Energy Drinks

posted 7/22/2009

Let's face it, energy drinks are popular. But is that a good thing? Well, many of the ones you can purchase contain large amounts of caffeine, which is an addictive stimulant.

This has resulted in many teenagers being hooked on products such as Red Bull and Monster to name a few.

According to many doctors and nutritionists, it is recommended that teens limit their caffeine intake to 100 or 200 milligrams per day. However, one serving of some of these drinks has about 3,000 milligrams of caffeine. Even more shocking is that some of them are sold in cans that are equivalent to three servings!

What makes it harder to determine the caffiene amount in these beverages is that many of their manufacturers do not label ingredients as being caffeine. They label them with their herbal name, Guarana.

And here's something I bet many of you didn't know -- one marketing ploy that appeals to teenagers is the addition of alcohol in some energy drinks. They are cleverly disguised in an ordinary can, but these drinks contain more alcohol content than a can of beer! So watch out!

Teenagers should have a natural energy through their regular diets, that they shouldn't have to rely on other energy boosters. In moderation, okay, but as part of their daily routine -- not a great idea.

If a teen feels they do want an energy product, find the ones that have healthy ingredients, but still limit how often they are used.

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