What is the impact of consuming
Energy Drinks?
Ajibo, C., et al. “Consumption of Energy Drinks by
Children and Young People: A Systematic Review Examining Evidence of Physical
Effects and Consumer Attitudes.” Public Health, W.B. Saunders, 15 Jan.
2024, www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0033350623003189.
This article raises the views on how other countries view energy drinks.
A few countries have already decided to implement laws and regulations
regarding energy drinks by banning sales to anyone under the age of 18.
Currently, the United States does not have any age limits or restrictions on
energy drinks. Some of the studies mentioned in the article stated that energy
drink consumers were more likely to act in unsafe behaviors and make poor
decisions. There are many more examples cited of the effects that energy drinks
have on one’s physical and even mental health.
Reading this article, I was struck by the fact that the United States
does not regulate energy drinks, despite other countries having already done
so. It’s a common understanding that alcohol can impair decision-making, but
who would have thought that energy drinks could have a similar effect? This
revelation about the potential impact on mental health was eye-opening for me,
and I believe it will be for many others as well.
I can use this article to demonstrate that several countries have already
taken decisive action by implementing laws on energy drinks. This information
is crucial for policymakers and healthcare professionals to understand the
urgency and importance of this issue.
Clinic, Cleveland “Are Energy Drinks
Bad for You?” Cleveland Clinic, 25 Mar. 2024,
health.clevelandclinic.org/are-energy-drinks-bad-for-you.
This article discusses some of the
pros and cons of drinking energy drinks. Energy drinks contain many good
ingredients that are beneficial to our health. While they may help temporarily,
they can have profound effects later. Consuming energy drinks every so often is
not likely to cause these health problems. There are many factors to look out
for before trying an energy drink. Mixing energy drinks with certain
medications or alcohol can have adverse effects.
This article brought to my attention
some of the good qualities of energy drinks. Energy drinks contain a mix of
vitamins and minerals that are good for us. Having an energy drink occasionally
can be beneficial, but having it too often can be a horrible idea.
I can use this article to support some
of the opposing views by discussing the benefits of drinking energy drinks.
Clinic, Cleveland. “Are Energy Drinks
for Kids A Good Idea?” Cleveland Clinic, 22 Apr. 2021,
health.clevelandclinic.org/are-energy-drinks-for-kids-a-good-idea.
This article provides information on the effects that energy drinks have
on children. In addition to having more caffeine and sugar than what is
considered a safe amount for children, they could cause them to have anxiety,
trouble sleeping, or even seizures. Drinking energy drinks regularly could also
affect a child’s brain development and cardiovascular system. The article also
pointed out that there are no regulations on caffeine and that there could
actually be more in the beverage than what is shown on the container. There are
multiple other options for kids who believe they need something for energy,
such as beverages with little to no sugar and no caffeine.
This article gave me more thoughts on how unhealthy energy drinks are not
only for children but also for adults. I am amazed that there are no
regulations on caffeine and that there could be much more in the beverage than
what is labeled.
I can use this article to inform readers that you can’t always believe
what is shown on the nutrition label.
Costantino, Andrea, et al. “The Dark Side of Energy
Drinks: A Comprehensive Review of Their Impact on the Human Body.” MDPI,
Multidisciplinary Digital Publishing Institute, 9 Sept. 2023,
www.mdpi.com/2072-6643/15/18/3922.
This article discusses how the use of
energy drinks has rapidly increased over the years. Companies are promoting
them and targeting young people despite an increasing number of otherwise
healthy individuals needing medical attention. They continue to advertise a
multitude of benefits to draw the attention of the younger generations. They
have also made it easily accessible to buy, as energy drinks are sold at most
stores. This has led to drinking energy drinks in a more significant amount
than is recommended.
This article brought up many good
points. How can we keep energy drinks out of the hands of children if they are
sold in stores everywhere, especially when companies make advertisements
directed toward them?
