300mg How much caffeine is in Bang? A 16oz can of Bang energy contains 300mg, making it one of the most highly caffeinated energy drinks on the market.
Contents
- 0.1 How much caffeine is in a 500ml Bang?
- 0.2 How much caffeine is in a full Bang?
- 0.3 How much caffeine is in a 5 hour energy?
- 0.4 How much caffeine is in Dr Pepper?
- 1 Are energy drinks safe?
- 2 Can I drink 2 bangs a day?
- 3 Is 1000 mg of caffeine bad?
- 4 Is 1g of caffeine too much?
- 5 Can 13 year olds drink Monster?
- 6 What energy drinks are good for 13 year olds?
- 7 How much caffeine can a 13 year old have?
Is there actually 300 mg of caffeine in Bang?
Why is Bang Energy so popular? – While Bang may sound like an energy drink, it is actually based on the ancient practice of Chinese medicine. According to Taoism, an athlete should ingest certain foods and drinks to increase strength during exercise. There are a few reasons why Bang Energy Drink may be popular:
Marketing: Bang Energy Drink has received significant attention due to its marketing efforts, which often feature suggestive imagery and slogans. The brand has a strong social media presence and has sponsored a number of high-profile events and athletes. This has helped to generate buzz and build a loyal customer base.Caffeine content: Bang Energy Drink contains a high level of caffeine, with each 16 fl oz (473 mL) can containing 300 mg of caffeine. This is about three times the amount of caffeine in a standard 8 fl oz (240 mL) cup of coffee. Some people may prefer the energizing effects of Bang Energy Drink to other sources of caffeine, such as coffee or tea.Sugar-free: Bang Energy Drink is sugar-free, which may appeal to people who are looking to limit their sugar intake. It contains erythritol and sucralose as sweeteners.Flavor options: Bang Energy Drink is available in a range of flavors, including Purple Haze, Cotton Candy, and Red Devil, which may appeal to people who prefer flavored beverages.
How much caffeine is in a 500ml Bang?
BANG ENERGY Regular price $4.99 AUD Regular price Sale price $4.99 AUD Unit price per Sale Sold out Tax included. Shipping calculated at checkout. AFTERPAY & ZIP Available at Checkout BANG energy drink Australia is RTD (ready to drink) and contains a potent formula that’ll give you a natural jolt of pure energy.
How much caffeine is in a full Bang?
Every 16-ounce can of Bang contains 300 milligrams of caffeine, which studies have shown may increase endurance, as well as strength in some cases, along with essential amino acids, CoQ10 and Super Creatine.
Can you drink Bang at 13?
Energy drink advertised as healthy may not be recommended for kids (WAFF) – Viewers have been asking about an energy drunk kids are downing. It’s called Bang, and it’s being advertised as the new, healthy alternative for energy drinks. But before you ditch your Red Bull, you may want to research what you’re actually consuming.
The label seems almost too good to be true: zero calories, zero fat and zero sugars. But that’s not all. It has three times more caffeine in one can than a 12 ounce cup of coffee. “It’s got a heck of a lot of caffeine,” said Dr. Tim Howard, a family practice physician. Howard says compared to a can of Coke, which has 34 milligrams of caffeine, Bang has 300 milligrams, nearly nine times that amount of caffeine.
“If you look at recommendations for adults, and this is 18 and greater, for a healthy adult is 400 milligrams a day. This isn’t all at once,” Howard said.
- And for kids it’s even less.
- “Let’s say you have an 88 pound kid, that’s 10 milligrams, a cup of coffee would be equivalent that they would be acceptable to have, but it’s not recommended,” he said.
- Local speed and strength coach Blake Lancaster drinks Bang frequently, but he has some advice.
“Someone who may have been taking pre-workouts or things like that, some other kinds of stimulants, may not be as susceptible to it being very strong for you. But essentially I’ll drink half in the morning and half of one before I work out,” said Lancaster.
