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Sales of Energy Drinks
Continue to Increase
Energy drinks are becoming the beverage of choice for
people of all ages. As their popularity rises, so do
the sales numbers. Although soft drinks are still the
largest seller of all cold drinks, energy drinks
continue to chip away, claiming a larger percentage of
this lucrative market each year.
Aggressive marketing campaigns directed towards
athletes and young people have spurred the popularity
of energy drinks nationwide. Hip and edgy
advertisements promise that energy drinks will ignite
the mind, refresh the body, help you party like a rock
star, as well as enhance performance and stamina.
Energy drinks are especially popular among college
students looking for something to help them stay alert
during all-night study sessions. As well as, they are
also used to mix popular alcoholic drinks and
cocktails.
Energy drinks with names like Rock Star, Monster, Red
Bull, Full Throttle, Spike, Amp and Life Force all
sell the image of energy, speed, and strength.
Uniquely designed, as well as colorful packaging, help
increase the attraction for users which are lured by
the “cool” factor.
Although young people make up the largest percentage
of users, energy drinks appeal to anyone who feels
like they need an extra boost, and these days, that
means most of us. Energy drinks appeal to truck
drivers trying to stay awake for the long haul,
computer programmers, young professionals, as well as
athletes hoping to increase their performance.
Energy Drinks Have Double the Caffeine of Soft Drinks
Caffeine is the primary ingredient in energy drinks,
with the majority of the drinks contain twice the
amount of caffeine than in soft drinks
The ingredients that make up of energy drinks vary
widely, but sugar is generally the secondary
ingredient. This in itself is an energy booster for
most people. One container of an energy drink will
have between 14 and 17 teaspoons of sugar. If someone
consumes several cans of an energy drink, would mean
that is a tremendous amount of sugar. Most health
professionals recommend a limit of 12 teaspoons of
sugar per day.
Other ingredients vary from brand to brand, which are
often herbal, allowing the producer to promote the
drink as healthy and nutritious. Most of these herbal
ingredients are energy boosters.
Taurine is an amino acid which is found naturally in
the body. A person’s taurine balance can become
depleted during extreme physical exertion, as well as
high stress. It is also believed to have antioxidant
properties that can enable the body to dispose of
toxins and harmful substances more efficiently.
L-Carnitine is another amino acid found naturally in
the human body, which is believed to increase energy
and metabolism.
Many energy drinks contain herbs such as ginkgo biloba,
which is believed to aide memory and concentration, or
ginseng and guarana root, which are thought to be
healthy ingredients that increase energy and reduce
stress.
Possible Risks of Energy Drinks
The high levels of caffeine in energy drinks can
create problems for many consumers. Caffeine is a
stimulant, and is known to be mildly addictive. When
used excessively, it can create stomach ulcers,
nervousness, headaches and heart palpitations, but how
much caffeine it takes to cause problems varies from
person to person.
Thought to be potentially more problematic are the
various extra energy boosters. The level of these
ingredients is usually not listed on the label, and
it’s often difficult to know how ingredients such as
taurine, L-Carnitine and energy-enhancing herbs will
affect the body when combined with caffeine.
Although the jury may be out about the health benefits
and potential risks of energy drinks, there is no
argument that they become particularly dangerous when
they are combined with alcohol. Unfortunately, this
use of energy drinks is becoming increasingly popular.
Mixing a depressant like alcohol with a stimulant like
an energy drink is often an invitation for trouble
because the energy drink can lessen alcohol’s effect
on the metabolism. As a result, it’s easy to drink
more and feel the effects less, an especially
dangerous combination that leads drinkers to believe
they aren’t as impaired as they really are. Energy
drinks can also make alcoholic drinks taste less like
alcohol.
Energy Drinks in Moderation
When is comes to energy drinks, the old adage is
especially true. Energy drinks are believed to be a
safe drink when used in moderation. An occasional
energy drink will cause most people no problems
whatsoever, and may give the user a slight and short
lived boost of energy. However, energy drinks should
not take the place of proper nutrition and adequate
rest, should never be used in place of a meal, and
should never be mixed with alcohol.
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