Healthy Energy Drinks and Energy Supplements

BY JENNIFER MECKLES

You’re watching multisource health video news analysis from Newsy.

As if moms needed one more thing to worry about — a new health study now says ENERGY DRINKS are dangerous for kids.

The medical journal “Pediatrics” released the results of a study claiming energy drinks can cause serious health risks in children, teenagers, and young adults. The study also says the massive amount of caffeine leads to violent reactions with other medicines kids might be taking. (Video: ABC)

Docs say those cans hold tons of stimulants. Caffeine, sure — but also “taurine” and “guarana” — things most of us have never even heard of. A CNN Medical Correspondent explains the effects of too much:

“Some of the symptoms of having one too many — as I said can often be just one — are nausea, dizziness, rapid heart rate, and seizures.”

Yes — seizures. Also on the list — potential strokes, insomnia, and organ failure. Not to mention many teens also mix the drinks with alcohol. And the study’s release led to some pretty sensational headlines:

FOX NEWS LATINO: “Energy Drinks Don’t Energize, They Stimulize – and Can Kill You”

BABBLE: “Energy Drinks are Recipe for Heart Failure Among Teens: Study”
TIMES OF INDIA: “Energy Drinks Can Lead to Death in Kids”

… Which soon prompted a fiery response from the American Beverage Association:
“This literature review does nothing more than perpetuate misinformation about energy drinks, their ingredients and the regulatory process… The data show that caffeine consumption from energy drinks for children and teens, on average, is far less than even one can of an energy drink per day.”

So, dangerous or not? NBC’s Chief Medical Editor explains how this study really got the medical field talking:

“I think here’s where you have to say the pediatricians and the ABA probably have soft numbers on both sides. We don’t know the number of pre-teens who pick up one of these at the checkout counter and take them… It really has pitted pediatricians, the beverage association, people who market them, and people who consume them all in various points, you know, around this conversation.”

But what about that powerful consumer group: the American teenager? They say — Hey, we need that boost… high school is tough!

“I take honor’s courses, I take AP courses, and when I’m done with that I go straight to work.” (WHBQ)

“I’ll have, like, seven pages of a paper or something like that, I’ll drink a 5 hour energy and it will get me through” (ABC)

Finally – BusinessWeek reports the FDA currently limits caffeine drinks to 71 miligrams per 12-ounce serving. But energy drinks skirt around the rule — they found a loophole by labeling their products as “natural.” So what do you think? Is the power boost worth the risk?

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