Inside: Vitality drinks are common with youngsters and teenagers. However what are the well being results of power drinks? Are they protected for teenagers? Listed below are 10 power drinks information you need to know.

For those who’ve acquired a tween or a teen, you’ve most likely had someone (perhaps your individual child!) come traipsing by your own home carrying a tall, brightly-colored can of Prime, Bang, or different power drink.
Extra youngsters than ever are utilizing power drinks–thanks partially to endorsements by celebrities and YouTube influencers. As many as 50 % of adolescents and younger adults report consuming them. And the sale of power drinks is rising quick–billions of {dollars} are spent on them yearly.
However are power drinks truly protected for teenagers and teenagers? Listed below are 10 power drinks information it’s essential know.
YOU MIGHT ALSO LIKE: Is Glowing Water Like LaCroix Okay For Children?
10 Issues to Know About Vitality Drinks and Children
1. Vitality drinks aren’t the identical factor as sports activities drinks
Although they’re usually lumped into the identical class, sports activities drinks and power drinks are completely different drinks.
Sports activities drinks are designed as a quick strategy to rehydrate. They have been initially designed for elite athletes who wanted to rapidly replenish fluids, power, and electrolytes misplaced by sweat. They normally include water, sugar, and electrolytes like sodium and potassium (some include synthetic sweeteners as an alternative of sugar).
Alternatively, power drinks are designed to spice up alertness, consideration, and power. They normally include caffeine as the primary lively ingredient however also can embrace different substances like natural components, nutritional vitamins, and amino acids.
Some manufacturers (like Prime) make each a hydration drink AND an power drink–and it’s straightforward to confuse the 2 when shopping for them. For example, Prime Hydration comprises no stimulants whereas Prime Vitality comprises 200 mg of caffeine. That’s a giant distinction!

2. Vitality drinks include a whole lot of caffeine
Vitality drinks include far more caffeine than soda does. It’s not unusual for power drinks to include as many milligrams of caffeine (mg) as a robust cup of Starbucks espresso–and in some instances, much more. And if youngsters are having multiple power drink per day, or consuming soda and occasional as effectively, they’ll find yourself taking in very giant quantities of caffeine.
Listed below are some common power drinks and the quantity of caffeine they include (plus how that compares to espresso and soda):
DRINK | SIZE | CAFFEINE (MG) | SUGAR (G) |
---|---|---|---|
RedBull (unique) | 8.4 oz can | 80 | 0 |
Monster (unique) | 16 oz can | 160 | 54 |
Rockstar (unique) | 16 oz can | 160 | 63 |
Mtn Dew Vitality | 16 oz can | 180 | 4 |
Prime Vitality | 12 oz can | 200 | 0 |
5-Hour Vitality | 1.93 oz bottle | 200 | 0 |
Bang Vitality | 16 oz can | 300 | 0 |
Reign | 16 oz can | 300 | 0 |
Starbucks Darkish Roast | 12 oz cup | 195 | 0 |
Mountain Dew | 20 oz bottle | 91 | 77 |
Coke | 12 oz can | 34 | 39 |
3. Caffeine can have hostile results on youngsters
Caffeine is a drug that has a variety of uncomfortable side effects on the physique. Most hostile results of power drinks are attributable to excessive quantities of caffeine.
Actually, Poison Management Facilities often obtain calls regarding caffeine. In 2005, they’d greater than 4600 calls with questions on caffeine. Of these calls, greater than half concerned folks youthful than 19.
In keeping with an article within the Journal of the American Medical Affiliation, the primary well being dangers of utilizing caffeinated power drinks embrace:
- Elevated coronary heart fee
- Elevated blood stress
- Irregular heartbeat and coronary heart palpitations
- Sleep issues like insomnia
- Frequent urination
- Elevated blood sugar (if the drink has a excessive sugar content material, and a few do)
For individuals who battle with anxiousness–and sadly, many younger folks do at this time– caffeine also can intensify the emotions.
Children (identical to adults) also can develop into reliant on caffeine. Common consumption of power drinks, or any caffeine-containing beverage, can result in caffeine dependency and withdrawal signs together with complications, irritability, and even flu-like emotions for some time in the event that they cease utilizing them.

