I get a lot of questions on energy drinks so I thought I would discuss some of the common ingredients in most drinks.

Taurine:
• Amino acid
• Can act as an antioxidant
• Abundant in the muscle, heart and brain
• Associated with increasing energy and increasing protein synthesis

Phenylalanine:
• Amino acid
• Claims to improve immune support
• Claims to increase energy

Glucose:
• Simplest form of carbohydrate
• Sugar

Sucrose:
• Occurs naturally and thought of as ‘table sugar’
• Sugar

Caffeine:
• Stimulates the CNS
• Fights fatigue
• May be used as an ergogenic aid
• World’s most abused substance

Ginkgo biloba:
• Claims to have effects on mental alertness for focus
• Some evidence it might help prevent symptoms of seasonal affective disorder (SAD)
• Claims to have positive effects of memory impairment, Alzheimer’s disease and demintia

Guarana:
• Herbal equivalent to caffeine

The average energy drink has 110 calories and 30 grams of sugar, with the equivalent of two tablespoons of sugar. They also have caffeine equivalent to the amount in one cup of coffee.

Some dangers to energy drinks can be: dehydration, restlessness and irritability, increased blood pressure and weight gain. When taken in excessive amounts, they can lead to manic episodes, seizures, chest pain, heart attacks and even sudden cardiac death.

Alcohol and energy drinks are very popular at the bar. These can be dangerous for several reasons; first you may not feel as intoxicated as you really are, so it can lead to the danger of attempting to drive. You essentially are an alert drunk. It can also be dangerous because caffeine acts as a stimulant, which speeds up the CNS, and alcohol acts as a depressant, which slows down the CNS. This is like getting into your car and pushing on both the brake and the gas pedals confusing the body and causing it to jolt.

Some healthy alternatives to increase energy would be eating a balanced diet, including drinking adequate amounts of water and getting daily exercise. Although I know that this is easier said then done, I also think that, in healthy individuals and in moderation, an occasional energy drink is okay to enjoy.

Melissa Gerharter MS, RD is co-owner of Joust Strength and Fitness of Ann Arbor, joustfitness.com. She is also a personal trainer and an adjunct lecturer at Eastern Michigan University. She can be reached at Melissa@joustfitness.com.