Are energy drinks bad even if consumed moderately?

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Are energy drinks bad even if consumed moderately?

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22 Answers

Anonymous 0 Comments

Simple answer they should be treated like a strong soda. Having 1 every now and then probably won’t hurt you if you don’t have health problems and are not sensitive to caffeine. But most energy drinks contain tons of sugar, a high amount of caffeine and added chemicals so definitely not something you should drink all the time. Max 1 a day, but really I’d say no more than a few a week. Better choice would be coffee, tea, or a lower sugar and natural energy drink.

A short story for reference, I am not a doctor but I worked security in a high traffic hospital for a few years. A guy I worked with was addicted to energy drinks, he would drink 2-3 sometimes 4 in one shift, especially on night shifts. One night was less busy and he was on number 2 or 3 for the night. He had a minor heart attack and lucky for him he was already in a hospital so he was ok in the end. He was in his 40s I think and I don’t know what his medical history was, but the high caffeine was said to be the cause. Everybody is different and not everybody has health concerns so people should do what works best for them. I don’t think an occasional energy drink will harm you if you are not sensitive to caffeine. Focus on healthy nutrition and less sugar, junk food, etc and you will probably be ok.

Anonymous 0 Comments

I made another post about this, but I’d like to compare energy drinks in more specific detail to its most common comparison point that most people accept as fine, coffee.

The FDA says 400mg of caffeine per day should be your max before you have immediate health concerns. Went over that line in college once, do not recommend it. Realistically though, you probably shouldn’t get anywhere close to that number on the regular. Lets just take half of that, so 200mg as a nice line.

A standard 16oz can of monster has 160mg of caffeine. So already we get right up to that line. Having 2 cans goes way past that line and we get dangerously close to that 400mg limit. You add in any kind of soda and you’re in for a bad time.

Compare this to an average cup of coffee and you have 95mg of caffeine, so significantly less. So coffee should definitely be better right? A decent amount of caffeine without going overboard you might think. But the thing people rarely define when taking a measurement like that is what they mean when they say “a cup of coffee”. A cup of coffee for measurements like this is a literal cup, as in 8oz of coffee. So if you had 2 cups of coffee, which would be the same volume of liquid as a 16oz can of monster, there is actually 30mg MORE caffeine in coffee. Also, how many people just have a single 8oz cup of coffee per day? I imagine very few who do it on the regular. So actually the amount of caffeine between the two is fairly close.

Okay, well what about sugar you might ask. That 16oz can of monster has 54 grams of sugar, thats a crazy amount of sugar! If I drink black coffee I’ll get 0 grams of sugar! And yes, that would be correct… but do you actually drink just black coffee? How many people do you know who drink black coffee with no additives or sweeteners of some kind? Taking another comparison, if you look instead at a starbucks frappuccino, they have about the same amount of sugar with even more calories then monster. If you can drink black coffee, then great. But if you can’t, that gap starts to close rather fast. And then if you consider the zero sugar/zero calories version of monster, then it starts to close even more.

The vitamins in coffee and monster also have a lot of overlap. Both contain B2, B3, Niacin, Magensium, and Potassium. Monster also has B12 and Taurine, which coffee does not. As well as some preservatives if that concerns you, although if you are trying to not consume preservatives you have a lot more to be concerned about then just monster.

Now, where the two actually start to differ to the point of being distinct is actually when you consider the amount of sodium. In an average can of monster you’re looking at 370mg of sodium, where as coffee has about 5mg on average. And I can’t think of anyone adding salt to their coffee. This is a real point of difference between the two, and if you can’t have sodium or need to limit the amount of sodium you have in a day, don’t drink energy drinks, it isn’t close.

All of this is to say that people like to treat monster like it is 16oz of pure poison and the worst thing you can put in your body where as coffee is a perfectly healthy drink, just bean juice, pure natural, no problems. The truth is actually somewhere in the middle. The fact of the matter is, even in moderation, just one can a day or a little coffee a day or if you only drink when you need it, neither one is going to be “healthy” for you compared to just drinking water, and thats a fact. But just as how plenty of people drink coffee every day, there are plenty of people who drink monster every day. For most people, they will probably be fine. Down the line, you’ll probably be at higher risk for some issues similar to how you would with coffee. Ultimately, you’re not gonna get good medical advice for your own personal health on reddit. You know your body. If you feel okay to drink it, then drink. If you are concerned, consult with a doctor.

The final thing I’ll say, and this is my own personal thoughts and feelings on the matter, is that any time you put any kind of drug into your body, which caffeine most certainly is, you can run the risk of complications and side effects compared to not doing it. Most of the studies claiming health benefits to drinking coffee I personally believed to be biased by people who have a vested interest in selling coffee and having you believe it’s good for you. The reality is that it probably isn’t, but it also probably won’t kill you. Just like drinking monster probably won’t kill most people. And if you like it and if you feel the pros of using caffeine to assist you with work outweigh the cons, then I would say just drink it. Just be aware that both coffee and monster can cause problems for some people, potentially deadly ones. So if you don’t feel great consistently after drinking it, you should stop and talk with a doctor.

