Do you reach for energy drinks when you feel tired thinking
they can keep you focused and provide caffeine with vitamins and supplements
that are good for your body? You might want to reconsider.
According to the University of California Division of
Agriculture and Natural Resources, the term energy drink was created by
beverage companies and is not recognized by the United States Food and Drug
Administration or the United States Department of Agriculture. These high
energy drinks are loaded with caffeine and sugar and show limited evidence of
improving concentration, performance or any other health benefit.
A single serving of an energy drink may not lead to excessive
caffeine consumption, but individuals should pay close attention to ingredients
such as guarana and ginseng that can increase amounts of caffeine. Consuming
more than 400 mg of caffeine leads to many negative side effects, including
nervousness, irritability, sleeplessness, abnormal heart rhythms and upset
stomach.