Do The Risks Of Energy Drinks Outweigh The Benefits?

They’re new, they’re hot and they’re profitable. But are energy drinks they safe?

 Energy drinks are a relatively new category of beverage on the American market. They promise to "improve performance, increase endurance, improve concentration, increase reaction speed and stimulate metabolism." Sounds pretty good, but what exactly do these energy drinks contain and what do they do? And, just as important for athletes, what are the potential risks associated with ingesting these products?

Professional athletes are always looking for ways to gain a competitive edge. Year-round conditioning programs and sound hydration and nutrition practices are just two of the ways athletes prepare themselves for competition. With the intensity level of the season and the constant pressure to perform, it is not surprising that many athletes are willing to try energy drinks or whatever they think might give them an edge.

Even though most energy drinks provide carbohydrate and contain stimulants and other questionable ingredients, (such as guarana, caffeine and yohimbine) the real "energy" of use to athletes comes from the carbohydrate. Ingested an hour or more before exercise and during the first few hours after training or competition, a carbohydrate beverage can increase muscle glycogen stores, bolster performance and speed recovery. A good energy drink should also contain the vitamins normally found in carbohydrate-rich foods so that the beverage can serve as an important source of micronutrients. The other ingredients found in many energy drinks pose an unacceptable risk to benefit ratio. That is, their benefits are unproven and some of the ingredients may actually endanger an athlete's health or eligibility. Sound nutrition and hydration programs have a much lower risk to benefit ratio and are a safer and more effective way for athletes to achieve a competitive edge.