Full Throttle, Rock Star, Monster, Red Bull. They sound more like the names of rock bands than energy drinks. The catchy names are catching on with young people who are devouring the drinks by the gallon. Each can is loaded with sugar and caffeine to provide instant energy. “So many athletes aren’t drinking water on the sidelines anymore. They don‘t even drink Gatorade. All they want are energy drinks,” said Andrea Rogers, a certified athletic trainer for several college, high school and youth sports teams. Children are so busy guzzling energy drinks that they probably don’t realize there’s a warning on the side of the can. The warning label on a can of NOS reads:
CAUTION: POWERFUL.
Not recommended for children,
pregnant women or people sensitive to caffeine.
A similar warning is found on the side of Rock Star. Both Rock Star and NOS come in 16-ounce cans, which actually contain two servings. If you drank the whole can, you would be consuming 54 grams of sugar--that’s equal to more than 13 teaspoons of sugar!
Cans of Monster energy drink display a warning similar to the one found on alcoholic beverages: “Consume Responsibly- Limit three cans per day.” Joe Romero won’t let his 11-year-old daughter indulge in an energy drink. “Kids already come with their natural energy. Why boost it?” Romero pointed out. “It’s just another reason for them to pick up a bad habit.” Romero was surprised to find out that energy drinks are often sold at snack bars during sporting events. But you won’t find any warning signs posted in the snack bar, cautioning children or parents about health risks. That’s because energy drinks are considered “soft drinks” by the government and are not regulated in the same way.
The first thing you see on the NOS website (www.drinknos.com) is a picture of a can of NOS being drilled into the back of a person’s skull. “That may not be too far from reality,” said Rogers. “It’s very dangerous. Kids under twelve are drinking these and, depending on their body weight, their heart can’t handle it. It increases their heart rate and blood pressure.” Dr. Monty C. Morales of Pima Heart Associates agrees. “Caffeine can cause heart arrhythmia. The heart beats rapidly or irregularly. People can feel light- headed and dizzy and pass out.” While the athlete is drinking an energy drink to get pumped up, it could actually have the opposite effect. “In the worst-case scenario, it could lead to sudden death,” said Dr. Morales. “Most young athletes haven’t been seen by a doctor and don’t know if they may have an underlying medical problem. And then they’re taking these stimulants. That’s not good.”
Young athletes lose fluids during practice and competition through sweat and exertion. Add caffeine to the mix and the body is further deprived of fluids. “It’s a double negative effect. You’re not drinking water and then you’re consuming a diuretic that dehydrates you. It’s very dangerous,” said Rogers. She highly recommends athletes hydrate themselves 24 hours before playing and immediately after. She suggests they drink water before competition and Gatorade after to replenish electrolytes.
Energy drinks are not only popular among athletes: they’re also being consumed by young people who want to be more alert. The makers of Red Bull claim “increased performance especially during times of increased stress or strain.” When you’re a teenager, that description could apply to you almost every day. Red Bull also claims to stimulate metabolism, which could be enough to entice teenage girls who are trying to lose weight. “We thought sodas were bad. This is so much worse. I talked to a sixteen-year-old the other day who had four cans of NOS by eight in the morning! That’s what kids are doing to get a buzz,” exclaimed Rogers. Perhaps energy drinks should contain one more warning: consumer beware.
