The Buzz on Energy Drinks

It was only a matter of time. In the past week I’ve read two different articles about “energy drinks.” One was posted online at WebMD.com and the other was published in the Wall Street Journal on August 22nd, titled “Energy Drinks Under Fire.”

I remember when “energy” drinks were all about sugar. But now they are more about sugar, caffeine, and sometimes alcohol (I still don’t get how they can market the word “energy” with “alcohol”, but your guess is as good as mine). Now there’s a call to action from attorneys general who want federal regulators to crack down on the how these drinks are marketed—pointing to misleading advertising on a product that can pose serious health and safety risks.

I’d rather sip a cup of strong Joe to get my buzz (sans the alcohol, thanks), but according to a new review in Consumer Reports, the caffeine and calorie content in many of these drinks are off the charts—especially when you consider that people easily guzzle an entire can or bottle meant for two or three people. One serving can get you 200 mg of caffeine (almost twice the amount found in a regular cup of coffee and nearly 7 times the amount found in a can of Coke). A serving can pack up to 260 calories, much of that in the form of unhealthy sugars that won’t satisfy hunger. Which is why we call those kinds of calories “empty.” (Low-cal and sugar-free versions are available, but you’ll have to endure the artificial-sweetener flavor, and who really knows what those will do to you over time.)

According to Information Resources, a market-research firm, as consumers we spent $744 million on those caffeinated beverages in the past year, a 34 percent increase over the previous year. With names like Rockstar, Full Throttle, Red Bull, Cocaine, and No Fear, it’s no wonder they appeal especially to young adults and those who may want to feel like a younger, more “energetic” person. But how much is too much? On the one hand, drinks with caffeine can offer some benefits. Among them:

• Test subjects dosed with the amount found in a cup of coffee come out ahead on problem-solving tasks.
• By triggering the release of adrenaline to help muscles work harder and longer, caffeine so clearly enhances athletic performance that until 2004 it was considered a controlled substance by the International Olympic Committee.
• Caffeine may reduce the risk of Parkinson’s disease by blocking receptors for adenosine, a neurotransmitter that plays a role in motor function. Caffeine also heads off migraines by contracting blood vessels in the brain.
• Coffee, like blueberries and broccoli, contains potent antioxidants. It appears to reduce the risk of colon cancer, gallstones, and liver cancer, among other illnesses.

(For an array of more facts on caffeine, I invite you to go here.)

But with every virtue there is a vice. And with caffeine, the one that sits atop my personal list is its impact on achieving quality sleep. It can take up to two days for the body to get rid of all traces of caffeine, and if you’re sensitive to caffeine you may not realize that your poor sleep can be blamed on all the sources of caffeine you encounter during the day—from energy drinks to medication and even chocolate.

Sleep, after all, factors into these same benefits, helping us look and feel younger, organize our memories, and prepare us for problem-solving quickly during the day. Let’s not forget that sleep has no calories and rejuvenates our bodies on a cellular level, which can’t be said for the energy drink (even though it may come brilliantly packaged to look like a battery).

In fact, sleep burns calories whereas the drink adds calories. So I think the benefits of high-quality sleep outweigh the benefits of caffeine, don’t you? Especially when taken in large doses.

Don’t get me wrong. I love my coffee but I take caffeine in moderation. I bet that pretty soon those attorneys general will get what they want and we’ll be seeing “Warning” signs on some of these concoctions. I wonder what they will say: “May cause dizziness, weight gain, and the jitters?”

Bottom line: an occasional energy drink is fine for most people, but do the math and avoid overindulging. If you want a great alternative to these over-the-top sugary beverages, try a cup of hot or iced tea. The health secrets of tea have long been reported. Cheers.

Comments

[Mark Dubuque]

Sleep is fascinating. Air travel results in jet lag which is worse flying from the west to east which compresses the day. This has led many to believe that amount of daylight affects jet lag. However, jet lag is not common when traveling north or south even though this travel also results in shorter or longer daylight hour (depending on tilt of earth). A more interesting theory tries to link our internal clocks to natures internal clock. The Schumann frequency (around 8 hertz) is the earth's clock and the circadian rhythm is considered the human clock. Could the Schumann frequency be the basis for the human clock thus driving our sleep pattern? If so, jet lag might be due to a clock synchronization anomaly. Is it possible that energy drinks speed up our internal clock?

[Greg]

Good work. I am glad someone is putting out sensible talk about the lack of value of the average energy drink. If you look at the average energy drink it is made from a list of things we know aren't the best for us to consume. I do know that there is an energy drink out there competeing with the likes of Red Bull and V but only has 80mg of Caffeine per can, between 8 and 16 calories depending on the flavour. It is herb and vitamin based and has a great long lasting hit with great flavour. Thats right they actuslly have flavours!! So I agree with your assessment of the high profile/big dollar energy drinks,but there is a healthier and effective alternative. let me know if you want more details.

[The Sleep Doctor]

Greg,
I would be interested to learn more about this drink. Please let us know!

Dr. Mike, PhD

[The Sleep Doctor]

I am not familiar with the research in this area, can you give me a website to go to to learn more?

Dr. Mike PhD