- Lancaster trains high school, collegiate and professional athletes daily.
- For kids under 18, he said, “I usually try and steer them away from it.
- Anything that I don’t want them to become dependent on something like that, pre-workouts or anything like that, I’ll kinda push them away from.” The athletic trainer and doctor agree.
“If kids are trying to stay awake and get that caffeine boost, would this be your recommendation? Absolutely not,” said Howard. “Heart rate and blood pressure increase. Nervousness and feeling jittery are all side effects of drinking too much caffeine.”
- He also says to be sure to talk to your kids and know what they’re consuming.
- Bang does state on the label that it’s not a beverage recommended for someone under the age of 18.
- WAFF 48 News reached out to the manufacturer for a phone interview but have not heard back.
Copyright 2019 WAFF. All rights reserved. : Energy drink advertised as healthy may not be recommended for kids
What is the highest caffeine drink?
Top 45 Beverages Ranked by Caffeine Per Ounce – At 714.3 mg per fluid ounce, DynaPep has the highest caffeine content per ounce of any beverage on the market. Fortunately, it comes in tiny 0.14-ounce portions. Despite DynaPep’s minuscule size, it packs a powerful punch.
The time-released microshot (created by Florida company Intocell) claims to increase focus and boost energy for up to 10 hours. It contains a derivative of methylhexanamine, a stimulant that is believed to actually have a negative effect on mental clarity, Reports of dangerously elevated heart rates are also associated with this drug.
On an ounce-by-ounce basis, coffee overall delivers more caffeine than energy supplements, shots, and drinks. Devil Mountain Co. Black Label Brewed Coffee is believed to have the most caffeine per ounce at 129.6 mg. And when it comes to brand name caffeine, Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf’s regular coffee packs the most caffeine per ounce at 20.8 mg.
That’s more than twice the amount of caffeine offered in McDonald’s coffee (9.1 mg per fluid ounce). Starbucks lands a close second at 20.6 mg per fluid ounce, with Dunkin’ Donuts lagging behind at 15 mg. Phew, we know! These numbers are intense, While an average fluid ounce of coffee typically features just 12 mg of caffeine, the beverages on this list soar well beyond that.
Like us, you’re probably wondering if ingesting that much liquid energy is actually, well, safe. The long and short of it is maybe. But before we get into that, let’s take a step back and chat about what caffeine actually is.
How much caffeine is in a 5 hour energy?
What about the Caffeine? – While some may be concerned about the amount of caffeine in 5-hour ENERGY® shots, many will be shocked to learn that the amount in the regular strength product is comparable to having a premium cup of coffee.5-hour ENERGY® is available in two different strengths.
How much caffeine should you have in a day?
4. How much caffeine is too much? – For healthy adults, the FDA has cited 400 milligrams a day—that’s about four or five cups of coffee—as an amount not generally associated with dangerous, negative effects. However, there is wide variation in both how sensitive people are to the effects of caffeine and how fast they metabolize it (break it down).
- Certain conditions tend to make people more sensitive to caffeine’s effects, as can some medications.
- In addition, if you’re pregnant, trying to become pregnant, or breastfeeding, or are concerned about another condition or medication, we recommend talking to your health care provider about whether you need to limit caffeine consumption.
The FDA has not set a level for children, but the American Academy of Pediatrics discourages the consumption of caffeine and other stimulants by children and adolescents.
Is caffeine good for you?
Published: August 8, 2022 By Laura Williamson, American Heart Association News (Svetlana Monyakova/iStock via Getty Images) Lea en español Caffeine jump-starts your day and puts a bounce in your step. It can help you focus, improve your mood and maybe even help you live longer. But how much is too much? Caffeine, a natural stimulant, can be found in a variety of foods, such as coffee beans, tea leaves, cacao beans, guarana berries and yerba maté leaves.
