Energy Drinks Can Lead to Caffeine Overdose

[Hemidakota]

It’s now a billion dollar industry. Currently, there are at least 200 energy drinks on the market. So is it bad to get an energy drink buzz?

“There was a time when we would get our caffeine intake from coffee and cola, but now there are a number of caffeine containing beverages and we need to be careful because over a period of 24 hours that caffeine intake is cumulative,” says Dee Rollins, R.D., PhD, dietitian with Baylor Regional Medical Center at Grapevine.

In fact, experts say energy drink consumers should keep careful track of the amount of caffeine they get in a day.

“If you know that 400 milligrams a day is the upper limit you can check the back of the labels and make sure that you don’t get more than that,” explains Dr. Rollins.

It may sound like a lot, but 400 milligrams is roughly the equivalent of just one energy drink and two cups of coffee. Getting more than that can lead to jitteriness, nausea, heart palpations — and in extreme cases more severe symptoms.

“It can be so bad that if you take too much caffeine you can end up in the hospital thinking you have flu-like symptoms and really it’s caffeine overdose.”

So remember as you’re sipping — take it slow or it may not just be energy you end up with.

“We don’t think of caffeine as being a drug that we need to monitor, but we can overdo it,” says Dr. Rollins.

For most people — if they’re not getting more than around 400 milligrams of caffeine a day — these energy drinks are safe. But here are some important things to remember:

* Don’t drink energy beverages while exercising. It can lead to severe dehydration.
* Don’t ever mix these drinks with alcohol — it’s popular — but doing so can not only mask how intoxicated you really are, it again can be extremely dehydrating.

In addition to caffeine, most of these energy drinks contain very high amounts of sugar and sodium which can be dangerous for diabetics or those with high blood pressure.

[WANDERER]

I noticed that they were selling micro-shot-sized bottles of high caffeine drinks at the checkout amidst all the lollies. Great.

[Bookmeister]

Isn't this sort of one of those "Duh!" kind of things?

[Redbeard]

Wow... Wait, wait... So what you're trying to tell me is- too much of something is probably bad for me?!?!

It blows my mind that this isn't common sense... And by the way, I do love my energy drinks

[Iggy]

I'm wondering when the Prophet will speak out against these drinks? Hopefully soon rather than later.

[pam]

One of my every day customers for energy drinks is a Bishop. lol

[Iggy]

Originally Posted by pam

One of my every day customers for energy drinks is a Bishop. lol

He might as well drink a triple espresso heavy on the sugars.

[Fiannan]

Originally Posted by Iggy

I'm wondering when the Prophet will speak out against these drinks? Hopefully soon rather than later.

When asked about caffeinated drinks on Larry King Gordon B. Hinckley said that the Church took no stand but that they probably weren't the best things for you. I think the same would be true of these drinks.