Page 35 - MAY SFM 2017

The Dangers of Energy Drinks

As teens we’re all made aware of dangers that can have adverse effects on our health
such as the use of drugs, alcohol, sex, and smoking, but so little time is spent talking
about the dangers of addictive substances that are readily available to teens and young
adults in the form of energy drinks.
For the context of this article, we define an energy drink as a beverage that contains
large amounts of caffeine, sugars, additives, and legal stimulants such as guarana and
taurine, and are distinct from sports drinks and vitamin waters like Gatorade, Pow-
erade, and Vitamin Water. As one of the fastest growing US beverage markets, energy
drinks claim to improve energy, alertness, weight loss, stamina, and athletic perfor-
mance. Energy drinks that you’ve heard of or encountered probably include ones like
Redbull, Amp Energy, Monster, 5-Hour Energy, Rockstar, NOS Energy, and JOLT,
among many others.
So what’s the big deal about these energy drinks? The big deal is that these drinks are
NOT regulated by the FDA as they are classified as dietary supplements, and there
is staggering evidence and reports that link consumption to serious health risks in
adolescents like seizures, dehydration, anxiety, stroke, and heart complications such
as irregular heart beat and sudden cardiac arrest. Bottom line, they are not safe for
adolescents.
Aside from their addictive nature, many of these drinks contain more than the rec-
ommended level of caffeine safe for daily consumption. That level according to The
American Academy of Pediatrics is 100 mg/day or less for adolescents aged 12 to 18.
Many of these drinks exceed that daily amount. So if you factor in any other caffein-
ated beverages that a teen may consume in a day such as coffee or soda, or perhaps
multiple energy drinks, that daily value has far exceeded that safe daily value.

To the athletes that may be reading this article, stick to the good stuff that is going to
help replenish your water and electrolyte levels—that is what helps you perform better.
To the parents and coaches reading this article, model good behavior by not consum-
ing these drinks and share with your teens the dangers of consuming energy drinks.

AUTHOR: William J. Starbird, MD, FAAFP
Family Medicine Physician of North Branch Family HealthCare –
Marlette Regional Hospital

3 3 34 • Sports Finest Magazine May 2017 sportsfinestMagzine.com 989 672 0799 kelly@sportsfinestmagazine.com4 • Varsity Monthly thumb edition • FEB 2017 • View FREE on-line at www.VarsityMonthlyThumb.com Contact us at 989 672 0604 4 • Sports Finest Magazine May 2017 sportsfinestMagzine.com 989 672 0799 kelly@sportsfinestmagazine.com KELLY@SPORTSFINESTMAGAZINE.COM 989 672 0799 SPORTSFINESTMAGAZINE.COM MAY 2017 SPORTS FINEST MAGAZINE • 35Contact us at 989 672 0604 View

MAY SFM 2017 .indd 35 4/28/17 1:49 PM