It also can be synthetically created and added to beverages such as soda and energy drinks. Research shows that about 90% of U.S. adults consume some form of caffeine every day. One of the most popular ways people consume it is through coffee. Because of that, most caffeine research centers around this drink, said Dr.
Greg Marcus, associate chief of cardiology for research and a professor of medicine at the University of California, San Francisco. “The literature on the whole shows that coffee consumption is generally not a detriment to health,” he said. “But I am very reluctant to recommend anyone begin drinking coffee if they aren’t otherwise doing so, or to increase consumption for any health benefit.” Studies have found caffeine can do both good and harm.
- People who regularly drink coffee may be less likely to develop chronic illnesses, such as cardiovascular disease, diabetes, Parkinson’s disease and some cancers.
- A few studies suggest they are less likely to die from heart disease and other illnesses.
- According to the Food and Drug Administration, as much as 400 milligrams of caffeine a day – equal to four or five cups of coffee – is considered safe for healthy adults.
An 8-ounce cup of green or black tea has 30-50 mg of caffeine. Energy drinks may contain 40-250 mg for every 8 ounces, and a 12-ounce can of caffeinated soda contains 30-40 mg. In moderate doses – up to two 8-ounce cups of coffee – caffeine can make people less tired and more alert.
- Some studies suggest it can reduce appetite and lower the risk for depression.
- But high doses – 12 cups or more – can make people feel anxious, raise blood pressure and lead to heart palpitations and trouble sleeping.
- For people who consume caffeine regularly, stopping consumption abruptly can lead to symptoms of withdrawal, such as headaches, fatigue and depressed mood.
Determining how much is too much can be tough. A moderate amount of caffeine for one person may feel like a high dose for someone else. That’s because some people metabolize caffeine faster than others, Marcus said. Factors such as how much someone weighs and what medications they take also can play a role.
The bottom line is, caffeine affects everyone differently. “The compound is complex, and we need to recognize that not only might there be benefits and harms, but this may vary from one person to another,” Marcus said. He and his colleagues recently completed one of the few randomized studies on caffeine consumption, which he presented at the American Heart Association’s Scientific Sessions last year.
The researchers asked participants to drink – or refrain from drinking – coffee for no more than two consecutive days each for two weeks. The findings, which are considered preliminary until the full results are published in a peer-reviewed journal, showed that people were more physically active and slept less on days they drank coffee than on days they went without.
They also had more irregular heartbeats from the lower chambers of the heart but fewer episodes of abnormally rapid heartbeats from the upper chambers. Marcus said one limitation of the study was that people were starting and stopping caffeine consumption, which could be causing an exaggerated reaction in people who were used to drinking it every day.
“The effects of caffeine are attenuated when you drink it regularly,” he said. “The body adapts to that caffeine level. And more regular consumption of caffeine can speed up the metabolism.” People who metabolized caffeine faster had fewer problems sleeping than those whose bodies broke it down more slowly, he said.
In his cardiology practice, Marcus tells patients who are having trouble sleeping or experiencing abnormal heart rhythms to see what role caffeine might be playing. “I generally advise that it is reasonable for patients bothered by trouble sleeping or with palpitations to experiment with their caffeine consumption.
Take some time off of caffeine to see if it makes a difference.” But he does not give a blanket recommendation to avoid caffeine. Marcus doesn’t distinguish between the caffeine that people get from coffee versus hot or iced tea. “There may be health differences between the two, but they haven’t been studied yet,” he said.
- He is less flexible about the consumption of energy drinks, which typically have a higher concentration of caffeine, as well as added sweeteners or carbohydrates and no evidence they provide any health benefits.
- Research has found energy drinks can cause abnormal electrical activity in the heart and higher blood pressure that persists for several hours.
“In general, I would caution against the use of energy drinks,” Marcus said. There are other ways to stay alert. “The best strategies and overall most healthy strategies to boost alertness are long-term healthy habits,” such as getting a good night’s sleep and exercising regularly, Marcus said.
How much caffeine is in Dr Pepper?
