Caffeine and Energy Boosting Drugs: Energy Drinks

Energy drinks should not be Consumed during exercise.
Energy drinks should not be confused with sports drinks such as Gatorade, which are consumed to help people stay hydrated during exercise. Sports drinks provide an appropriate amount carbohydrates in the form of sugar and electrolytes to replenish that which may be lost through perspiration. Energy drinks should not be used while exercising as the combination of fluid loss from sweating and the diuretic quality of the caffeine can leave the user severely dehydrated.

What are energy drinks?
Energy drinks are beverages like Red Bull, Rockstar, Monster, Full Throttle, Amp, and NOS. Most energy drinks are carbonated and contain large amounts of caffeine and sugar with additional ingredients, such as B vitamins, amino acids (e.g. taurine), and herbal stimulants such s guarana, and ginseng. These drinks are marketed primarily to people between the ages of 18 and 30 as a stimulant.

Are there short-term dangers to drinking energy drinks?
Individual responses to caffeine vary, and these drinks should be treated carefully because of how powerful they are. Energy drinks’ stimulating properties can boost the heart rate and blood pressure (sometimes to the point of palpitations), dehydrate the body, and like other stimulants, prevent sleep.
Know what you’re drinking. Energy drinks are not necessarily bad for you, but they shouldn’t be seen as “natural alternatives” either. Some of the claims they make like “improved performance and concentration” can be misleading. If you think of them as highly-caffeinated drinks, you’ll have a more accurate picture of what they are and how they affect you. You wouldn’t use Mountain Dew as a sports drink.

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