Embedded Files
Energy drinks are very popular but do the health concerns outweigh the benefits?
By Maya Simpson, Freshman / April 19, 2023
When walking around the high school you are bound to see someone holding an energy drink. Whether it's from Black Pearl, the gas station, or somewhere else. Students are looking for that little boost of energy to get them through the day no matter the cost.
The CDC defines energy drinks as, ¨A beverage that typically contains large amounts of caffeine, added sugars, other additives, and legal stimulants such as guarana, taurine, and L-carnitine. These legal stimulants can increase alertness, attention, energy, as well as increase blood pressure, heart rate, and breathing.¨
Many people show concern for the effects of energy drinks, especially with teens use of the stimulate.
¨I contribute much of this to energy drinks, lack of sleep, and phone use. I have a real concern for the mental health of your people. Society as a whole has failed young people in this regard. Not enough is being done in education, the legislature, and parents. We as a society need to sleep better and eat better. Phones need to get away from young people's beds and allow them uninterrupted sleep,¨ said Mr. Foxen, a teacher at Muscatine High School.
With the new generation that has grown up on many different things than before, there are lots of concerns for mental health. Energy drinks have been shown to raise anxiety, depression, and stress levels.
This causes enough concern about the effects of energy drinks, but there are also others that come with drinking energy drinks.
“It’s a lot of sugar that’s the main thing,” said Chelsea Carlson, a 9th grader at MHS.
People not only have concerns for their mental health but also their physical health as energy drinks can also cause physical strain and/or damage.
¨I do not consume energy drinks. As a runner, they make you slower and more obese,” said Mr. Foxen.
Despite this energy drinks seem to stay on the good side of most teenagers.
¨If you use it responsibly it's just like drinking coffee every morning. And adults I think are a bit hypocritical,¨ said Chelsea Carlson.
“Occasionally drinking one energy drink is unlikely to cause problems. To reduce potential harm, limit your consumption to 16 ounces (473 ml) daily and avoid all other caffeinated beverages,” shared Healthline.
The most concerning health risk associated with energy drinks is that of the heart.
¨Cardiac health is a real concern. Your heart can not make more cardiac cells; they are precious. Headaches, high blood pressure, type 2 diabetes, and anxiety. I have seen in the classroom anxiety on the rise,¨ said Mr. Foxen.
Most teenagers are generally aware of the health risks that come with large intakes of caffeine in energy drinks.
“I am concerned about long-term effects because they can cause like kidney failure and all of that and I tend to drink a lot of them,” said 9th grader, Nadiya Lopez.
Despite this most teenagers will continue to drink these energy drinks.
“At this point, I just don't care but maybe at some point when I’m older I'll realize what I am doing and I'll stop,” said Nadiya.
Most of the time it an essential to get a tired teenager through a long day.
¨Sometimes I’m just tired and like I need a little boost of energy,” said Chelsea.
Other people argue that there are other ways to get that little boost of energy.
¨I use the human body in all its natural wonders. Sleep is where I start. 8-9 hours a night. Never two nights back to back of less than 8. Want superpowers to get 8 hours? I practice intermittent fasting which keeps me alert and very productive. I use a standing desk which has given me more energy and fewer backaches,¨ said Mr. Foxen.
Everyone is looking for a way to get through their day whether it's energy drinks or intermittent fasting everyone finds a way.
Page updated
Report abuse