Do Some Homework Before Making Energy Drinks Part Of A Study Routine

Main Category: Nutrition / Diet
Article Date: 30 Jul 2009 - 20:00 PDT

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For those who can't imagine starting the day without an energy drink, RightHealth, the Guide to Health on the Web, is providing a wake up call. Although energy drinks can make all-night cram sessions easier to stay awake for, they may not receive a passing grade when it comes to health.

While energy drinks may temporarily improve cognitive performance and alertness, studies show that their high sugar and caffeine content can cause sleep disturbance, dehydration, headache, increase in blood pressure and heart rate, and anxiety. Energy drinks like Red Bull® , Monster Energy® and ROCKSTAR contain significantly more sugar and caffeine than sodas or sports drinks. A 24 oz can of ROCKSTAR, for example, has as much caffeine as three espressos, and as much sugar as six large doughnuts.

"The FDA regulates the caffeine content in sodas but not in energy drinks, even though the market for these beverages is upwards of $4 billion in sales," said Dr. Steven Chang of RightHealth. "Many parents don't realize that energy drinks pack more sugar and caffeine than is recommended, and they often don't know how much their teens are drinking. The shocking truth is that nearly a third of all 12- to 24-year-olds say they consume energy drinks on a regular basis."

Dr. Chang warns that energy drinks can exacerbate teen health issues like sleep deprivation and obesity. Eighty percent of teens do not get the recommended nine hours of sleep on school nights, and researchers have linked too much caffeine and poor sleep to the increasing obesity rates in young adults. Today an estimated 17 percent of teenagers are obese, compared with just five percent in the mid-1970's.

"As a society, we're already struggling to make sure our kids get adequate sleep and nutrition," said Dr. Chang. "Parents really need to take a second look at the ingredients in the drinks their teens consume, and understand the risks related to excessive caffeine and sugar intake. You can't assume that because it's sold on the grocery store shelf, it's safe for you or your children."

Dr. Chang recommends talking to a physician about energy drinks to better understand how large doses of sugar and caffeine might affect a specific child, particularly one who takes other medications or has a heart condition. RightHealth.com also offers a wealth of resources, including news, reviews, doctor-reviewed reports, videos, discussions and social networks, that can help families make informed choices about energy drinks and their health.

About Dr. Steven Chang Dr. Steven Chang is a staff physician with RightHealth. Dr. Chang practices Family Medicine at the University of California Davis Medical Center, where his medical interests include both pediatric and geriatric care, public health, gay and lesbian health, and sleep medicine. Dr. Chang trained at the Stanford University-affiliated O'Connor Hospital, and was a research fellow at the National Institute of Health. He holds an M.D. from McGill University and a BA in Public Health from Johns Hopkins University.

Source
RightHealth