever given any thought to what an energy drink does to your body? Many of us just take it for granted that these drinks would live up to their claims, but is that the case?
It's possible that drinking an energy drink will give you a boost of energy; after all, that's what they're supposed to do. However, have you ever considered the additional effects that may result from consuming one of these beverages? Energy drinks frequently include high concentrations of sugar and caffeine, which can temporarily increase physical activity. However, it's important to take into account any potential drawbacks associated with these drinks.
- High blood pressure
- abnormal heartbeats
- Insomnia
- cause of gaining weight
- tooth decay
- contribute to issues with mental health
- increased chance of diabetes
- injury to the kidneys
- contribute to issues with substance abuse
An Abuser in Disguise: Alcohol and Energy Drinks
Another serious issue is the connection between excessive drinking and the consumption of energy drinks. There were a lot of backlashes when Four Loko was introduced as an energizing alcoholic beverage in 2005 since it made it easier to abuse energy drinks in a drunken setting. Only in 2010 was Four Loko reintroduced to the market because the caffeine had been removed.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) warns against combining any kind of caffeine with alcohol since it can disguise the depressive effects of alcohol and deceive the user into believing they are not as intoxicated as they are. The result of this impact may be excessive alcohol consumption and risky choices, such as drunk driving. The CDC has also discovered that binge drinkers are more than twice as inclined to combine alcohol and energy drinks as non-binge drinkers.
This would be the initial sign of concerns about the security of energy drinks. From 2008 to 2012, 13 deaths were documented with 5-hour energy usage as a contributing factor. The FDA is also looking into Monster Energy about five deaths that have been related to consumption, including one in 2017 where a 14-year-old girl consumed two Monster drinks within 24 hours and passed away. Washington State introduced legislation banning the sale of energy drinks to people under the age of 18 in 2013.
Alternative natural energy drink options have become more popular as a result of worries about the effects of conventional energy drinks on our bodies and minds.
What Causes Energy Drinks to Cause Problems?
Another serious issue is the connection between excessive drinking and the consumption of energy drinks. There were a lot of backlashes when Four Loko was introduced as an energizing alcoholic beverage in 2005 since it made it easier to abuse energy drinks in a drunken setting. Only in 2010 was Four Loko reintroduced to the market because the caffeine had been removed.
How Are Consumers Welcoming Energy Drinks Market?
As a result of the health and clean eating trends, several more recent businesses have looked for a more natural form of caffeine while also implementing a more open marketing approach. Customers feel more at ease ingesting a product when they are aware of the ingredients and what they do to their bodies.
While MatchaBar and Kuli Kuli get their caffeine from green tea leaves, some natural energy drinks like Guayaki get it from yerba mate tea leaves. The main drawback of using these natural energy boosters is that they might not give consumers the level of vigor and focus that they need. Some people have also avoided these alternatives because they don't like the bitter taste of yerba mate.
Boosting Up
Energy drinks have been found to increase physical performance and aid in the fight against exhaustion during exercise, but various studies have raised questions about their potentially detrimental effects on the health of young people. According to this research, energy drinks don't have any therapeutic advantages and can raise systolic blood pressure, change electrolytes, and cause irregular cardiac rhythms. Additionally, some worries consuming energy drinks as a teen may result in higher alcohol use as an adult. Before using energy drinks as a remedy, it's critical to be aware of these possible risks.
