Could your energy drink kill you?
By Idlewild
@Idlewild (6090)
United States
December 12, 2006 9:32am CST
An article in the 12/12/06 New York Times looks at the potentially serious health effects of consuming energy drinks, which can have as much caffeine as two cups of coffee in one can.
Even moderate amounts of caffeine can be dangerous to people with conditions such as high blood pressure, cardiovascular disease, and anxiety, and the effect can be even more harmful in young people (a key consumer group for energy drinks).
Most of these drinks don't list the amount of caffeine on the label, so drinkers don't know how much caffeine they're consuming. The effects of mixing such drinks with alcohol is not yet known.
The article notes: "A recent survey by researchers at Northwestern University found that an overdose of caffeine supplements triggered more than 250 reports to the Illinois Poison Control Center over a three-year period. The average age of those affected was 21."
Would news such as this make you reduce the amount of energy drinks you consume, or at least try to find out how much caffeine is in your brand?
2 people like this
56 responses
@ChewySpree (1832)
• United States
12 Dec 06
This is a scary article and I'm glad that the press is helping to raise awareness. With the popularity of coffee (ie: Starbucks) and energy drinks like Red Bull, most people just drink caffeine all day and don't give it a second thought. But it really can be dangerous in several ways. I do try to limit my caffeine intake - I am 20 weeks pregnant right now. Even before I became pregnant I was cautious about caffeine and kept an eye on it, because when I overdo it I get jittery.
1 person likes this
@Idlewild (6090)
• United States
12 Dec 06
Another thing about Starbucks coffees is that they sometimes have up to twice the caffeine as coffee you brew at home--they and other chains use more ground coffee for each cup because it gives a better, richer flavor. Combine that with the tendency of people to order Starbucks in 24 oz sizes, and it's a wonder we're not seeing people twitching as they walk down the street!
@ChewySpree (1832)
• United States
12 Dec 06
You are exactly right. Even their decaffeinated coffees have quite a bit of caffeine. I have never been a Starbucks fan myself - I think the beans taste burnt and the store is pretentious.
1 person likes this
@brokentia (10389)
• United States
12 Dec 06
"twitching as they walk down the street" ha ha That was great!!!!
1 person likes this
@Thewishlady (1057)
• Netherlands
13 Feb 07
Well I dont drink energy drinks very often so I'm not worried about this...
When I drink energy drinks I drink no more than 2-3 cans of them...
1 person likes this
@Thewishlady (1057)
• Netherlands
13 Feb 07
LOL....
That sounds like a lot...
I'm glad I dont drink them very often LOL
1 person likes this
@hockeygal4ever (10021)
• United States
10 Apr 07
I am constantly trying to tell my kids this about those drinks. They will often buy them just to drink and in all honesty they have no clue what they're doing to themselves. It's amazing that something "off the shelf" can be so potent and make such a difference.
1 person likes this
@BigGulpsAlright (4)
• United States
12 Dec 06
I can't stand energy drinks. I find it funny that some people actually find that taste good when they taste like cat piss(not that I would know exactly what that tastes like ;) ).
1 person likes this
@velicheder (32)
• Italy
2 Apr 07
I don't drink energy drink such as Red Bull or Flames,I think that they can be harmful to our organism if it's keeping on drinking,better a cup of coffee and go
1 person likes this
@insomni4k (424)
• Indonesia
27 Feb 07
I think... everything that I drink and eat could make me die.. btw I still consume energy drink if I need it.
@pebbles_cubbie (3789)
• United States
13 Feb 07
i know many people that are addicted to red bull or another energy drink. even mt. dew is addicting. i was addicted to it for a long time. i finally cut down and now i rarely drink it. it is bad that they don't put the amount of caffeine on the can or bottle. i think they should be made to do that. i stopped drinking mt. dew all the time because it made my hands shake and i couldn't sleep and i couldn't lose any weight. this is a good discussion and thanks for bringing this to other's attention. someone may live because you took the time to write about this.
1 person likes this
@lloydanthony111 (4698)
• United States
28 Feb 07
I've always wondered about these energy drinks. I tried Red Bull once and didn't like it.
I know they are loaded with caffeine and too much can be harmful.
Thanks for the information.
Lloyd
1 person likes this
@Idlewild (6090)
• United States
28 Feb 07
Coke announced it's going to provide caffeine content for all its products on their packages. I think some of the other big drink makers are going to do the same. This is good for helping people know exactly how much they're getting, so they can be aware of what they're putting into their bodies.