4. Vitality drinks include a whole lot of additional stuff (of questionable worth)
Moreover caffeine, power drinks usually include many different substances. Right here’s what a few of these additional substances are:
- Guarana: An herb that comprises caffeine
- Taurine: An amino acid that may have a caffeine-like impact on the physique
- Creatine: An amino acid present in muscle tissues
- L-carnitine: A chemical within the physique that helps flip fats into power
- Ginseng: An natural additive utilized in different medication
- B nutritional vitamins like B6 and B12: Nutritional vitamins that assist convert meals into power
A few of these substances sound spectacular, however do they really work? Exhausting to say. A few of these drinks are thought of dietary supplements by the FDA and never regulated in the identical means as meals and drinks are. So it’s exhausting to know whether or not the drinks include significant quantities of those substances, whether or not these substances truly do something–or if the ingredient is even within the product.
Living proof: The corporate that makes Monster Vitality Drink lately sued Bang for false promoting as a result of Bang claimed their beverage was a “miracle drink” that contained one thing known as “Tremendous Creatine”. Seems, Bang didn’t even include creatine.
Monster gained the lawsuit, and Bang was ordered to cease selling the false declare. (You’ll see the mandated assertion concerning the verdict on the prime of the Bang web site now, although my grocery retailer was nonetheless promoting cans with the “Tremendous Creatine” declare.)
There are a whole lot of different appealing-sounding claims on labels (that aren’t confirmed or permitted by the FDA and are merely advertising and marketing messages) like these:
- “Immune help”
- “Psychological enhance”
- “Enhanced sport efficiency
- “Potent mind and physique gasoline”
- “Physique rocking gasoline”
- “Vitalizes physique and thoughts”

5. Vitality drinks aren’t meant for teenagers
Many power drinks are labeled that they’re not really useful for youngsters underneath 18, girls who’re pregnant or nursing, or people who find themselves delicate to caffeine.
However despite the fact that the drinks says they’re not designed for teenagers and teenagers, that age group is certainly consuming them. In a single research, greater than 40 % of 11-18 12 months olds reported having them within the final two weeks.
The packaging and advertising and marketing definitely really feel geared toward a youthful set, with brightly coloured cans and graphics and flavors like Razzle Berry and Pacific Punch.
Actually, in a research of children ages 11-18, one motive talked about for getting power drinks was “‘I just like the can—it seemed cool so I purchased it”.
In a scientific report, the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) warns in opposition to using power drinks and says:
“Rigorous overview and evaluation of the literature reveal that caffeine and different stimulant substances contained in power drinks haven’t any place within the weight loss program of kids and adolescents.”
The AAP cautions that adolescents shouldn’t have greater than 100 mg of caffeine every day, however some power drinks (like Reign) have triple that quantity in a single can. Well being Canada units their caffeine advice most every day quantity at 2.5 mg per kg of physique weight. That’s about 150 mg of caffeine for a 130-pound teenager–simply half a can of Bang.
6. Vitality drinks may cause actual hurt
There have been some deaths attributed to power drinks in addition to 1000’s of visits to the ER every year and frequent calls to poison management facilities. In 2011, almost 1500 youngsters ages 12-17 went to the emergency room in the US for an power drink associated emergency, in response to the Facilities for Illness Management and Prevention (CDC).