I can use this article to show the
availability of energy drinks and how their marketing techniques have caused
them to be consumed in higher amounts than recommended for children and adults.
Fox, Maggie. “Caffeine Overdose Killed
South Carolina Teen, Coroner Rules.” NBCNews.Com, NBCUniversal News
Group, 16 May 2017,
www.nbcnews.com/health/health-news/south-carolina-teen-died-caffeine-overdose-coroner-rules-n759716.
This article talked about a parent’s
concern with children drinking energy drinks. The parent suffered the loss of
their teenager after he consumed an energy drink. These are the kind of
situations that most don’t think about. The teenager, like many others, didn’t
know they were doing anything wrong. Caffeine isn’t typically something that
people consider to be harmful.
This article gave me a lot of thoughts
about the effects that energy drinks can have not only on the individuals
drinking them but also on their families. Something as simple as caffeine can
become fatal.
I can use this article to show the
impact that energy drinks can have on people who don’t even drink them.
Harrison-Dunn, Annie. “Should Energy
Drinks Be Age-Restricted like Alcohol? Who Official Asks in Report.” Beveragedaily.Com,
William Reed Ltd, 24 Oct. 2014,
www.beveragedaily.com/Article/2014/10/24/energy-drinks-health-risks-for-teenagers-and-children-who-report#.
This article brings up concerns
regarding whether there should be age limits on energy drinks. There has been
increasing attention to the activities that tend to be associated with drinking
energy drinks. Since companies market toward younger people, they are more at
risk of drinking too much. In some cases, energy drinks are combined with
alcohol. This can lead to serious health issues and more risky behaviors.
This article brought to my attention
that younger people like to experiment. Most energy drinks already say not to
mix with alcohol. So, putting age restrictions could at least slow down the
number of children experimenting with energy drinks.
I can use this article to raise
awareness of some of the activities that are included in drinking energy drinks
and show the need for age restrictions.
Kole, Jon, and Anne Barnhill.
“Caffeine Content Labeling: A Missed Opportunity for Promoting Personal and
Public Health.” Journal of Caffeine Research, U.S. National Library of
Medicine, Sept. 2013,
www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3777296/#:~:text=Numerous%20policymakers%20at%20the%20federal,stricter%20regulation%20of%20energy%20drinks.
This article mentions all the
different food and beverage groups that contain caffeine. One energy drink can
contain up to double the amount of caffeine in a single dose compared to a soda
or coffee. This makes energy drinks even more risky, as there is no way to
track how much caffeine is being consumed accurately. According to the article,
there should be changes to the way caffeine is regulated and labeled.
I agree. Companies should be required
to list and label the caffeine content of their products accurately. I never
realized that many different snacks even contain caffeine, so having an energy
drink on top of all that could be bad news.
I can use this article to bring
awareness to the fact that many foods and beverages also contain the main
ingredient in energy drinks, which is caffeine.
Shah, Sachin A., et al. “JAHA Journal of the American
Heart Association.” Impact of High-Volume Energy Drink Consumption on
Electrocardiographic and Blood Pressure Parameters: A Randomized Trial, 29
May 2019, www.ahajournals.org/doi/pdf/10.1161/JAHA.114.001524.
This article states that they used
healthy participants over the age of 18 without any known medical conditions.
They monitored a group that had no energy drinks or caffeine and fasted apart
from water each night before the tests compared to the group consuming energy
drinks. Based on their studies, energy drinks caused changes in heart rate and
rhythms and increases in blood pressure. There have been concerns regarding the
safety of consuming energy drinks. According to the article, there have also
been 34 deaths because of energy drinks.
This article gave me insight into the
effects energy drinks have on our bodies. The participants were adults, and
they experienced adverse effects, which made me think about all the adverse
effects that energy drinks can have on children. I was a little surprised by
how many deaths were caused by consuming energy drinks.
I can use this article to give factual
evidence involving the risks of allowing children or themselves to drink energy
drinks.
