http://well.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/12/08/phys-ed-do-energy-drinks-improve-athletic-performance/?ref=health
In an era in which kids and young adultls commonly take in drinks such as red bull or monster in thought to improve athletic abililty to "get ahead," is this actually occuring? Also, in what ways do these beverages affect the body? Do you actually know what are in these drinks? This new york times article first talks about how energy drinks contain great amounts of sugar, caffeine and other unhealthy ingredients that certaonly are not healthy for young adults or kids. While some might argue that this is their way of staying up to study or staying awake in class, this is not the sollution. Later in the article, in reference to the affect on athletes, a study was performed in which these drinks were taken by college runners, and the drinks DID NOT improve their times for the race. Surprisingly, the article also stated that because of the extreme amount of caffeiene, the drinks caused dehydration. Plus, a correlation was found between high caffeine drinks and intake in fatty foods. In my opinion, these drinks, very expensive, are not worth their potential long term and short term risks they propose, because for the most part, affects of these drinks are still unknown to scientists. Thus, although athletes and high schoolers will continue to intake these harmful beverages, next time you're in the store, think twice before choosing red bull over water or even gatorade.
I agree I think that these high-energy drinks are just ways that companies are trying to sell us products. By convincing us that it will increase our energy or showing us that even celebrities drink it, is just a way to make money. It seems that everyone knows the negative side effects of these products, yet we still purchase them and believe they will help us. It is like smoking, we know it will kill us yet we follow the bandwagon regardless. It makes you wonder how far we will follow companies and their products.
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