The million dollar question seems to be.  Are energy drinks bad for you?    Unfortunately, the person drinking “more than their share” are more than likely not the one searching out the answer.  And no one wants to hear what they don’t want to believe is true.

Not too long ago, a woman wrote in to a popular forum after having had a heart attack.  Her doctor had informed her to stop drinking energy drinks because of the health risk to her heart.  But she continued to 5 monster energy drinks and  drink 3 Red Bulls a day. 

Now she complains of seeing large amounts of blood in her feces and urine. She was pleading for someone to help her out.  Really?  But did she follow the doctor’s request concerning the energy drinks?  No way!!  She didn’t believe her doctor.  (I’m sure if she asks enough people she will find someone that will give her the answer she wants to hear.)

I agree with you, this case may be the extreme, due to her present health condition.  But I’m guessing that all of the sugar and taurine in the drinks have to be causing her heart to pump at abnormally high levels!  So, are energy drinks bad for you?  The answer is, “they can be”.  And high levels of caffeine on a health risk patient can be deadly.

Some of the side effects when consuming high levels of caffeine are nervousness, sweating, nausea, diarrhea, chest pain, insomnia, heart palpitations, tremors, and neurological symptoms.  High levels of caffeine are not recommended for children, women who are pregnant, diabetics, or people with heart problems.  It is true that drinks spiked with high amounts of sugar will raise your insulin levels, and contribute to a host of modern diseases such as diabetes and obesity 

A better name for the energy drinks would be “caffeine in a can”.  Most of the popular energy drinks are simply filled with caffeine and sugar.  You get your hour of energy from the high dose of caffeine you just consumed.  After this spike of insulin passes through your body, you need to be prepared for a drop in energy levels, sluggish feeling, possible mood changes and dehydration.

But the real trouble comes from what happens next.  You grab for another can, for another burst of energy to get you off the downward spiral from the last energy drink.  This is where one leads to two, which leads to three or more a day.  This is very normal for the kids staying up all night studying for a test, or finishing a report that’s due.

So, when we ask the question “Are energy drinks bad for you?”  Understand that high amounts of sugar and caffeine are bad for you.  If your energy drink is filled with sugar and caffeine, then IT IS BAD FOR YOU!!

But lately there are healthy alternatives to the popular energy drinks out on the market today.  One that is safe for you to drink, without any of the high levels of caffeine.  It’s a powdered drink mix from Verus, called “Charge It” that you simply add to your bottled water.  It’s safe for kids to drink, lifts your mood with a burst of energy, and gives you a positive electron charge without the side effects! 

Larry Buhrandt 
www.traverustravelproducts.com