Sometimes a grabbing quick Red Bull on the way to school can seem like the perfect solution to a long day. With homework, sports and other activities, having an energy drink that promises an instant boost can be tempting. While energy drinks make people temporarily more awake, that boost can come with several downsides, which can be more extreme for teenagers, as stated by the American Academy of Pediatrics.
According to UCLA Center for Health Policy Research, approximately 37% of California teens consume one or more energy drinks daily. Ideally, high school students should not consume energy drinks at all because a single energy drink exceeds the daily caffeine limit recommended for teenagers, according to Johns Hopkins Medicine.
The most significant problem with caffeine is how it affects sleep. Caffeine can remain in your body for hours, and the American Academy of Pediatrics notes that caffeine can contribute to sleep loss, disturbing a student’s concentration and function at school. While you may drink an energy drink because you are tired, the caffeine can interfere with the sleep you need to avoid being tired in the first place.
Besides the disruption of your sleep schedule, energy drinks can also affect the heart and nervous system. Side effects can include increased heart rate and high blood pressure, according to the CDC (Center for Disease Control and Prevention). The FDA (Food and Drug Administration) also warns that too much caffeine can cause symptoms, such as increased heart rate, heart palpitations, anxiety, and headaches.
While small amounts of caffeine for teens can be tolerable rather than harmful, the amount of caffeine typically packed in a single drink far surpasses the limit of a 100 milligrams of caffeine for teens. The FDA reports that energy drinks can contain anywhere from 41 to 246 milligrams of caffeine in a 12-ounce serving. On top of the typically marketed caffeine, energy drinks usually contain guarana, which contains natural caffeine.
Sugar is another concern. High sugar levels can cause weight gain, blood sugar spikes, and long term metabolic damage, according to Johns Hopkins Medicine.
However, even sugar-free options do not eliminate the other concerns associated with caffeine and other stimulants. For example, Ginseng and L-Carnitine, despite being marketed as healthy additions, lack safety testing for children and teens. These stimulants often increase physical symptoms like anxiety and heart palpitations, according to the Cleveland Clinic Health Essentials.
However, the side effects of energy drinks does not mean that everyone who drinks an energy drink will experience serious health problems. People respond to caffeine differently, and the amounts vary in different products. Nevertheless, health organizations agree that teenagers are more vulnerable to the effects of caffeine and recommend avoiding caffeinated drinks entirely. Despite the down side of caffeine, it is hard to avoid it entirely. The best thing you can do is do your best to avoid energy drinks.
