With the majority of Piedmont University being sport-driven, the athletes here strive for peak performance. This can be challenging with busy schedules and lack of sleep, so turning to energy drinks seems like an easy fix, except they’re not. The wide variety of flavors, colors and brands can be appealing to get that extra edge, but it’s doing more damage to your body than you may think. 

These sugary, caffeinated drinks provide short-term energy but also cause long-term health issues that can affect our day-to-day lives. The CDC has shown that energy drinks can cause an increase in blood pressure and heart rate, leading to heart complications like heart attacks and palpitations. It has also been linked to anxiety, insomnia, and dehydration. Many people may experience headaches and “crashes” after taking caffeine, as it only lasts for a short while. 

The American Academy of Pediatrics suggests that children and adolescents shouldn’t consume caffeine contained in energy drinks. Caffeine overconsumption/intoxication is an issue and can become serious when individuals consume more than 200 mg. In fact, a fellow student at Piedmont has experienced issues with this. 

Savannah Bywaters, a freshman on the Women’s Lacrosse team, described her medical emergency after consuming one Celsius a day from freshman to senior year of high school. “I was starting to pass out more frequently, and it was becoming super dangerous to drive…to do any daily activities, really,” said Bywaters. 

“My liver was giving out, and my doctor came to the conclusion it was from my energy drink problem, as I was consuming one every day. I had to completely cut them out of my life.” 

There are other stimulants than just caffeine common in most drugs, but there can also be healthier ones in tea, such as L-theanine. It’s hard to function without caffeine, but better alternatives can increase our energy levels in better ways, such as vitamin B-12 and honey. Kombucha, a black tea, is a great alternative and has been shown to benefit gut health. Another naturally occurring drink is coffee, a much better option than chemically processed energy drinks. It is important to research what you drink and not overconsume it.