Energy
drinks and shots have may cause harm to
people who use them. Major energy drinks and shots such as Monster Energy,
Redbull, 5-Hr Energy, and Rockstar Energy drinks contain ingredients that may
be harmful to the human body and have linked to several deaths in recent years.
De Anza College students should be aware of
the harmful affects that are caused by energy drinks and shots that are mostly
being used by people who are in college.
According to RIA Research Scientist KathleenE. Miller, “The principal target demographic for energy drinks is young
adults ages 18-25, but they're nearly as common among younger teens."
The reason the side affects caused by energy drinks can be so
harmful is due to the risks people take while between the ages of 18-25.
During this stage, people tend to not take care of their body as well as they
should. Several risks they take include excess use of tobacco, drugs, and
alcohol, which don't mix well with the ingredients from an energy drink and
can be harmful to major organs.
Harmful ingredients found in energy drinks and shots are overdosed
amounts of guarana, caffeine, sugar and yohimbine.
Diana Chan, a second year student at De Anza College majoring in
Sociology, noted, “I try to stay away from energy drinks and only sometimes
drink coffee because I know its not good for you if you drink too much,
especially energy drinks.”
It makes sense that the target demographic for energy drinks is
college students and teens. Younger people tend to not sleep as much either
with or without choice because of all the studying and homework they do.
These affects are more harmful for teens and in younger children because a
maturity level is needed physically to enjoy caffeine.
At the high school and college level, athletes tend to rely on energy
drinks and shots to perform well.
Justin Arcune, a second year student majoring in Business and a
linebacker on the De Anza Football team, said, “I don’t really use energy drinks
but I do use 5-Hour Energy shots which helps me stay focused and keeps me
pumped while I’m on the field.”
5-Hour Energy tends to be
popular among athletes who could always use help in sustaining enough energy
for athletic performance. Although, according to a news story on ABC by Jim Avila, “5-Hour Energy may
have led to 13 deaths and 33 hospitalizations over the past four years."
5-hour Energy has caused very few
deaths, but that’s more than what most would expect from a drink that seems harmless
and is sold in about every store and available for everyone.
David West, a third year student majoring in Biology, says “Its funny
how a legal and available beverage can cause more damage to people than certain
illegal substances such as marijuana.”
Some people tend to be addicted to energy drinks, finding the taste of
Redbull or Rockstar satisfying and drinking multiple cans in one day.
Jack Peters, a first year student who is studying automotive technology,
says “Yea, I drink many energy drinks daily, even though I know it’s harmful in
some ways. I know it’s not going to be a permanent lifestyle though; I’m not
gona be drinking these forever.”
