I've never been a huge fan of energy drinks. The over-sweetened taste combined with the unwanted calories has usually been enough to push me in the opposite direction when on the hunt for something to quench my thirst. I've also heard the various claims that these drinks are not only unhealthy for you, but they should also be taken in moderation. Unfortunately though, this doesn't seem to be the case for the younger American population, especially within the realm of sleep-deprived college students.

According to Nu-Train, a Web site where registered dietitians help individuals create personalized diet plans, since the 1997 introduction of Red Bull, the energy drink market has grown yearly by almost 50 percent and now totals more than $4 billion.

Energy drinks, such as Red Bull, Monster, and Rockstar, are highly sweetened beverages that contain large doses of caffeine along with other legal stimulants, such as taurine and guarana. These drinks may contain anywhere from 80mg of caffeine for 8 oz (about the equivalent of a strong cup of coffee) to 250mg. To put that into perspective, one Mountain Dew has 55mg of caffeine and Coco-Cola Classic has 34mg.

While one energy drink poses little to no threat on the average person, it is when they start becoming abused that the dangers of high caffeine intake start to become apparent.

In a 2008 ABC news article, Dr. Ann Slattery, a clinical toxicologist with Childrens' Hospital in Birmingham, commented on the rising abuse of these popular energy drinks.


While one energy drink poses little to no threat on the average person, it is when they start becoming abused that the dangers of high caffeine intake start to become apparent. "We have always seemed to have a lot of calls about caffeine exposure throughout the years, especially high school and college students who are taking caffeine tablets just to stay up," Slattery said.  "Now, with the energy drink, we are seeing more interactions where people might be drinking coffee, then an energy drink (and suffer from adverse reactions)."

I realize it is potentially easy to experience a caffeine overdose, especially during those late night library hours where Starbucks seems like your only saving grace. Most of us, myself included, will drink what we can, when we can, to ensure that that familiar little burst of energy will come striding in and save us from that downward spiral of exhaustion. However, what we probably aren't paying much attention to is the recommended amount of caffeine that is appropriate for our health.

"Teenagers should really limit their caffeine intake to 100 or 200 milligrams," Slattery said.  "An adult should limit them to about 200 to 300 milligrams per day."

Energy drinks' stimulating properties have been reported to increase heart rate and blood pressure, dehydrate the body, and prevent sleep. Too much caffeine may also cause nervousness, irritability, and insomnia. The real dangers arise when they become used in sporting and social contexts.

These drinks are frequently used as mixers for alcoholic cocktails. For anyone who's ever had the notorious "Jager-bomb," listen up: The main danger is that these drinks are powerful stimulants whereas alcohol is a known depressant. If you mix the two, as a result, the stimulant properties of the energy drinks can mask the feeling of intoxication and can lead a person to drink well beyond the safe limit. The stimulant can also give you the impression that you aren't impaired, making you more alert than if you had drank the alcohol by itself.

An additional danger with mixing the two is that alcohol, like caffeine, is also extremely dehydrating. The combination of the two can cause dehydration that hinders your body's ability to metabolize the alcohol. This increases toxicity and as a result, you're likely to suffer from a massive hangover, as well as face the potential dangers of the over-intoxication.

Now don't get me wrong, I'm not jumping on the "I hate energy drinks" bandwagon. I have just recently noticed how frequently I see them around campus, and I figured for a society that is always looking to follow the next biggest trend, I'd put in my personal two cent warning. As with many of the drinks we college students enjoy on and off campus, my words of advice would simply be to please drink responsibly.