Anonymous 0 Comments

I love Monsters and Bangs. I drink 1-2 a day for the taste. Off topic: I’m curious though, coffee/energy drinks/caffeine straight up doesn’t affect me. I feel no difference afterwards and can literally go to bed directly after drinking one.

Other people say they get the jitters and all hyper and stuff but I’m over here drinking it for the taste and wondering why it doesn’t actually give me “energy” or keep me awake

Anonymous 0 Comments

I don’t think drinking one sugar free energy drink with a bunch of vitamins in it daily would be terrible, but make sure to monitor your BP & heart rate every so often.

Anonymous 0 Comments

Worked long ago in a supplement store. Other posters have mentioned it, but it absolutely true: not all drinks are created equal. Some are high sugar (bad), some are absurdly high caffeine (also bad). Sometimes, drinking them too frequently creates a diminishing return due to caffeines effect on your body and creating more of a crash and you end up just trying to remedy conventional caffeine withdrawal.

There are drinks that are better than others and moderation is key; if anything due to diminishing returns and withdrawal symptoms or too much caffeine too frequently. If I am remembering right, drinks like Xyience, Bang, Reign, and sugar free Red Bulls aren’t too bad and can have enough caffeine to be helpful.

Anonymous 0 Comments

One thing I haven’t seen mentioned here is the acid that’s in most energy drinks. Sipping on a can of Monster during your shift is really bad for your teeth. If you need the boost, drink it quick(ish), and then get some water.

Anonymous 0 Comments

Just assume that **everything** is bad for you unless consumed in moderation. Then your diet and habits will even themselves out.

Anonymous 0 Comments

I hope not, I have two Monster Ultra Whites a day when I’m working. Only thing that helps keep me awake at a desk job for 11.5-hr days.

Anonymous 0 Comments

Does anyone even find them effective? I kind of assumed everyone was pretending but maybe not? Why do I feel exactly the same whether I drink one or not?

Anonymous 0 Comments

I’m a coffee drinker, and when I compare the amount of coffee I drink daily (about 20 to 30 oz) there’s quite a bit less caffeine in energy drinks. In general, they’re fine unless you have a heart condition or something like that. I’m not familiar with all of the other things like taurine and guarana, though. Source: doctor.

0 views

Are energy drinks bad even if consumed moderately?

In: 48

22 Answers

Anonymous 0 Comments

Simple answer they should be treated like a strong soda. Having 1 every now and then probably won’t hurt you if you don’t have health problems and are not sensitive to caffeine. But most energy drinks contain tons of sugar, a high amount of caffeine and added chemicals so definitely not something you should drink all the time. Max 1 a day, but really I’d say no more than a few a week. Better choice would be coffee, tea, or a lower sugar and natural energy drink.

A short story for reference, I am not a doctor but I worked security in a high traffic hospital for a few years. A guy I worked with was addicted to energy drinks, he would drink 2-3 sometimes 4 in one shift, especially on night shifts. One night was less busy and he was on number 2 or 3 for the night. He had a minor heart attack and lucky for him he was already in a hospital so he was ok in the end. He was in his 40s I think and I don’t know what his medical history was, but the high caffeine was said to be the cause. Everybody is different and not everybody has health concerns so people should do what works best for them. I don’t think an occasional energy drink will harm you if you are not sensitive to caffeine. Focus on healthy nutrition and less sugar, junk food, etc and you will probably be ok.

Anonymous 0 Comments

I made another post about this, but I’d like to compare energy drinks in more specific detail to its most common comparison point that most people accept as fine, coffee.

The FDA says 400mg of caffeine per day should be your max before you have immediate health concerns. Went over that line in college once, do not recommend it. Realistically though, you probably shouldn’t get anywhere close to that number on the regular. Lets just take half of that, so 200mg as a nice line.

A standard 16oz can of monster has 160mg of caffeine. So already we get right up to that line. Having 2 cans goes way past that line and we get dangerously close to that 400mg limit. You add in any kind of soda and you’re in for a bad time.

Compare this to an average cup of coffee and you have 95mg of caffeine, so significantly less. So coffee should definitely be better right? A decent amount of caffeine without going overboard you might think. But the thing people rarely define when taking a measurement like that is what they mean when they say “a cup of coffee”. A cup of coffee for measurements like this is a literal cup, as in 8oz of coffee. So if you had 2 cups of coffee, which would be the same volume of liquid as a 16oz can of monster, there is actually 30mg MORE caffeine in coffee. Also, how many people just have a single 8oz cup of coffee per day? I imagine very few who do it on the regular. So actually the amount of caffeine between the two is fairly close.

