Energy Drinks Research Paper

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Taurine is utilized by the body during exercise and in times of stress. Due to this, it has become popular for Energy drinks to contain taurine. Taurine is a free amino acid that supports neurological development. It can be found in cells of animals and meats. It is believed that taurine helps to regulate the amount of water and minerals in the blood stream. Taurine is safe, but the recommended dosage is 500mg a day. One 8oz energy drink however, can contain twice that, with 1000mg of taurine. (Giles) Taurine is known for reducing anxiety. It also eliminates the feeling of "the adrenaline rush" that many crave that comes from energy drink consumption, basically reversing the effects caused by caffeine. Many people don't like this and feel like they need to drink more to spark that “adrenaline rush.” Due to this, Taurine makes people more susceptible to building up a tolerance for energy drinks and even lead to dependency.

L-Carnitine is another type of amino acid found in numerous energy drinks. L-Carnitine is of natural origin, and can be found in the liver and kidneys, where it is produced. It is known to help speed up metabolism and increase energy levels. However, it's not as safe as it looks. In fact, large doses of L-Carnitine are known to cause headaches, nausea, vomiting, and can even lead to cardiovascular disease. Once in the blood stream, L-Carnitine is converted into trimethylamine N-oxide (TMAO) (Ussher, 458). This happens due to the intestinal bacteria break down of certain compounds in foods. TMAO's are known to cause harmful effects. In fact, the higher the level of TMAO that someone has, the more likely it for that person to develop irregular amounts of cholesterol in the artery wall due to the plaque accumulation. This greatly increases the chance of a heart attack or stroke. (“TMAO Testing: A New Way To Assess Heart Attack And Stroke Risk”)

Energy drinks are often dangerously mixed with alcohol(AMED). People combine the two in attempt to eliminate the depressant effects that come from drinking alcohol. Whether it be the classic y-bomb, which is Red bull and liquor, or even the well-known Four Loco. Mixing energy drinks with alcohol result in a different kind of drunk- “wide awake drunk.” This gives the user excessive energy and makes them feel like they can stay out and party all night. Mixing energy drinks with alcohol makes the user feel less drunk than they actually are therefore, promoting the user to consume more than they normally would in order to receive the effect sought from the alcohol. This is problematic because it can easily lead to bad decisions, especially drunk driving, which causes thousands of deaths per year in the United States. People who combine alcohol and energy drinks may feel as if they are “ok” to drive home or even sober, when in fact their blood alcohol content is over the legal limit and their coordination and response rate are greatly affected. In fact, a study was conducted at a local bar where 802 patrons were surveyed and breathalyzed. Results showed that the customers that consumed AMEDs were 2.99 times as likely to leave the bar intoxicated and 4.26 as likely to drive drunk than the bar customers that consumed alcohol without caffeine. (Howland)

Energy drinks are in fact not what they seem. Even though there have been some reports on benefits of energy drinks in the central nervous system as well as increased physical ability, there is no hiding the negative effects that come from them. Energy drinks are in fact dangerous and should be avoided due to their harmful ingredients and popular combination with alcohol. These negative effects can be anywhere from as little as a headache to as severe as a heart attack, which could potentially result in death. Ultimately, it's up to the consumer to recognize the cons when it comes to energy drinks which give easy justification why not to consume them, instead of staring death in the face with each gulp.