Sales of energy drinks continue to increase

Sales of Energy Drinks Continue to Increase

Energy drinks are becoming the beverage of choice for people of all ages. As their popularity rises, so do the sales numbers. Although soft drinks are still the largest seller of all cold drinks, energy drinks continue to chip away, claiming a larger percentage of this lucrative market each year.

Aggressive marketing campaigns directed towards athletes and young people have spurred the popularity of energy drinks nationwide. Hip and edgy advertisements promise that energy drinks will ignite the mind, refresh the body, help you party like a rock star, as well as enhance performance and stamina.

Energy drinks are especially popular among college students looking for something to help them stay alert during all-night study sessions. As well as, they are also used to mix popular alcoholic drinks and cocktails.

Energy drinks with names like Rock Star, Monster, Red Bull, Full Throttle, Spike, Amp and Life Force all sell the image of energy, speed, and strength. Uniquely designed, as well as colorful packaging, help increase the attraction for users which are lured by the “cool” factor.

Although young people make up the largest percentage of users, energy drinks appeal to anyone who feels like they need an extra boost, and these days, that means most of us. Energy drinks appeal to truck drivers trying to stay awake for the long haul, computer programmers, young professionals, as well as athletes hoping to increase their performance.

Energy Drinks Have Double the Caffeine of Soft Drinks

Caffeine is the primary ingredient in energy drinks, with the majority of the drinks contain twice the amount of caffeine than in soft drinks

The ingredients that make up of energy drinks vary widely, but sugar is generally the secondary ingredient. This in itself is an energy booster for most people. One container of an energy drink will have between 14 and 17 teaspoons of sugar. If someone consumes several cans of an energy drink, would mean that is a tremendous amount of sugar. Most health professionals recommend a limit of 12 teaspoons of sugar per day.

Other ingredients vary from brand to brand, which are often herbal, allowing the producer to promote the drink as healthy and nutritious. Most of these herbal ingredients are energy boosters.

Taurine is an amino acid which is found naturally in the body. A person’s taurine balance can become depleted during extreme physical exertion, as well as high stress. It is also believed to have antioxidant properties that can enable the body to dispose of toxins and harmful substances more efficiently.

L-Carnitine is another amino acid found naturally in the human body, which is believed to increase energy and metabolism.

Many energy drinks contain herbs such as ginkgo biloba, which is believed to aide memory and concentration, or ginseng and guarana root, which are thought to be healthy ingredients that increase energy and reduce stress.

Possible Risks of Energy Drinks

The high levels of caffeine in energy drinks can create problems for many consumers. Caffeine is a stimulant, and is known to be mildly addictive. When used excessively, it can create stomach ulcers, nervousness, headaches and heart palpitations, but how much caffeine it takes to cause problems varies from person to person.

Thought to be potentially more problematic are the various extra energy boosters. The level of these ingredients is usually not listed on the label, and it’s often difficult to know how ingredients such as taurine, L-Carnitine and energy-enhancing herbs will affect the body when combined with caffeine.

Although the jury may be out about the health benefits and potential risks of energy drinks, there is no argument that they become particularly dangerous when they are combined with alcohol. Unfortunately, this use of energy drinks is becoming increasingly popular.

Mixing a depressant like alcohol with a stimulant like an energy drink is often an invitation for trouble because the energy drink can lessen alcohol’s effect on the metabolism. As a result, it’s easy to drink more and feel the effects less, an especially dangerous combination that leads drinkers to believe they aren’t as impaired as they really are. Energy drinks can also make alcoholic drinks taste less like alcohol.

Energy Drinks in Moderation

When is comes to energy drinks, the old adage is especially true. Energy drinks are believed to be a safe drink when used in moderation. An occasional energy drink will cause most people no problems whatsoever, and may give the user a slight and short lived boost of energy. However, energy drinks should not take the place of proper nutrition and adequate rest, should never be used in place of a meal, and should never be mixed with alcohol.