Okay, well what about sugar you might ask. That 16oz can of monster has 54 grams of sugar, thats a crazy amount of sugar! If I drink black coffee I’ll get 0 grams of sugar! And yes, that would be correct… but do you actually drink just black coffee? How many people do you know who drink black coffee with no additives or sweeteners of some kind? Taking another comparison, if you look instead at a starbucks frappuccino, they have about the same amount of sugar with even more calories then monster. If you can drink black coffee, then great. But if you can’t, that gap starts to close rather fast. And then if you consider the zero sugar/zero calories version of monster, then it starts to close even more.

The vitamins in coffee and monster also have a lot of overlap. Both contain B2, B3, Niacin, Magensium, and Potassium. Monster also has B12 and Taurine, which coffee does not. As well as some preservatives if that concerns you, although if you are trying to not consume preservatives you have a lot more to be concerned about then just monster.

Now, where the two actually start to differ to the point of being distinct is actually when you consider the amount of sodium. In an average can of monster you’re looking at 370mg of sodium, where as coffee has about 5mg on average. And I can’t think of anyone adding salt to their coffee. This is a real point of difference between the two, and if you can’t have sodium or need to limit the amount of sodium you have in a day, don’t drink energy drinks, it isn’t close.

All of this is to say that people like to treat monster like it is 16oz of pure poison and the worst thing you can put in your body where as coffee is a perfectly healthy drink, just bean juice, pure natural, no problems. The truth is actually somewhere in the middle. The fact of the matter is, even in moderation, just one can a day or a little coffee a day or if you only drink when you need it, neither one is going to be “healthy” for you compared to just drinking water, and thats a fact. But just as how plenty of people drink coffee every day, there are plenty of people who drink monster every day. For most people, they will probably be fine. Down the line, you’ll probably be at higher risk for some issues similar to how you would with coffee. Ultimately, you’re not gonna get good medical advice for your own personal health on reddit. You know your body. If you feel okay to drink it, then drink. If you are concerned, consult with a doctor.

The final thing I’ll say, and this is my own personal thoughts and feelings on the matter, is that any time you put any kind of drug into your body, which caffeine most certainly is, you can run the risk of complications and side effects compared to not doing it. Most of the studies claiming health benefits to drinking coffee I personally believed to be biased by people who have a vested interest in selling coffee and having you believe it’s good for you. The reality is that it probably isn’t, but it also probably won’t kill you. Just like drinking monster probably won’t kill most people. And if you like it and if you feel the pros of using caffeine to assist you with work outweigh the cons, then I would say just drink it. Just be aware that both coffee and monster can cause problems for some people, potentially deadly ones. So if you don’t feel great consistently after drinking it, you should stop and talk with a doctor.

Anonymous 0 Comments

I love Monsters and Bangs. I drink 1-2 a day for the taste. Off topic: I’m curious though, coffee/energy drinks/caffeine straight up doesn’t affect me. I feel no difference afterwards and can literally go to bed directly after drinking one.

Other people say they get the jitters and all hyper and stuff but I’m over here drinking it for the taste and wondering why it doesn’t actually give me “energy” or keep me awake

Anonymous 0 Comments

I don’t think drinking one sugar free energy drink with a bunch of vitamins in it daily would be terrible, but make sure to monitor your BP & heart rate every so often.

Anonymous 0 Comments

Worked long ago in a supplement store. Other posters have mentioned it, but it absolutely true: not all drinks are created equal. Some are high sugar (bad), some are absurdly high caffeine (also bad). Sometimes, drinking them too frequently creates a diminishing return due to caffeines effect on your body and creating more of a crash and you end up just trying to remedy conventional caffeine withdrawal.

There are drinks that are better than others and moderation is key; if anything due to diminishing returns and withdrawal symptoms or too much caffeine too frequently. If I am remembering right, drinks like Xyience, Bang, Reign, and sugar free Red Bulls aren’t too bad and can have enough caffeine to be helpful.

Anonymous 0 Comments

One thing I haven’t seen mentioned here is the acid that’s in most energy drinks. Sipping on a can of Monster during your shift is really bad for your teeth. If you need the boost, drink it quick(ish), and then get some water.

Anonymous 0 Comments

Just assume that **everything** is bad for you unless consumed in moderation. Then your diet and habits will even themselves out.

Anonymous 0 Comments

I hope not, I have two Monster Ultra Whites a day when I’m working. Only thing that helps keep me awake at a desk job for 11.5-hr days.

Anonymous 0 Comments

Does anyone even find them effective? I kind of assumed everyone was pretending but maybe not? Why do I feel exactly the same whether I drink one or not?

Anonymous 0 Comments

I’m a coffee drinker, and when I compare the amount of coffee I drink daily (about 20 to 30 oz) there’s quite a bit less caffeine in energy drinks. In general, they’re fine unless you have a heart condition or something like that. I’m not familiar with all of the other things like taurine and guarana, though. Source: doctor.