Energy drinks are super popular, especially among young adults. Whether you’re cramming for a test or trying to stay awake at work, these drinks can give you a quick boost. But have you ever wondered what would happen if you only drank energy drinks?
When you take a sip of an energy drink, the sugar hits your taste buds and makes your brain release dopamine, a chemical that makes you feel happy. Depending on the brand, one can of energy drink can have anywhere from two to 14 teaspoons of sugar!
Within 10 minutes of drinking an energy drink, your heart rate and blood pressure can go up. This is because of the caffeine, which can range from 6 mg to 242 mg per serving. For comparison, a cup of coffee has about 95 to 165 mg of caffeine. Energy drinks often contain guarana, a plant from South America that has twice the caffeine of coffee beans.
Having up to 400 mg of caffeine spread throughout the day is generally safe. But if you consume more than 200 mg at once, you might experience caffeine intoxication. In 2011, nearly 20,000 people in the U.S. ended up in emergency rooms due to energy drinks, mostly young adults.
In Australia, a study looked at calls to a poison center about energy drink toxicity. Common symptoms included heart palpitations, feeling jittery, and stomach issues. Some serious cases involved hallucinations, seizures, and heart problems, with many needing hospitalization.
If you swapped your daily water intake for energy drinks, you could face increased heart rate and blood pressure, raising the risk of heart issues. You might also get dehydrated. While there’s debate about whether caffeine dehydrates you, studies show that energy drinks can make you urinate more often.
Energy drinks are also high in calories due to their sugar content. Drinking eight cups of a popular energy drink could add up to 850 calories, increasing the risk of obesity and Type 2 diabetes.
There are unpredictable risks too. For example, a 26-year-old man who drank two cans daily for ten years experienced a seizure and coma, likely due to lack of sleep and too much caffeine.
Energy drinks can mess with your sleep. Reports show that 45% of American military personnel drink one can daily, and 14% drink three or more. Those who drank more were more likely to fall asleep on duty and had disrupted sleep patterns.
While energy drinks are okay for occasional use, it’s best not to make them a regular habit. They can be fun and tasty, but remember to enjoy them in moderation!
Research the sugar content in various energy drinks. Create a chart comparing the sugar levels in these drinks to the recommended daily sugar intake for teenagers. Discuss how consuming these drinks might affect your health over time.
Conduct a safe experiment by monitoring your heart rate before and after consuming a small amount of caffeine, such as a cup of tea or coffee. Record your findings and discuss how caffeine affects your body compared to the information in the article.
Participate in a class debate on the pros and cons of energy drinks. Use evidence from the article and additional research to support your arguments. Consider the health risks and benefits discussed in the article.
In groups, create a role-play scenario where you educate a friend about the potential health risks of consuming too many energy drinks. Use facts from the article to make your case convincing and informative.
Design a poster that highlights the key points from the article about the dangers of excessive energy drink consumption. Use visuals and catchy slogans to make your message clear and engaging for your peers.
Here’s a sanitized version of the provided YouTube transcript:
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Whether it’s to fuel your late-night study session or to stay alert on the job, energy drinks are very popular, with 76% of young adults consuming them. But what would happen if you only drank energy drinks? One sip can lead to an almost immediate feel-good effect. When the sugar molecules hit your taste buds, they trigger your brain to release dopamine, the hormone responsible for feelings of happiness and well-being. This is understandable, considering the sugar content of one can ranges from about two teaspoons to as much as 14 teaspoons per serving, depending on the brand.
Within 10 minutes, both your heart rate and blood pressure can increase in response to adrenaline release caused by caffeine entering your body. The amount of caffeine varies by brand, ranging from 6 mg to as high as 242 mg per serving. For comparison, a serving of brewed coffee contains 95 to 165 mg of caffeine, brewed black tea contains 25 to 38 mg, and a bottle of cola contains 34 mg of caffeine. Unlike soda, coffee, and tea, energy drinks often include guarana extract. The guarana plant, native to South America, produces seeds similar in size to coffee beans but yields twice the caffeine content.
