Energy Drinks
Completion requirements
Energy Drinks
Myth: Energy drinks do not provide any performance enhancing nutritional qualities.
Energy drinks are a popular and controversial choice for athletes.
Most athletes have been taught to avoid energy drinks because of the high caffeine and high carbohydrate contents; however, for some athletes, the caffeine and high levels of carbohydrates actually may aid performance.
Energy drinks contain large quantities of caffeine and sugar. One energy drink has three times the amount of caffeine as a can of Coca-Cola. Also, one energy drink is equivalent to a strong cup of coffee with five teaspoons of sugar (high glycemic carbohydrate).
Refer to the Caffeine section of this course to remind yourself of the benefits that caffeine may be able to provide. Energy drinks provide high doses of caffeine that potentially are higher than your body system can handle.
The chart below outlines side-effects and groups of people who should never consume energy drinks.
Energy drinks are not appropriate before or during physical activity because . . .
Energy drinks contain large quantities of caffeine and sugar. One energy drink has three times the amount of caffeine as a can of Coca-Cola. Also, one energy drink is equivalent to a strong cup of coffee with five teaspoons of sugar (high glycemic carbohydrate).
Refer to the Caffeine section of this course to remind yourself of the benefits that caffeine may be able to provide. Energy drinks provide high doses of caffeine that potentially are higher than your body system can handle.
The chart below outlines side-effects and groups of people who should never consume energy drinks.
| Energy Drink Consumption can lead to
|
Energy Drinks should not be consumed by |
|---|---|
|
|
Energy Drinks and Physical Activity
Energy drinks are not appropriate before or during physical activity because . . .
- The high sugar content is not balanced with electrolytes to help promote water absorption during exercise.
- Energy drinks may contain other additives that can increase the possibility of a positive response to a dope test. Many other additives have not been tested or studied enough to provide recommendations on whether they are helpful or harmful to performance.
Energy drinks are not recommended for athletes because the helpful
ingredients are best ingested in other methods (caffeine in lower doses
and carbohydrates in a low glycemic form).