Energy drinks: boon or bane?
By DoctorDidi
@DoctorDidi (7018)
India
March 8, 2011 7:14am CST
A variety of nutritional drinks are advertised on television. Such drinks do boost one’s energy level, but it is temporary. The perceived increase in energy fades rapidly. When the same amount of calories is provided by cooked stuff, the food has to be digested and slowly absorbed by the body. The energy provided is released gradually in a sustained manner. Moreover, caffeine which usually provides the energy boost is not good at all for health. A balanced diet with sufficient calories, antioxidants, vitamins and minerals will provide the energy one needs. To increase endurance and develop the ability to work or play through fatigue, one has to build stamina. This can be done naturally with regular aerobic activity. Children need to play in fresh air for at least an hour a day. If fatigue can be tackled naturally without energy boosters, why one should spend money on them? What is your opinion? Do you agree with me?
3 people like this
13 responses
@free_man (7330)
• United States
8 Mar 11
Hi DoctorDidi. You are so right it is better to eat a healthy diet then to drink those costly energy drinks. Never tried them don't ever guess I will spend money on something like an energy drink. I am pretty old now and learned many years ago that the best way to stay healthy is develop healthy habits at a young age. Thank God my mom taught all of us to stay healthy.
@DoctorDidi (7018)
• India
8 Mar 11
I also believe like you that to maintain good health, one needs develop healthy habits at a young age.
1 person likes this
@chiyosan (30186)
• Philippines
2 Apr 11
hmm.. not for me. i do not think energy drinks are good for you. here in the Philippines there is this one brand that has become a hit... but there are several confirmed reports that someone have had hard attacks due to palpitations caused by the energy drinks they took...
hmm.. i remember i was told that energy drinks only had excessive sugar and its really not good for your health. I think what you can do is to take natural energy boosters... natural fruits... ;)
@Hatley (163772)
• Garden Grove, California
9 Mar 11
hi doctordidi As a diabetic I am appalled at how so many spend so much othese energy drinks which are mostly high in various sugars. I do not use them as I know it would send my blood glucose sky high. good nutrition with just enough carbs and more protein plus at least forty five minutes of some exercise will keep one energized a lot safer and better than drinking a lot of sugary chemical mixes that really are not good for you. If I want energy at breakfast I have two cups of good coffee and that does it for me all day with proper healthy foods.
@dorannmwin (36392)
• United States
11 Mar 11
I think that you are very right that it is far more important to have a healthy diet than it is to drink our calories in our lives. That said, I will admit that there are times that I will drink an energy drink from time to time because of the fact that there are days that I really don't feel like I have my get up and go and I will grab one of them and drink that upon waking in the morning. However, it is never something that I would make a habit of doing.
@hardworkinggurl (37062)
• United States
25 Mar 11
Yeah I do agree because somehow all the sugar and caffeine is way too much for a person to withstand. I also know that the contents in the energy drinks are not good for the kidneys. I was given a good example by my physician who said the scum on the toilet bowl is the same type of scum that energy drinks cause on the kidneys.
@tkonlinevn (6427)
• Vietnam
10 Mar 11
I agree with you. We should keep healthy by doing exercise and eating logically. Energy drinking should be used when we're tired and we need to return immediately. We shouldn't use it too much.
@celticeagle (189838)
• Boise, Idaho
9 Mar 11
I do agree with you But, I think they are okay if used occasionally and not as a ongoing part of ones diet. Stamina is important and kids need that for sure. But, I do think these things are okay occasionally. I do hope that people don't get in the habit of using them. Youngsters can withstand alot and I just hope they don't get into a habit of drinking them.
@blue65packer (11826)
• United States
9 Mar 11
I know a guy who was getting addicted to energy drinks! He used to drink them like water! It got to the point they didn't work for him at all! He kept on drinking them! Finally he got to the piont he knew they were bad for him and they weren't giving any energy,he now only drinks like two oe three a week now. That is good but now the knitwit likes to drink soda all day long! I rarely see him drink water or anything else! No matter how you look at it,what he drinks is not good for him! Much less any one else!
@jak2010 (1550)
• Papua New Guinea
8 Mar 11
There mere commerical gimmick. All the companies do is to promote something that do not work for monetary gain only. The consumers are so bling in wasting their energy. time, money for such drinks that do not work. If you think they do work, then they are made for you to be dependent on such drinks so in other words, you have money for your dreams. Other you are done. Energy drinks are bane.
@EdnaReyes (2622)
• Philippines
9 Mar 11
A hundred percent agree. But I think those makers of commercial energy drinks won't hear any of these facts you have mentioned. They will give you lots of facts too how good and useful their product is. Guess everybody loves to keep on going, and the fastest way to have the needed energy is gulp those energy drinks without realizing the consequences it may bring to them!
@inertia4 (27978)
• United States
8 Mar 11
All those energy drinks on the market contain either caffeine or sugar or both. Caffeine in large amounts is not good for your health. Sugar is also not good for your health. Lets face it most products like that that have caffeine have more than we would induce in a day and as far as sugar, the sugar is concentrated, so you are eating more sugar than normal. Eating the right foods is all the body really needs to function and produce energy. Food is a bodies fuel.
@cansasct (39)
• United States
9 Mar 11
I do agree that energy drinks provide a temporary boost. They also have downgraded some of the ingredients that were known to cause harmful effects. Some energy drinks have decreased amounts of these ingredients, still giving a more subtle version of the previous effect. The main consideration here is to give oneself a balanced diet, with adequate vitamins, nutrients, protein, in otherwords a comprehehsive diet. Also exercise I agree is important. I also feel that too many teens rely on these drinks. I do feel that some of the brands (and there are many) are overpriced. In conclusion, proper diet, exercise and good sleep is the first place to start and the energy drinks should only be an occasional supplement.
