Energy Drinks: How Safe Are They?
Learn what energy drinks are, how they affect the body, and what risks they hide.
Contents:
What are their ingredients?
Sugar (temporarily boosts energy)
Caffeine
Taurine (not from bull sperm, but an organic compound)
Inositol (improves focus)
Niacin
Ginseng
L-Carnitine
What are the benefits?
Not actual health benefits, but they provide a quick fix when our energy runs low—whether that’s due to lack of sleep or the need for greater concentration. It’s worth noting they don’t truly increase focus; rather, through caffeine, they stimulate the central nervous system—something that’s not necessarily positive.
When the body is tired, it needs recovery through sleep, not chemical substances forcing it to operate beyond its limits.
Energy burst! Due to caffeine, but this puts extra strain on the cardiovascular system.
What are the side effects?
Strain on organ function.
Caffeine (a nervous system stimulant which, over time, weakens it). It provides a short-term boost that quickly fades, leading to dependency—since you’ll want to feel that effect again. This creates caffeine addiction, which also negatively impacts adenosine triphosphate (ATP), a neurotransmitter responsible for our energy!
Caffeine also raises cortisol, the stress hormone, leading to chronic fatigue and adrenal exhaustion.
Effects on the cardiovascular system: heart rate increases! Consuming energy drinks before exercise raises blood pressure and heart rate, constricts blood vessels, and triggers adrenaline release—which further elevates blood pressure.
Dehydration: Their diuretic action leads to fluid loss without proper rehydration. Reduced body water means cellular dehydration and less oxygen at the cellular level—essential for transporting energy through blood flow. The result? Instead of more energy, you get the opposite. During workouts, even more water, minerals, and trace elements are lost and often not replaced, adding strain on the kidneys.
Overconsumption causes short-term stimulation but quickly leads to side effects such as palpitations, tremors, dizziness, nervousness, chest pain, insomnia, and headaches.
Long-term use leads to gastrointestinal issues and reduces nutrient absorption in the intestinal lining.
Sugar: Combined with caffeine, it offers a temporary boost, but in reality, sugar is not beneficial for athletes—especially when healthier, longer-lasting energy sources exist (e.g., maltose, dextrose, fructose, or carbohydrate polymers from food or sports supplements). Energy drinks have very high sugar content, and frequent consumption greatly increases obesity risk. Even low- or zero-sugar versions often contain polyols, some of which slow carbohydrate metabolism in the liver and negatively affect the gastrointestinal tract.
Energy drinks + alcohol: A dangerous combination! Alcohol slows brain and nervous system activity, causing drowsiness and reduced reflexes, while caffeine is stimulating. This conflicting effect is highly risky and should be avoided.
Conclusions & Useful Tips
Energy drinks are harmful and best avoided. They are not necessary for the body; instead, they can be damaging and offer false promises.