Energy drinks may be widely consumed but a study has shown that they are potentially very risky to one’s health. According to a study led by John Higgins at the University of Texas Medical School, an energy drink could be giving you much more caffeine than a cup of coffee.

This is because a typical energy drink contains up to a quarter cup of sugar and more caffeine than a strong cup of coffee.

Moreover, the mixing of that caffeine with other ingredients such as alcohol is potentially very deadly.

The study, which was published in this month’s issue of Mayo Clinic Proceedings, also raised the fact that there were some ingredients in energy drinks that are often not indicated in the label. These ingredients, which include the amino acid taurine, the herbal stimulant guarana, among other herbs, minerals and vitamins, end up interacting in a manner likely to affect heart rates, blood pressure and mental states of their consumers.

Hitherto studies have only focused on effects such as increased blood pressure and heart rates, but there has been no conclusive investigation on other effects such as heart attacks, death and seizures.

Although they are often marketed extensively to athletes, Higgins warns that the tendency of these drinks to dehydrate users should make sportsmen think twice and instead choose water or lower octane sports drinks.

Non-athletes must restrict themselves to one per day and should not mix them with alcohol.

The researchers call for the regulation of what manufacturers put into the energy drinks and how they market them to consumers.
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