Energy Drink


College curriculum, work deadlines, and two-year-olds all have one thing in common: they can cause sleep deprivation! Currently, there are a variety of products available to assist in combating lethargy and drowsiness, and among them, energy drinks are some of the most accessible. Energy drinks are infused with caffeine, sugar, vitamins, and other stimulants including natural and herbal supplements in order to promote alertness and stave off sleep. Energy drinks may also advertise a boost in concentration and awareness along with alertness.

Energy Drink Markets

Energy drinks are commonly marketed towards youth, and their packaging reflects that: brightly colored cans and bottles with powerful imagery on the outside, and a candy or citrus soda type flavoring on the inside. Energy drinks should not be mistaken or confused with the similar market of sports drinks. Whereas energy drinks are admittedly inundated with sugar and caffeine, and can cause dehydration, sports drinks are infused with electrolytes and rehydrating components to replenish the body's minerals after loss during activity.

Common Energy Drinks

With the recent surge in energy drink popularity, the category has become a common one for many beverage companies to explore. There are new products introduced regularly that span ingredients ranging from high-fructose corm syrup and aspartame, to all-natural juice components and supplements such as ginseng and green tea extract. Another recent ingredient gaining popularity in the energy drink field is a guarana berry extract. The guarana berry, found mainly in Venezuela, is a natural source of caffeine. This, coupled with green tea extract and other naturally occurring ingredients, gives beverage companies permission to advertise a “natural energy product," where the main component is still caffeine.

The Effects of Caffeine

Because caffeine, a stimulant, is the main component in most energy drinks, there may be side effects from consumption including increased heartbeat and stomach acid. The effects of an energy drink can usually be felt within fifteen minutes to an hour after consumption, as the caffeine enters the bloodstream, and may last anywhere from several hours to an entire day based on an individual's reaction to the stimulant.

Over-consumption of caffeine-laden energy drinks may produce effects such as nausea, dizziness, anxiety, diarrhea, among other symptoms, as well as possibly convulsions in cases of extreme overdose. Caffeine can be considered addictive, and withdrawal symptoms such as headaches, lethargy, and restlessness can occur upon reduction. Symptoms will commonly be more increased in duration and intensity if consumption is suddenly cut off, but will generally abate in several days, although milder forms of these effects may last as long as a week or two.

By Barbara Poelle           


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