Melissa O’Connell
Since the introduction of Red Bull in 1987, the energy drink market has grown in popularity. Last week, No Fear was on campus handing out free energy drinks. But do students really know the hidden dangers of drinking an energy drink?
According to one study, after drinking just one 250 ml sugar-free can of Red Bull, it increased the stickiness of the blood and raised the risk of blood clotting. Caffeine intoxication, marked by rapid heartbeat, anxiety, nervousness — and in rare cases, death — may also occur. It is a striking inconsistency that an OTC stimulant medication containing 100 mg of caffeine per tablet must include a warning label, yet a 500 mg energy drink can be marketed with no such warnings and no information on caffeine doe in the product.
When Pierce College freshman D.J. Matia heard this, he wasn’t that surprised.
“Red Bull is not that good for you,” he said. “It has high sugar intake and dehydrates your muscles and leaves you with a crash effect after the sugar high wears out.”
Other students, like freshman Brendan Loudermilk, think differently.
“I drink energy drinks because it’s a quick fix. I’ll usually have one Monster energy drink a week; I call it the big Monster fuel cell, because it’s so big,” he said. “But if I don’t have that, I’ll just have coffee or espresso.”
Sophomore William Rodriguez knows the bad side effects but isn’t too concerned.
“I drink them because I’m working and going to school, so I need to stay awake and be alert. If I don’t eat anything and have one, I get jittery,” he said. “Monster is my energy drink of choice, because it is easier to access on campus.”
There may be potential health problems. According to the Associated Press, one can of Red Bull contains about as much taurine, an amino acid, as 500 glasses of red wine.
Dr. Suzanne Steele, Chair of the Philadelphia Assembly cautions that if you have an undiagnosed heart condition, you could be risking your life by consuming so much caffeine. Also, combing alcohol and/or anti-depressants with energy drinks can be fatal.
When Robert Khalil, sophomore, Political Science heard about the side effects, he said “I wouldn’t drink energy drinks unless I absolutely had to. If I’m driving to Las Vegas, I’ll drink two Red Bulls at midnight and it gets me there in one piece, no matter how tired I am.”
Victoria Perreira, Pure Nutrition Counselor for the Student Health Center said “Students come here for caffeine withdrawal and headaches from drinking energy drinks. They do not realize that drinks like Red Bull have 27g sugar but offers no real nutritional value”
Linda Brown-Daniels, manager of the Pierce College Country Cafe, said there are healthy alternatives to the energy drink.
“We now offer coffee-flavored smoothies and fruit smoothies. They range anywhere from $3 to $3.50,” she said.
Matia said, “Vitamins B12 and B13 can be taken as a supplement that you can get at GNC. All the energy you need is food.”
“It’s a dollar and cents thing,” Perreira went on, “You can spend $2.50 on a can of Red Bull or 6 cents for a cup of coffee.”
Engineering major Alexander Crane, 18, studies for english. He states, “Energy drinks are the only thing that keeps me going sometimes.” ()