Energy drinks are widely consumed by students; but the effects of them are worse than most people expect. Student athletes are more often than not drinking energy drinks to improve their performance. You can get more “energized” from energy drinks, due to the high amounts of caffeine. The energy drinks also contain empty calories, meaning it does not supply the body with meaningful energy.

Athletes must be careful, since large amounts of caffeine, such as the amounts found in energy drinks (50mg-550mg), have been found to worsen the effects of dehydration. This can become a problem because if a student is 4% dehydrated; their athletic ability is diminished by 20%[1]. Consuming 40mg of caffeine improves reaction time; however, consuming more than 80mg can reduce it[2].

Students use energy drinks to aid them in pulling all-nighters, whether for studying or playing video games. While consuming energy drinks while studying will keep you awake,  studies have shown that caffeine can affect how well the short-term memory functions[3], which controls the amount of information a person can remember over a short period of time. It is probably not worth staying awake to study if you can’t remember what you learned.

Some psychological effects energy drinks can have on students is the fact that they can lead to the use of other stimulants, such as alcohol and drugs. Also, using stimulants, such as energy drinks, can be associated with risky behavior problems, especially when mixed with alcohol, because it “enhances the experience of alcohol intoxication”[4]. Side effects of drinking energy drinks include both headaches and stomach aches. On the other hand, energy drinks will often brighten one’s mood and have shown to improve concentration and reaction time.

A few of the ingredients in energy drinks consist of Taurine, Guarana, and Inositol[5]. Taurine is an organic acid and works as an anti-anxiety agent. Guarana is in the seeds of Guarana plants and has about two times more caffeine than in coffee beans. Inositol has an effect on nerve transmission and also has a pretty big role in the creation of cell membranes.  Energy drinks are not necessarily bad, but should be consumed in small doses due to their side effects.