RU Lacking E-N-E-R-G-Y?

Slick packaging, edgy themes, exotic ingredients, and special formulas are all part of the hype about energy drinks.

A growing number of beverages promise quick energy as well as performance and nutritional benefits to athletes, students, and party goers-anyone who wants a pick-me-up.

Yet, claims about these products often are inflated while health risks such as dehydration, over stimulation, and the double danger of combining energy drinks with alcohol receive little attention.

Do you know what your child drinks between meals and when he works out or plays sports? Make sure both of you understand which ingredients energy drinks contain and the effects they produce.

Looking for a Liquid Lift
The energy drink market is hot. With names that suggest extreme power, a growing number of beverages are aimed at anyone who wants to improve athletic performance, study late, dance all night, or just counter a mid-afternoon slump.


These products are sold with claims that include boosting energy, raising alertness, lowering reaction time, improving concentration, speeding up metabolism, increasing stamina, and enhancing nutrition. Perhaps the most powerful energy drink is named after an illegal drug. Although this product does not contain the drug, it promises a high followed by a long-lasting energy buzz. What's behind these claims?

Although the makers of energy drinks tout mixtures of vitamins, minerals, and tropical extracts, the main ingredient is caffeine. The difference between the caffeine in energy drinks and other beverages is the amount-they have at least as much caffeine as coffee and much more than soft drinks.

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Caffeine Concerns
Caffeine perks up the central nervous system and provides the lift that energy drinks are all about. The central nervous system, which includes the brain and the spinal cord, is the main "processing center" that controls all of the body's organs and systems.

Keep Fluid Levels Up
Drink plenty of water before and after intense physical activity and smaller amounts in between. For activities lasting more than an hour, try a sports drink. These products provide just the right amount of carbohydrates, or "carbs," and electrolytes such as potassium and sodium to replace fluids and keep your nerves and muscles working.

Do not confuse sports drinks with energy drinks, which contain high levels of caffeine and other stimulants that can dehydrate the body.5


However, the high levels of caffeine in energy drinks can cause problems. Because caffeine can send you to the bathroom more often, it can dehydrate your body-meaning that you do not have as much water and fluids as you should-when you are also sweating during exercise.
Caffeine also can speed up a person's heart and raise blood pressure. The amount of caffeine in energy drinks is not good for children. Caffeine may cause a child to become agitated, irritable, or nervous. In addition, caffeine is a concern for pregnant women as well as the children they carry. The Food and Drug Administration advises pregnant women to use caffeine in moderation.

How much caffeine is too much? It depends-the effects of caffeine vary from one person to another according to traits such as age, size, and health. For most people, three 8-ounce cups of coffee per day is considered a moderate amount of caffeine.

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