Energy Drinks: The Facts

What are energy drinks?

Energy drinks are drinks that the
manufacturers claim to give the consumer
a boost of energy. They tend to contain
high levels of caffeine, sugar and a
combination of herbal additives and
vitamins.

What are the main ingredients?

Caffeine
This boost in energy is mostly provided by
the caffeine. The level of caffeine in the
energy drinks varies from drink to drink
but generally there is about 80mg of
caffeine in a small 250ml can.

This amount is the same as roughly three
cans of Coke or a small mug of coffee. The
smaller 60ml shot style drinks can contain
twice this amount.
Guarana
Guarana comes from a South American
plant. It contains large amounts of caffeine
1g of guarana is said to be equal to nearly
40mg of caffeine. This additional amount
of caffeine is not usually accounted for on
the label so drinks containing guarana
often have a much higher caffeine content
than is stated on the can.
Taurine
Taurine is an amino acid naturally present
in the human body. There is a widely
believed myth that taurine comes from
bulls semen.
This myth is said to have been started by
Redbull in an attempt to associate their
drink with virility and power. The taurine in
Redbull is in fact a purely synthetic
substance produced by pharmaceutical
companies and is not derived from animals
at all.
Panax Ginseng
This is an East Asian herb said to improve
memory, increase stamina and stimulate
immune function. However, there is no
scientific evidence to support these claims.
Sugar, sugar and more sugar
The typical sugar content in a large can of
energy drink is 50g to 60g, this amount
equates to 12.5 to 15 teaspoons of
sugar.

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Energy Drinks: The Facts
What happens if you have too
many energy drinks?
Caffeine
While energy drinks claim to increase
alertness and claim to give us an initial
boost, there are risks associated with
drinking too much caffeine.
Although moderate amounts of caffeine,
i.e. 250-500mg per day, are thought to
be harmless for most people, caffeine
has been shown to produce adverse
effects when consumed in high doses.
Some of these effects include:
nervousness
irritability
anxiety
stomach upsets
abdominal pain.
Sugar
The high sugar content in energy drinks
is another good reason to limit your
intake as consuming large amounts of
sugar can contribute to weight gain
which in turn can increase the likelihood
of Type II Diabetes and heart disease.
What happens when you drink
alcohol with energy drinks?
Energy drinks are known to produce a
sense of alertness, which means people
can underestimate the debilitating
effects of being intoxicated.
If you have an energy drink with alcohol
your reaction times and motor skills will
be just as poor, but the stimulant effect
of the energy drink will make you
believe you are more sober and capable
than you actually are.
How to fight fatigue and get
energised
Eat a healthy diet
Get plenty of sleep
Drink plenty of water
Exercise regularly
Want more information?
The Food Standards Agency
www.food.gov.uk
www.food.gov.uk/safereating/additives
branch/energydrinks
Cornwall Partnership NHS Foundation Trust
Head Office, Fairview House
Corporation Road, Bodmin, PL31 1FB
T: 01208 834600
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