Energy drinks might give you a stimulating sprint but they also have an ominous side. Specialists find it disturbing that parents and children believe they are nutrition. These energy drinks contain thrice the amount of caffeine found in a cup of coffee. According to the study, the amount of caffeine found in a cup of brewed coffee is around 80 – 100 mg, whereas soft drinks and colas contain 34 mg per standard can. The range for energy drinks varies – from 80 mg per can in Red Bull to 174 mg per can for Sobe No Fear.

Short term effects of excessive caffeine intake include palpitation, chest pain, nausea, anxiety, and insomnia. If taken in excess, it can cause caffeine withdrawal which can result in headache, fatigue, difficulty in concentration, irritability and mood change.

Energy drinks have not been placed in a specific category by the Food and Drugs Administration [FDA]. So FDA should make it mandatory that energy drinks mention the amount of caffeine they contain.

Many schools and colleges stock energy drinks in their canteens. Children between 10 and 12 yrs must receive no more than 85 mg caffeine per day from all sources.

Such drinks are also popular among professionals, especially those working odd hours.

Energy drinks have become one of the most favored ingredients for ‘Vodka mixture’ at bars. Youngsters prefer them over juices and colas because they think energy drinks are lower in calories. But mixing alcohol with caffeine is the worst combination. In the west, there have been reports of death due to the combination of excessive caffeine and alcohol. Caffeine is a stimulant and alcohol is a depressant so they should never be mixed. An overdose of caffeine can lead to cancer, stunted growth in children and severe addiction, but this is seldom publicized.