Energy Drinks-Is It Healthy or Unhealthy
Energy drinks are subset of energy giving products sold in market. Some energy drinks contain carbon, but others do not have this component. In addition, majority contain stimulants such as caffeine as well as other stimulants. They also contain sugar, herbal extracts and amino acids. Red Bull and Citron brand are some of the most common in the United States. In addition, Lucozade Energy and Enviga Nestea have dominated the American market for several years (Urbauer 1).
Red Bull brand has a number of components, including caffeine, B-group vitamins taurine and sugars such as glucose and glucuronolactone. Red Bull is also sold Sugar free or may be added sweeteners such as acesulfame K and sucralose. First introduced in the UK in 1929, Lucozade Energy was initially a hospital drink supplied to patients for quick recovery. However, around 1980s, it became a common energy drink in the market.
Among the first energy drinks in the American market was the Dr. Enuf. William Mark Swartz started its production in 1949. Swartz was an industrialist who founded his own plant for production of vitamin B, caffeine and cane sugar.
Jolt Cola was firts introduced in the American market sometimes around 1985. It gained massive popularity under its slogan “All the sugar and twice the caffeine”. The marketer has argued that it had the power to ‘promote wakefulness’ (Urbauer 1).
Pros and Cons
Energy drinks contain a number of chemicals, which are helpful in our bodies. Caffeine is commonly found in coffee and soft drinks that help to keep the body alert and awake. Taurine is a type of amino acid commonly found in energy drinks and its role is to: enhance neurological function, dietary supplement, and aiding in regulating water and mineral salts in the blood, which boost neurological development. Vitamin B group are commonly added to the energy drinks to enhance muscular, metabolic, nervous, and other body functions (US FDA 1). The pros of taking energy drink are energy boosting, maximizing a workout and convenience. After a long day work, the body needs to be replenished and the energy drinks come in handy. Energy drinks help the athletes when training by pushing physical limits to the extreme and help a person to maximize his workout. Energy drinks offers a convenient way of increasing energy levels instead of waiting for long hours to rejuvenate the body (Urbauer 1).
The cons associated with energy drinks include: weight gain, psychological hindrances, cardiovascular problems, potential metabolic issues, and dependence. Energy drinks are filled with high sugar levels that add many calories, which if unchecked may lead to obesity, which may result to chronic medical problem. Physiological hindrances such as insomnia, nervousness, irritability and anxiety may be occasioned by overdose or occasional use of the energy drinks. Cardiovascular problem such as irregular, rapid heartbeat and increased blood pressure may lead to heart failure and finally death. Drinking of energy drink may results to a potential metabolic issue as the body start reacting to the overwhelming amount of vitamins, additives and sugar (Energyfiend 1).
Despite all these issues on health the energy drink market is growing at an average of over 50% per year in USA alone, and it is predicted that by 2015 energy drink market will hit US dollar 15 billion (DeBruyne and Whitney 52). Young people who find them attractive propel the popularity of energy drinks. Statistics available shows that 66% of energy drink consumers are aged between 13 and 35 years (DeBruyne and Whitney 52). The growth in consumption of energy drink has changed the packaging and now bigger cans are being used, energy drink powders and effervescent tablets have been introduced to increase portability (Urbauer 1).
Works Cited
US FDA. Energy “Drinks” and Supplements: Investigations of Adverse Event Reports. FDA Report, 2012. Web. < http://www.fda.gov/Food/NewsEvents/ucm328536.htm>
DeBruyne, Linda and Eleanor Noss Whitney. Nutrition & Diet Therapy. Mason, OH: Cengage learning, 2011. Print.
Urbauer, Kristin. Benefits of Energy Drinks. 2010. Web. 07 March 2013. <http://www.mademan.com/mm/benefits-energy-drinks.html#vply=0>
Energyfiend. Energy Drink Side Effects. 2013. 07 March 2013. http://www.energyfiend.com/energy-drink-side-effects
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