7. Some teenagers are mixing power drinks with alcohol
Children, particularly teenagers and younger adults, ought to perceive the hazards of blending power drinks and alcohol.
In a single survey, 10.6% of children in grades 8, 10, and 12 and 31.8% of these ages 19-28 stated they’ve had alcohol blended with power drinks a minimum of as soon as previously 12 months, in response to the CDC.
The principle hassle with mixing caffeine and alcohol (in drinks reminiscent of vodka + RedBull) is that you just don’t really feel the bodily results of the alcohol as rapidly as you usually would. You are feeling awake and alert as an alternative of drained and woozy, so that you would possibly preserve consuming. That blended message will increase the danger of extreme consuming and all of the attainable critical risks that come together with it.
Drinkers who mix alcohol with power drinks usually tend to report undesirable or unprotected intercourse, driving drunk or using with a driver who was drunk, or having alcohol-related accidents than those that don’t combine the 2, in response to the CDC.
8. Vitality drinks aren’t good for younger athletes
One motive teenagers give for utilizing power drinks is to enhance sports activities efficiency. However some analysis finds that some teenagers don’t appear to know the distinction between power and sports activities drinks. Children seeking to rehydrate and get a fast enhance throughout sports activities could also be taking in stimulants they don’t want–presumably at excessive doses.
It’s true that caffeine has been studied for doubtlessly boosting athletic efficiency in adults. However caffeine doesn’t have an effect on all people in the identical means–and there’s truly some analysis displaying it could trigger some athletes to be slower, says dietitian and sports activities diet coach Marie Spano, MD, RD, CSSD, CSCS.
Analysis round caffeine and sports activities efficiency has solely been carried out with adults, not youngsters or youngsters. Spano says it’s greatest to comply with the AAP’s recommendation for teenagers and teenagers to keep away from power drinks.
The Nationwide Federation of State Excessive Faculty Associations agrees. Of their place assertion, they warn that power drinks shouldn’t be utilized by highschool athletes in coaching or competitors, citing a number of attainable adverse results reminiscent of:
- Tremors
- Problem with positive motor management
- Bloating and cramping
- Irregular heartbeat
- Dehydration
- Unintentional constructive drug checks
- Interactions with prescription medicines

9. Vitality drinks could be unhealthy for enamel
Each power drinks and sports activities drinks could be robust on enamel, in the best way smooth drinks like soda, fruit punch, and juice are. It’s not solely the sugar that’s the issue, although. Most have a pH within the acidic vary thanks partially to citric acid, which is used as a flavoring and preservative.
Drinks are the main explanation for tooth decay in U.S. youngsters. Over time, these drinks can weaken tooth enamel, the protecting protecting on enamel that blocks decay–which may’t develop again if broken.
In case your youngsters often have sports activities drinks, power drinks, soda, and candy tea and drink them all through the day, that’s essential to know.
10. There are higher methods to get power
If youngsters and teenagers are in search of power and hydration throughout sports activities, particularly endurance sports activities or multi-hour occasions, a sports activities drink that comprises carbohydrate suits the invoice higher (right here’s a recipe for a easy selfmade sports activities drink). Meals with a excessive water content material like oranges and watermelon may also help hydrate too.
Some caffeine would possibly assist improve sports activities efficiency and psychological focus, however power drinks usually include far more than our children want. Excessive ranges of caffeine may cause well being results like racing coronary heart and heightened anxiousness, which find yourself impacting efficiency in an hostile means.
A number of easy issues could also be inflicting low power in youngsters and teenagers:
- Not sufficient meals: Consuming common meals and snacks can go a great distance towards having sufficient power. For those who want concepts of wholesome snack choices, seize my record of 100 Snacks for Tweens and Teenagers and 20 Nutritious Sports activities Snacks For Children.
- Not sufficient water: Dehydration may cause fatigue. Make sure you’re staying hydrated all through the day and through sports activities practices and video games. Water and milk (dairy or non-dairy) are nice first beverage decisions (learn: What Are The Greatest Wholesome Drinks For Children?).
- Not sufficient sleep: Tweens want 9-12 hours a sleep, and teenagers want 8-10. However 60 % of center schoolers and 70 % of excessive schoolers report insufficient sleep thanks partially to busy schedules, screens, and early college begin occasions. Vitality drinks are another excuse youngsters will not be getting sufficient shut-eye, says Spano. If youngsters are consuming them after college or night, the caffeine can keep of their system effectively into the night time in the event that they occur to be sluggish caffeine metabolizers. Listed below are some ideas for serving to your child get extra sleep.
Key Takeaway Factors
- Vitality drinks aren’t designed for teenagers and teenagers, and the American Academy of Pediatrics warns in opposition to utilizing them.
- Some power drinks have as a lot caffeine as a number of cups of espresso.
- Caffeine may cause a variety of hostile results on youngsters and teenagers, like irregular coronary heart fee, elevated blood stress, insomnia, coronary heart palpitations, and worsened anxiousness.
- Vitality drinks aren’t really useful for youth athletes to enhance sports activities efficiency and should even hinder it.
- It may be harmful to mix power drinks and alcohol
- Children and teenagers are significantly better off seeking to meals, hydration, and sleep to enhance their power ranges.
Extra About Feeding Teenagers