Negative Effects of Energy Drinks

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Stroll into any high school or college and one will definitely find energy drinks. Energy drinks are served in tall cans with garish designs and slogans designed to catch the attention of children and teenagers. But what are they? Commercials will tell people that just by drinking them, they can stay up all night, ace a test, score with a girl, and be happy. Some have even said to give you superpowers. According to the advertising campaigns, energy drinks are equivalent to omnipotence in a can. But are energy drinks all they claim to be? The simple answer is no. Often energy drinks turn out to be more than just sugar and caffeine which makes energy drinks dangerous. Energy drinks cause negative side effects, such as heart problems and obesity in young americans, and therefore should have a legal drinking age of 18.
Before you drink another energy drink, please take into consideration what some of the ingredients are. “The large amounts of sugar in energy drinks can lead to unnecessary spikes in blood sugar, dental health problems, and added weight gain.” (Readers digest editors 1). “Compare it to a popular soda and you’ll find that often energy drinks contain even more sugar than a regular soda.” (Readers digest editors 1). Just one can of Monster contains over 50 grams of sugar. That’s almost a quarter cup of sugar! Very many health risks can result from ingesting that much caffeine and sugar in just a short amount of time. People who often drink energy drinks regularly see a decrease in the amount of sleep they get every night, which has an immediate and detrimental impact on focus and overall health for them. Energy drinks contain obscene amounts of caffeine, sugar and chemicals. A can of normal soda, like Coke or Dr. Pepper, ...

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...he dangers of energy drink use a reasonable age would be 18. These measures, if enacted, could seriously help combat the problem of energy drinks and reduce the amount of teens suffering from their accompanying health problems.

Works Cited

Readers digest editors, . "The Dangers of Energy Drinks."Readers digest. n.d. 1. Print.
Sadowska, Joanna. "EVALUATION OF THE EFFECT OF CONSUMING AN ENERGY DRINK ON THE CONCENTRATION OF GLUCOSE AND TRIACYLGLYCEROLS AND ON FATTY TISSUE DEPOSITION. A MODEL STUDY.." 11.3 (2012): 311-318. ebsco. Web. 11 Mar 2014.
Sara M. Seifert, BS, Judith L. Schaechter, MD, Eugene R. Hershorin, MD, Steven E. Lipshultz, MD, . “Health Effects of Energy Drinks on Children, Adolescents, and Young Adults." 127.3 (2011): 511-528. google scholar. Web. 11 Mar 2014.
"seconds count." scai . N.p.. Web. 11 Mar 2014.

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