As teenagers, we all struggle

to stay awake throughout the day so

that we can tackle the challenges that

high school throws at us. So what’s

the easiest solution for being in the

dumps? Caffeine, and a bunch of it. To

get that extra boost, people turn to coffee

and to the widely popular “Monster”

or “Red Bull”, drinks containing

high amounts of sugar and caffeine.

The addiction has become so bad recently

that these energy drinks are being

consumed more than water, a vital

life source. So the main question is,

are energy drinks bad for us?

The high caffeine content in

energy drinks is a giant plus in giving

people that extra “push” during the

day, but consuming more than one a

day can be considered a health hazard.

Even though they’re not deadly,

consuming too many liquids with high

sugar and caffeine content can result

in the “jitters”, anxiety, panic, and

stomach problems; drinking too many

at a time won’t necessarily kill you,

but can guarantee a good hospital bill.

Teenagers are likely to get the worst of

it when it comes to drinking so much

sugar, such as stress from the day or

lack of sleep that can cause a condition.

Marketing for energy drinks

mainly targets younger audiences (such

as teenagers and children) and the fact

that they taste great and can keep you

hyperactive is enough information for

most to ask the parents for some shopping

money. But how much do we really

know about what we’re buying?

Scientific studies have shown that the

sugar content in energy drinks is higher

than the FDA (Food and Drug Administration)

approves of, a limit that only

stretches far enough to accommodate

the common soda. There are even added

chemicals (such as “taurine”) in energy

drinks that aren’t proven to give

extra energy.

Energy drinks should be consumed

in moderation—not as often

as one might drink soda. Even though

they do provide that extra boost in the

day, it shouldn’t be treated as a necessity

for the body. When somebody drinks

an energy drink, they should remember

the consequences of consuming too

much, since they won’t have that much

needed energy lying in a hospital bed.

Caffeine shouldn’t be considered a

part of a natural diet; it should be considered

a “last resort”, just in case we

think that we cannot survive the challenges

of the day.