Energy Drinks: The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly

As I progress in my casual life, I am presented with the inevitable fact of energy drinks gaining popularity. More and more I am surprised to see how these simple carbonated drinks filled with nothing but caffeine and sugar are being sold for insane prices to young adults all over the United States.

Some of the mainstream drinks include Monster and Red Bull and are easily the most popular. Unfortunately the pricing for these drinks are relatively high compared to other everyday necessities. A typical 500mL bottle of Red Bull will sell in an average gas station or convenience store for almost $4.00

That is more than a gallon of gas! Unfortunately all that is paying for is carbonated water, lots of sugar, and the commonly misunderstood ingredients of Guarana and Taurine. In my personal opinion, these energy drinks are riddled with a "medicine-like taste" and only provide a short, jittery, and unreliable burst of energy which even leaves some people feeling queasy and nauseous.

It is easy to see why these drinks are so popular and regardless the price, people will buy it - simply for the false hope of energy. Considering caffeine and guarana are stimulants, it is expected to feel a little buzz or kick but providing the human body with a undisclosed sense of energy can be harmful and can lead to avoidable mishaps.

I am exaggerating a bit but I am trying to emphasize the point of these overpriced energy drinks which are simply oversaturated concoctions of carbonated water and caffeine alternatives such as guarana. I am sure this short rant won't stop people from buying them, I myself am guilty of purchasing these drinks. It is easy to see why people may incorporate these drinks into their daily schedule and how it can even form a sort of addiction.

In general, I guess these energy drinks do in fact provide a buzz but in my opinion, it is just a false sense of energy which is provoked by the extreme amounts of stimulants in the drink. This may be effective for a short burst of energy for a few hours but you can expect a demoralizing crash afterwards which will leave you regretful for drinking it in the first place. Stay Safe!