Are Energy Drinks Safe or Harmful for Your Health?

The Safety and Health Implications of Energy Drinks

Short-Term Effects

Energy drinks produce a number of short-term effects that can wear off within a few hours. Some of these short-term effects are the motivation for why people consume energy drinks, but others are unwanted.

• Staying awake
• Increased physical energy
• Difficulty focusing
• Agitation
• Restlessness
• Increased risk-taking behavior
• Headaches
• Racing pulse
• Elevated blood pressure
• High blood glucose
• Dehydration
• Loose stools
• Constipation
• Allergic reaction

Long-Term Risks

Energy drinks have some documented long-term risks, which may occur if you consume them repeatedly. Research studies haven’t provided reliable evidence regarding how much you would need to consume or how long it takes for these effects to develop.

• Presence of carcinogens (substances linked to an increased risk of cancer)
• Withdrawal effects, including excessive sleepiness, depression, and insomnia
• Anxiety
• Weight gain or weight loss
• Malnutrition
• Kidney stones
• Increased risk of heart attack
• Increased risk of stroke
• Personality changes

Are There Any Benefits to Energy Drinks?

So far, there’s no evidence of any long-term benefits of energy drinks. Most of the time, people drink them because they like the taste or because they are seeking a quick method of staying alert.

Potential short-term benefits of energy drinks include:

• Adding calories to your diet
• Relieving constipation
• Helping yourself to stay awake
• Getting a quick dose of glucose to treat or prevent hypoglycemia (low blood sugar)
• Replenishing fluid and electrolytes (charged minerals in the blood such as sodium and potassium) to prevent dehydration

People Who Should Skip Energy Drinks

Though checking with your own healthcare provider for guidance is important, energy drinks might be contraindicated for you if you have certain health conditions or health considerations. Some of the common ingredients in energy drinks may cause side effects. This could be dangerous if you have an underlying medical problem.

• Babies
• Children
• Adolescents
• Pregnant people
• Those who have hypertension (high blood pressure)
• People who have type 1 or type 2 diabetes
• Individuals living with heart disease
• People who have digestive problems, liver disease, or kidney disease
• People who have been diagnosed with a mental health condition (including depression or anxiety)
• Individuals who are recovering from or coping with a substance use disorder
• Anyone who has insomnia or other sleeping disorders
• Anyone who has an eating disorder

How to Consume Energy Drinks Safely

The best way to know whether consuming energy drinks is safe for you is to talk with a healthcare provider. Your healthcare provider should become familiar with your health conditions and overall health and can help you decide whether consuming energy drinks is safe.

Healthier Alternatives to Energy Drinks

You can choose among many healthy alternatives if you want a drink to keep up your energy, add calories to your diet, or quench your thirst.

• Smoothies, which can include veggies, fruit, oatmeal, or dairy
• Hot or cold herbal tea
• Caffeinated coffee or tea
• Dairy or nondairy milk
• Soup, with or without protein
• Homemade fruit juice
• Protein shakes
• Electrolyte drinks

Summary

Energy drinks are popular, controversial, and diverse. They vary in types, ingredients, and brands, so it’s hard to make a blanket generalization about energy drinks. Research studies and case reports have pointed to adverse health consequences. Getting approval from a healthcare provider is the best way to decide whether you want to consume energy drinks.