Energy Drink Dangers Everyone Should Know About

By Susan Dickson

Energy Drink Dangers Everyone Should Know About thegearhunt.com

Energy drinks have been said to be one of the fastest growing beverages on the market today, with expected worldwide sales to reach over $84.8 Billion by the year 2025. That means that the population will be buying a whole lot of energy drinks in that time. Since these drinks contain tons of sugar to make them sweet and quite a bit of caffeine to keep you going, they have become extremely popular with the younger generation. Statistics show that energy drinks are the most sought-after beverage for teens and even young adults, with boys between the ages of 18 and 34 drinking the most drinks and even kids from 12 to 17, drinking them on a regular basis. That would be great if there weren’t proven facts that energy drinks have adverse effects on adults and teens, and have led to quite a few fatalities in recent years.

Of course, there are many myths associated with energy drinks and the pros and cons of drinking them, whether you’re young or old are plentiful as well. However, the general consensus is that energy drinks are extremely bad for you and contain many dangers that adults and especially parents should know about before buying them for their teens or allowing them to drink them.

In this blog, we will delve into the dangers of energy drinks that everyone should know about. This fad is killing adults and children alike, so it’s important that you know what you’re drinking and the side effects it has. We will also delve into the myths and facts associated with energy drinks, as well as the pros and cons, and even the energy drinks that are said to be the most dangerous and unhealthy for you, plus, much, much more. So, grab a cup of coffee or hot cocoa, not an energy drink, please, and join us as we discuss the dangers that everyone should know about energy drinks today.

Energy Drinks that Are Considered to be the Most Dangerous

We will start with a list, and a few details of some of the most dangerous energy drinks out there today. Ready? Then, let’s get started.

From students who are cramming for exams to parents who are trying to juggle work, activities, cooking, cleaning, and being a parent, and from doctors who are working 23 hours a day to the janitor that is working the night shift after not getting any sleep that day, the demand for energy drinks is increasing and sales are better than ever. Of course, with anything else, there are some energy drinks that are more dangerous than others, below you can find a list of the top ones that are dangerous to you, your kids, and your health.

Full Throttle

Introduced in 2004, by the Coca-Cola Company, this energy drink has a whopping 160 milligrams of caffeine in one 16 ounces can. Side effects of this drink include insomnia, irritability, anxiety, euphoria, and has also been linked to seizures. Is this really something you want to be putting into your body?

NOS

The NOS company decided to lower the caffeine level in their energy drink from 260 milligrams to 160 milligrams per 16 ounce can, however, that is still way too much caffeine for your body to handle, especially on a daily basis. Side effects of this drink include diarrhea, nerve damage, delayed muscle recovery, and also an increased risk of diabetes and anxiety as well.

Monster

Monster is one of the most popular energy drinks around and it is also said to be one of the worst and most dangerous to your health. In recent years, Monster has been trying any and everything in its power to make people believe that their energy drink is actually good for you. It’s simply not true, as these drinks have been linked to many different health issues, such as stroke, heart attacks, kidney failure, and even death.

Red Bull

Another of the more popular energy drinks isn’t at all good for you. Red Bull is very high in sugar, contains stimulants, and has been known to cause upset stomachs as well. Side effects are said to include irritability, constipation, and headaches.

Red-Bull

There are other dangerous energy drinks out there as well. A few of them are listed below for your perusal.

VPX Redline
Rockstar
Speed Stack

Cocaine
XS Energy
5-Hour Energy

DynaPep
Spike Shooter
Bang

Any of these have horrible side effects and need to be avoided, just like all energy drinks for the sake of your health.

Side Effects of Energy Drinks

In the last 10 years, The Center for Food Safety Event Reporting System and other FDA departments everywhere have received no less than 140 complaints on Monster, 5-hour energy, and Rockstar energy drinks. Some of these reports have ended with adults and children being put in the hospital and many have ended in death. Below, you can find the side effects of most energy drinks revealed by the ones that are most common. Please, watch for these side effects in yourself and your children if you continue to drink them, after reading this blog.

Heart palpitations and tachycardia

Tremors and shaking
Agitation and restlessness
Intestinal and stomach upset

Chest pains
Dizziness and lightheadedness
Tingling and numbing of the skin

Insomnia
Respiratory distress
Headaches

If you are experiencing any of these side effects when drinking or after drinking an energy drink, stop right away and if needed, seek medical attention immediately.

Possible Dangers of Energy Drinks

There are also quite a few possible dangers of drinking energy drinks as well. We will go into a few below and then list the rest for you to do your research on as well.

