We are pleased to welcome Spencer Westley, Humanergy’s recent intern, as our guest blogger this week.

Red Bull, Monster, Burn, Rockstar…these are a few of the most popular energy drinks on the market today. However, even as a young, rebellious 20 year old, I’m not reckless enough to go out bullfighting or monster hunting, and I take great care to wear mitts when taking cookies out of the oven to avoid burns. (I’m all about rock stars though. I love me a pair of skinny, leather pants.) Maybe we try to overcompensate by drinking the less dangerous version  – energy drinks.

For years, documentaries, health gurus and even your doctor have been telling you to stay away from these overly-caffeinated drinks. I can hear some of you saying, “PLEASE, Spencer! Tell me you’ve found compelling research that will make me feel less guilty when I take my daily fix of Full Throttle, the energy drink, and Full Throttle, the song, by Swedish band Snake-Bite (I don’t know what you’re into)!”

The answer is no…no, I did not. I’ve never been a fan of energy drinks; they’re high in sugar, caffeine and calories. If you are, in fact, an energy drink drinker, take a look at this list I’ve compiled of pros and cons for your babysitter’s least favorite beverage.

Pros: Energy drinks do give you a boost of energy. On top of that, they offer slight traces of Vitamin B, B12 and B6. These vitamins help with heart disease, digestion, arthritis, allergies, muscle cramps and other illnesses as well. However, be mindful that you’re canceling out the benefits of the nutrients in the drink due to the other chemicals you’re ingesting along with it. Plus, there’s a pretty slim amount to begin with, so it won’t have much of an impact.

Cons: Energy drinks have been known to cause side effects such as tremors, stomach pains, chest pain, dizziness, seizures, insomnia and even heart attacks. Also, the tremendous amount of caffeine they contain can be too much for the body, resulting in jitters, chronic stress and an uncomfortably fast-beating heart. Along with that, the caffeine can cause mood swings with constant highs and lows, and major headaches from caffeine withdrawal. To add to the pot, the sugar intake with each sip is not ideal for a healthy lifestyle.

The list of ways these drinks are taxing on your organs goes on and on, not to mention the overall cost you incur because the drinks can be addictive.

All in all, energy drinks are just one of the mass pile of liquids that are bad for you. As Sesame Street taught me, they’re definitely “sometimes foods,” and like everything else in this world, should be taken in moderation.

Got a go-to energy booster? Share below or message Humanergy.

Photo courtesy of Free Images.