@charlie69 (334)
•
1 Feb 07
I drink energy drinks. Only 1 can at a time though because i know caffeine should be limited. I drink them about twice a week if i have a long shift on at work to keep me from getting tired. But i disagree with what you say about not labelling them, all the energy drinks ive ever had say on them how much caffeine is in them, i thought it was a food standards regulation or something that they had to.
1 person likes this
@Idlewild (6090)
• United States
1 Feb 07
Maybe some of them have started putting caffeine content on the label in response to controversies like this. As far as I know there's no law requiring them to list contents, but maybe the makers see such a law coming and figured they may as well list the contents.
@Justareceptionist (869)
• United States
14 Feb 07
Those energy drinks are dangerous and what makes it so dangerous is people use them for purposes they're not supposed to. Take Gatorade for instance. Some people just like that taste and will drink it if they're driving or watching T.V. OR they'll drink it if they want to wake up. That's what coffee's for! But people drink Gatorade to avoid dehydration mainly.
Then there are the jocks who swear by energy drinks. It only pumps them up and strains their heart. And I've tasted Red Bull which is very popular and it's DISGUSTING! I hear it does get you going but I've seen some people go nuts after drinking that.
1 person likes this
@sanjeev8302 (126)
• India
27 Feb 07
Such news are very mindblogging bringing a sense of distrust in the products. Even Energy drinks are no exceptions. Yes, such news would surely make me know the chemistry of such drinks & I know taking caffeine drinks are harmful. I have reduced such drinks to a greater extent. Nowadays mostly I stick to fruit juices which are good energy drinks & sweetening & refreshing.
@bayboy (986)
• United States
13 Dec 06
I drink 2 energy drinks lately, one to wake me up in the morning and one to relax a little after school.. im a big caffeine addict since i was 9.. Well i dont see anything bad happening to me or having any of those things that you guys have.. and oh i drink that Monster Energy Drink..
1 person likes this
@Idlewild (6090)
• United States
13 Dec 06
Two a day isn't that much, and if you're been a caffeine addict so long your body's probably used to it. I think the article was mainly concerned with people who drink a lot or may have conditions that would make it a good idea for them not to drink it. And since they don't say how much caffeine they put in the stuff, it's hard to know.
@sharon613 (2321)
• United States
13 Dec 06
Energy drinks are good for you. Check out my web page:
http://www.gogoforlife.com/desktoplightning
1 person likes this
@harsh1985 (593)
• India
13 Dec 06
yes man my friend has already faced a very serious side-effects of energy drink...it intially make you more hungry after some days your digestive system get completely destroyed.so please avoid this as most as possible
i will suggest you the most efficient and harmless energy drink---' LEMON-WATER' .as i using it last 4 to 5 years..no harmful effects are observed
1 person likes this
@snurfy2k (12)
• United States
13 Dec 06
I drink a Red Bull every morning and about half of a Mountain Dew at lunch time, I don't see where I have any more or less energy. I think it is how your body handles what you put in it. I could go tomorrow without any caffeine and wouldn't get a headache. I drink the Red Bull mostly for the taste, some people think it tastes awful but I like it.
@smbilalshah (1316)
• Pakistan
13 Dec 06
whoa! thats alarming i think they should b consumed as a necessity for replenishing ur energy while u r working hard not as a beverage for fun....
ofcourse any thing that boosts ur performance will slow ur body down in the lo0ng term but still i dont think these things r deadly
besides i dont like em i hate their taste....yukh!
1 person likes this
@Idlewild (6090)
• United States
13 Dec 06
The thing is, they aren't good for when you're working hard or working out, like Gatorade; they dehydrate you just when you need MORE water in your body, not less.
I don't care for the taste, either, the one's I've had are like cough syrup. They've come up with some tastier ones, I've heard.
@xr650l (5)
• United States
13 Dec 06
Excessive caffine could probably adversely effect someone
with pre exisiting health problems. Especially combined with
an athletic endeavor. At least ephedra was removed from
alot of the energy drinks and pills. I think alot more
potential side effects from that mix. I think the only
way to really build more energy is a healthy diet and
exercise
1 person likes this
@Idlewild (6090)
• United States
13 Dec 06
Ephedra, yes, that was scary, huh?
You're right about good diet and exercise--and sleep too. A lot of people are sleep-deprived these days so they use caffeine to make up for the lack of rest they're getting. Eventually it catches up with you, though.