An Increase in Headaches and Migraines

Studies have shown that people who drink way too many energy drinks are prone to seeing an increase in headaches and migraines, because of the amount of caffeine in the drinks, as caffeine withdrawal can cause headaches.

Type 2 Diabetes

Because most energy drinks are chock full of sugar, they eventually wear out the insulin in your pancreas, which can lead to Type 2 Diabetes, something no one wants to have to deal with.

Addiction

It is very easy to get addicted to sugar and caffeine, and since energy drinks contain so much of each, it’s highly likely that you will get an addiction to these drinks and have withdrawal symptoms when you decide to stop drinking them.

These are a few of the dangers that everyone should know about when drinking your favorite energy drink, but just a few of them. Below, you can find many more to do your research on, this way you can make up your mind if the risks to your health is worth the jolt an energy drink gives you.

Cardiac arrest
Increased anxiety

Insomnia
Drug interaction
Risky behavior in teens

Jitters
Nervousness
Vomiting

Allergic reactions to the ingredients
High blood pressure
Niacin overdose

Stress hormone release
Mental health problems
Fatigue

Aggression

These are only the side effects and possible dangers that have been discovered so far, there may be more in the works, as the experts continue to study the effects of energy drinks on the human body.

The Pros and Cons of Energy Drinks

As with anything else in the world, energy drinks come with there pros as well. Do those pros outweigh the cons, however? Read on to find out.

Pros:

Gives you a quick energy boost
They are a quick pick me up to get you through the day

Have vitamin B in them
Contains B-6
Contains Niacin

Contains a few other ingredients that are supposed to be good for you

Cons:

Contain an awful amount of caffeine and sugar

Lowers blood levels to cause a sugar and caffeine crash that leaves you tired and irritable
Not good for exercising, as they leave you dehydrated
Can become an addiction

Causes headaches and migraines
Can kill you

It seems to us that the cons really outweigh the pros here, especially when it comes to dying over drinking your favorite energy drink. However, the choice is yours as to whether it’s worth the risk for you and your family members.

Popular Myths About Energy Drinks Debunked

There are many, many myths out there today about energy drinks that need to be debunked with cold, hard, concrete facts. Read on below for a few of those myths to be debunked here.

Myth: One Cup of Coffee has the Same Amount of Caffeine as One Energy Drink

Busted:

Of course, everyone knows that the amount of caffeine in both coffee and energy drinks can vary by the cup and by the brand and the size of the beverage. However, statistics show that most energy drinks have five times the amount of caffeine a single cup of coffee does. That is a whole lot of caffeine to be pumping into your body at one sitting. Part of the problem here is the size of the portions in energy drinks. With a cup of coffee, you are more apt to sip at it, especially when it’s hot. With an energy drink, there is more of a chance that you will gulp a couple down in quick succession, which is super-dangerous.

Myth: Energy Drinks Don’t Harm Anyone

Busted:

There is more than irrefutable proof that energy drinks can certainly cause a person harm provided above and there are stories all over the news as well and don’t forget the studies that have been done and the people who have died as a result of energy drinks. The amounts of caffeine and sugar in energy drinks is insane, so how could they not harm you?

Myth: They Give You Energy and Help You Focus

Busted:

Trust me, there are other ways to get energy and increase your focus, like getting a few hours of sleep, that don’t contain tons of side effects. Yes, energy drinks can help you focus for a bit and give you a nice jolt of energy, but that sugar and caffeine high are going to wear off quickly, and the crash that follows isn’t pretty. Not only that, but the crash leaves you craving another energy drink, which once again is really bad for your health.

Myth: Energy Drinks Improve Your Performance at Athletics

Busted:

Although many of the energy drink ads feature famous athletes who claim the energy drinks improve their performance, there is absolutely no evidence or proof that has been found to support or substantiate those claims. There are some ingredients in energy drinks that are said to improve athletic performance, but not enough of them to actually make any difference. So, until there is substantial proof that this is true, this myth will stay busted. Sorry, guys!

Myth: Energy Drinks and Alcohol Help Your High

Busted:

It’s never a good idea to mix anything with alcohol, even an energy drink. They do cover up the feeling you get when being drunk, however, is still not a safe idea or a smart one to mix the two. There are even studies that show mixing the two can result in risky behavior that you otherwise wouldn’t have engaged in, and a stint in jail for your troubles, if you get caught.

These are just a few of the myths out there that need to be debunked about energy drinks. Look them up, the next time you go to take a swig of that energy drink and then put it down and go with a safer option to get your energy instead since your life might very well depend on it.

This concludes our blog on the dangers everyone should know about energy drinks. Read this carefully, do your research and make the right decision. Stay safe, everyone!