The New Generation of ‘Healthy’ Energy Drinks
by Melinda Burris

In recent years, a new generation of sports drinks marketed as healthy alternatives to traditional brands such as Red Bull, Banger, and classic Gatorade have hit the market seeking to appeal to primary consumers of energy drinks. Statistics show males 18-24 consume the highest percentage of energy drinks (34%).¹ Women ages 25-34 are a growing group of consumers who are particularly focused on choosing healthier alternatives to traditional energy drinks. 31% of teens aged 12-17 drink energy drinks on a regular basis. Sports drinks offer a temporary boost in energy and mood, which makes them appealing to athletes and those simply looking to increase their energy levels.¹

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New brands and versions of sports drinks that boast lower sugar levels and the addition of natural ingredients including vitamins have gained in popularity in the last few years. However, as this article will discuss, there are still serious concerns about health risks associated with the overconsumption of these beverages.

Seeking an Energy Boost

Energy drinks are popular throughout the world as people seek to multi-task and balance busy personal and professional lives. One of the reasons these beverages are so popular is because they contain caffeine, which gives a quick energy boost and elevates mood. Consumption of caffeine on a regular basis is exceedingly common with 85% of Americans drinking at least one caffeinated beverage per day.¹ While caffeine gives you added energy and can enhance physical and mental performance, once the stimulant has worn off, it causes the body to “crash” or suffer feelings of withdrawal including fatigue and irritability.

Traditional energy drinks contain high amounts of caffeine, sugar, and artificial flavors. The new trend is toward ‘healthy’ alternative energy drinks that contain lower levels of sugar and natural ingredients such as vitamins, minerals, antioxidants, and nutritional supplements such as green tea or ginseng, a root known to promote well-being.^1,2 Some on-trend brands include MatchaBar Hustle Energy, V8 +Energy, Runa Energy Drink, and Celsius, the latter being particularly popular to the point that it is frequently out of stock and highly sought after.

Celsius has gained in popularity in large part because it brands itself as a healthier alternative to other energy drinks declaring on its website that Celsius drinks are “made with healthier ingredients such as ginger, guarana, green tea and 7 essential vitamins. Our drinks contain no sugar, no aspartame, no high fructose corn syrup, and no artificial preservatives, colors, or flavors.”³ A side by side comparison of Celsius with Red Bull, the top-selling energy drink in the U.S. shows some stark differences:

Celsius-12 ounce can      Red Bull-8.4 oz (Original Flavor)

While Celsius has a much lower calorie count since it does not contain real sugar but relies instead on a mix of artificial sweeteners, it contains more than twice as much caffeine as Red Bull.³ This is important because according to guidelines set by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), the average healthy adult should not consume more than 400 mg of caffeine per day. Thus, consuming one can of Celsius fills half your daily allowance of caffeine.^1,3

Risks Associated with Energy Drinks

There are numerous health risks associated with overconsumption of energy drinks including:

• Cardiovascular Problems: These drinks tend to contain a high percentage of caffeine, and this can cause irregular heartbeat, nervousness, and anxiety.
• Tooth Decay: Energy drinks tend to have a high sugar content which erodes the enamel from the teeth and leads to cavities.
• Other Issues: Excessive caffeine intake has also been associated with insomnia, dehydration, and digestive problems.
• Fatigue: Inevitably, the effects of energy drinks wear off causing the user to “crash”, and experience excessive tiredness and difficulty concentrating.

It should be noted that those who drink in excess of six energy drinks per month may be putting themselves at risk for serious problems. Research studies show those who consume such large amounts of energy drinks are more prone to abuse alcohol and are three times more likely to abuse prescription medications. They are also more apt to smoke cigarettes and marijuana and are more prone to get into physical altercations than those who do not consume energy drinks.¹

The fact that children between the ages of 12-17 are one of the primary consumers of energy drinks is concerning because studies have shown that excessive intake of these beverages can cause harm to the cardiovascular and nervous systems in youths.¹

The danger remains even when consumers choose what they believe to be a ‘healthier’ energy drink. A recent TikTok video went viral, showing a self-proclaimed Celsius energy drink user apparently in the middle of a cardiology examination. The user overlayed the video with text that read: “Me drinking Celsius before every workout for the last 2 years thinking I’m healthy.”⁴

Takeaways

People turn to energy drinks for a wide variety of reasons: Athletes often choose to consume an energy drink prior to working out or competing in hopes of enhancing their performance. They also may drink an energy drink to help speed their body’s recovery after a particularly intense workout. Others, including students and those who work long shifts, turn to energy drinks to make them feel more alert and improve their mental focus. Others may wish to supplement their beverage intake with the electrolytes, minerals, and vitamins that are often added to these drinks.

Experts agree that if you are really looking for a natural alternative to keep your mind and body sharp and focused, rather than turning to energy drinks, you should be sure to consume a proper amount of water (64 oz. per day), eat nutritious foods, and be sure to get an adequate amount of sleep each night (at least 8 hours).

References:

1. Cikaric, D. & Goljic, D. (31 January 2021). 20 Must-Know Energy Drink Statistics and Facts for 2022.
2. Meachem, J. & Morales-Brown, L. (27 January 2022). The Best Natural Energy Drinks of 2022.
3. Stievator, S. (18 November 2021). Everyone on TikTok is Drinking Celsius, but Do ‘Healthy Energy Drinks’ Even Exist?

4. McCloud, T. (28 March 2022). Video Showing Negative Effects of ‘Healthy’ Energy Drink Sparks Debate.

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