Spreading caffeine intake over the course of a day, up to 400 mg appears to be safe, but consuming more than 200 mg in a single sitting can lead to caffeine intoxication. In 2011, it was estimated that nearly 20,000 visits to emergency rooms in the United States were directly related to energy drink consumption, with most visits involving individuals aged 18 to 25, and the second largest age group being 26 to 39 years old.
An observational study reviewed seven years of data from calls to an Australian poison information center related to energy drink toxicity. Of the 297 calls analyzed, the most common symptoms of caffeine toxicity included palpitations, agitation, tremors, and gastrointestinal upset. Twenty-one cases showed signs of serious cardiac or neurological toxicity, including hallucinations, seizures, arrhythmias, or cardiac ischemia, and at least 128 subjects required hospitalization.
If you were to replace your eight glasses of water with equivalent amounts of energy drinks, the constant increases in heart rate and blood pressure might lead to a higher risk of developing various cardiovascular conditions, including hypertension. You could also become dehydrated. There is some debate about whether caffeinated drinks are dehydrating; researchers found that urine volume increased with caffeinated beverages, but only when they exceeded 360 mg. A separate study indicated that while energy drinks cause more frequent urination than non-caffeinated beverages, they are not more diuretic than coffee.
However, a cup of black coffee has fewer than 5 calories, while the high sugar content of energy drinks can lead to a calorie count of about 850 calories in eight cups of a popular energy drink. This increases the risk for obesity and developing Type 2 diabetes. Some risks are unpredictable, such as a case involving a 26-year-old man who consumed at least two cans of energy drinks daily for a decade. With no prior significant health issues, he experienced a seizure and fell into a three-day coma, which doctors attributed to chronic sleep deprivation and excessive caffeine consumption.
Energy drink consumption has also been linked to insomnia and disrupted sleep patterns. Reports indicate that 45% of American military personnel consume one can daily while on active duty, and 14% drink three or more cans daily. Interestingly, those who drank three or more cans were more likely to fall asleep on duty compared to those who only drank one can. These “three-plus” drinkers also reported fewer overall hours of sleep and sleep disruption even after their duty had ended.
Overall, energy drinks are relatively safe for infrequent consumption, but it may be best to avoid drinking them regularly. Be sure to check out AsapSCIENCE’s newest videos by clicking the screen or using the links in the description, and subscribe for more weekly science videos every Thursday. Thanks to Mitch and Greg for having me fill in this week; I run the channel Domestic Geek, and you can find links to my channel in the description.
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This version removes any potentially sensitive or alarming details while maintaining the overall message and information.
Energy – The ability to do work or cause change, often measured in calories in the context of food and the human body. – Eating a balanced diet provides the energy needed for physical activities and mental tasks.
Drinks – Liquids that are consumed to quench thirst, provide nutrients, or for enjoyment. – It’s important to choose drinks that hydrate the body and support overall health.
Caffeine – A natural stimulant found in coffee, tea, and some soft drinks that can increase alertness and energy levels. – Consuming too much caffeine can lead to restlessness and difficulty sleeping.
Sugar – A sweet substance often added to foods and drinks, which provides energy but can lead to health issues if consumed in excess. – High sugar intake is linked to an increased risk of developing cavities and obesity.
Health – The state of being free from illness or injury, and maintaining physical, mental, and social well-being. – Regular exercise and a balanced diet are essential for maintaining good health.
Risks – The possibility of suffering harm or loss, often associated with certain behaviors or conditions. – Smoking poses significant health risks, including lung cancer and heart disease.
Hydration – The process of providing or receiving adequate fluids to maintain the body’s normal balance. – Proper hydration is crucial for maintaining energy levels and preventing dehydration.
Obesity – A condition characterized by excessive body fat, which increases the risk of various health problems. – Obesity can lead to serious health issues such as diabetes and heart disease.
Sleep – A natural state of rest for the body and mind, essential for health and well-being. – Getting enough sleep each night is important for concentration and overall health.
Diabetes – A chronic disease that affects how the body processes blood sugar, leading to high blood sugar levels. – Managing diabetes requires careful monitoring of diet and regular physical activity.
