Energy drinks have become the “rage” in recent years. More than 500 brands are now on the market, and it is now estimated to be a five billion dollar a year industry in the US. Furthermore, many of the drink’s most ardent fans are teenagers, and much of it advertising is directed at them. According to a recent survey, nearly half (43%) of teens have tried the drinks, and many of them use them regularly.

There’s no question about it: everyone needs a lift once in a while, and most people turn to coffee. However, more and more people are turning to energy drinks, particularly young people. Students use them to stay awake while preparing for exams, and young athletes use them in hopes of improving their athletic performance. And they’re often combined with energy (food) bars, for an even bigger boost.

Do they work? There is no doubt that they do it, sometimes too well. As many people have discovered after using them late at night, it is very difficult to fall asleep after going to bed. And if they’re used to poring over a test, losing sleep can be just as critical as studying. Numerous studies have shown that a considerable amount of cognitive power is lost when sleep is lost.

So what are they? To give you a boost, they have to do two things: make more glucose and get it to your cells as quickly as possible, and stimulate your nervous system. And energy drinks do both well. They are mainly made up of sugar and caffeine; sugar supplies glucose and caffeine stimulates the nerves. But they contain lots of other things besides sugar and caffeine, and some of them worry health experts.

Although energy drinks work well, they come at a cost. They boost your energy quickly (sugar converts to glucose almost immediately) and make you feel great, but this high is relatively short-lived. As the sugar enters your bloodstream, you get a “burst” of energy, but half an hour later you have a “crash” (when all the glucose is used up). You begin to feel weak and dizzy, and many of you take another drink as a result. This brings us to the question: are they safe? Most health experts agree that they are relatively safe when used in moderation. After all, you get the same boost from coffee, and there’s no evidence that coffee, used in moderation, is unsafe.

As with coffee, the main problem with energy drinks is the caffeine. Several studies have shown that for most healthy adults, up to about 400 milligrams (mg) per day is safe. On top of that, however, it can have a number of side effects: it’s a diuretic and can cause fluid loss, and too much can cause nervousness, upset stomach, headaches, and trouble sleeping. So how much caffeine is in these drinks? Let’s start by looking at a regular cup of coffee; it averages around 100mg (but can range from 72-175). And it is well known that for most people, more than 5 or 6 cups of coffee a day can cause problems. We’ll assume the same applies to energy drinks. So how much caffeine is in energy drinks? In a single serving, it ranges from 72-150mg, which doesn’t sound like much. However, one of the problems is that many energy drink containers contain two or three servings. Therefore, some of these “oversized” drinks contain as much as 294 mg, which is a lot.

Another problem is that although 400 mg per day is safe for adults, it is not necessarily safe for children and adolescents. Also, the coffee is hot and most people drink it slowly; Energy drinks are cold and are usually consumed fairly quickly. The biggest problem with caffeine, however, is that it dehydrates your body, and this dehydration can be serious, even kill you. After having several energy drinks, people start to feel thirsty (the first sign of dehydration) and therefore drink more to relieve thirst, which only makes them more dehydrated. Also, caffeine is addictive and as you drink more and more, you need more and more to get you high.

Next we have the problem of sugar. Although there are some sugar-free energy drinks on the market, most are packed with sugar, some containing up to 30 grams per serving. To give you a better idea 30 grams is about 4 full teaspoons, and each teaspoon contains about 15 calories. So the total calories per serving is about 120, which isn’t too bad, but as I mentioned earlier, many energy drink containers now contain 2 and 3 servings, so you could get 700 calories in one container. With the problem of obesity, particularly among children, an extra 700 calories is something they could do without. If added to your regular (balanced) diet, it could add a pound of weight in a week.

Now let’s look at the other things in energy drinks. They vary from drink to drink, but some of the most common are given in the following list:

Guarana: It is a source of caffeine

Taurine (an amino acid): Added to enhance the effect of caffeine.

Glucuronlactone: Effects are generally unknown, but may help excrete toxins.

Inositol: Effects are generally unknown, but some may be positive.

Vitamin B: No problem.

Carnitine and ginseng – Generally considered safe.

Ephedrine: when mixed with alcohol it is hard on the heart.

Pyruvate – Added as a “performance” booster, but in large amounts it can make you sick.

Glutamine and argenine: Amino acids, without danger.

The biggest problem with these additional ingredients is that, in some cases, their long-term effect is not known. Most are safe if used sparingly, but others are questionable.

This brings us to the question: Who is most at risk? Due to the danger of dehydration, people with high blood pressure and heart problems are definitely at risk. Also, children and even teenagers should be careful and limit their use. Athletes also need to be careful; they should not use them during the competition due to the danger of dehydration.

But a lot of people will say, “I thought sports drinks were good for athletes.” And indeed they are, but it’s important to distinguish sports drinks like Gatorade from energy drinks. They are quite different. Sports drinks are designed to overcome dehydration; Energy drinks cause dehydration. In particular, sports drinks replace electrolytes that are lost during perspiration, and these electrolytes, in turn, maintain the balance of salt and potassium in the body.

I have saved the main problem for last. Many people mix energy drinks with alcohol, and it is now known that this can spell disaster. Mixing energy drinks with alcohol gives a person the feeling that they are not intoxicated. But actually, it is; cannot perform the usual testing tasks for intoxication any better than a person who only drank alcohol. Also, because he doesn’t feel intoxicated, he thinks he can drink more, and usually does. And you can end up very drunk without realizing it.

So while energy drinks are generally considered safe if used in moderation, you do need to be careful.