Do Energy Drinks Really Give You Energy?

By Dr. Joseph Mercola
with Rachael Droege

For sure you have seen them--those shiny silver or brightly colored cans promising to bring you instant energy--and maybe you have tried them or even drink them regularly. Energy drinks have been popping up all over supermarket and convenient store shelves in recent years, and according to a New York Times article, they have overtaken bottled water as the fastest-growing category in the beverage business.

So the burning question appears: Do energy drinks really give you energy?

Well, when you break down the contents of one of those eight-ounce cans, the primary ingredients are caffeine and sugar in the form of glucuronolactone, sucrose and glucose. So the answer is yes, energy drinks will provide a burst of energy. However, this is not a lasting effect. Further, the effects of the drink will be similar to that of drinking a cup of coffee or a can of soda in that when the effect wears off, you’ll feel yourself slowing down and will likely crave another can (or cup) to boost your energy once again. As many likely know, it can be a vicious cycle.

Nutritionally speaking, energy drinks are comparable to carbonated beverages like soda in that they offer little to the body. Yes, there are traces of various herbs and minerals in energy drinks and many contain the amino acid taurine, but this cannot make up for the caffeine and sugar. Many energy drinks also contain guarana, or extract from its seeds, which is a berry that has a stimulant effect similar to caffeine.

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