Caffeine Content Of Popular Drinks
| Soft drinks (12-ounce) | caffeine (mg) |
|---|---|
| Dr. Pepper | 41.0 |
| Diet Dr. Pepper | 41.0 |
| Diet Sunkist Orange | 41.0 |
| Mr. Pibb | 40.0 |
Can 8 year olds drink Monster?
Find more answers here! Energy drinks are heavily marketed to kids, but energy drinks and kids don’t mix. Some parents may not know that energy drinks can actually be harmful for kids’ health. Most health professionals agree that energy drinks should be avoided among children and limited for adults.
- Eep reading to learn more about why your kids should avoid energy drinks.
- Caffeine : Energy drinks often contain high amounts of caffeine.
- Caffeine is a stimulant found in plants that is added to energy drinks in high amounts.
- If kids have too much caffeine, it can lead to serious, life threatening heart problems.
Children are at a higher risk for heart issues from excess caffeine because their body size is much smaller than adults. High amounts of caffeine in kids can also cause sleep disruptions, which can lead to less attention and focus during the day. The Academy of Pediatrics recommends that children do not consume any caffeine.
Sugar : Energy drinks are also a source of added sugar to kids diets. On average, an energy drink has 9 teaspoons of added sugar in one 12 ounce serving! Excess sugar in kids’ diets can lead to unwanted weight gain, cavities and higher risk for developing type two diabetes. For kids who are active and play sports, water is the best drink to keep your kids hydrated.
To help keep your kids healthy, limit sugary drinks and avoid drinks with caffeine. For more information about sugary drinks, visit Rethink Your Drink Nevada, Chenin Treftz Nickel, Ph.D., R.D., is a nutrition research scientist with Rethink Your Drink, a program offered by College of Agriculture, Biotechnology & Natural Resources ‘ Department of Nutrition in collaboration with Extension,
Are energy drinks safe?
The Buzz on Energy Drinks
- A beverage that typically contains large amounts of caffeine, added sugars, other additives, and legal stimulants such as guarana, taurine, and L-carnitine. These legal stimulants can increase alertness, attention, energy, as well as increase blood pressure, heart rate, and breathing.1-4
- These drinks are often used by students to provide an extra boost in energy. However, the stimulants in these drinks can have a harmful effect on the nervous system.5
In 2011, 1,499 adolescents aged 12 to 17 years went to the emergency room for an energy drink related emergency.6 Some of the dangers of energy drinks include 1 :
- Dehydration (not enough water in your body).
- Heart complications (such as irregular heartbeat and heart failure).
- Anxiety (feeling nervous and jittery).
- Insomnia (unable to sleep).
The American Academy of Pediatrics states that caffeine and other stimulant substances contained in energy drinks have no place in the diet of children and adolescents.9
- Teachers and other school staff can educate students about the danger of consuming too much caffeine, including energy drinks.
- Coaches can educate athletes about the difference between energy drinks and sports drinks and potential dangers of consuming highly caffeinated beverages.
- School nutrition staff can provide only healthy beverages such as fat-free/low-fat milk, water, and 100% juice if extra items (i.e., a la carte items) are sold in the cafeteria.
- Parents, school staff, and community members can join the school or district wellness committee that sets the policies for health and wellness and establish or revise nutrition standards to address the sale and marketing of energy drinks in school settings.
- Everyone can model good behavior by not consuming energy drinks in front of kids.
- The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that adolescents do not consume energy drinks, yet between 30–50% reported consuming energy drinks.1,3
- The National Federation of State High School Associations recommends that young athletes should not use energy drinks for hydration, and information about the potential risk should be widely distributed to young athletes.10
- As many as 11.6% of secondary schools in some districts sell energy drinks in vending machines, school stores, and snack bars.7
- Nationwide, 75% of school districts do not have a policy in place regarding these types of beverages that contain high levels of caffeine for sale in high school vending machines, schools stores, or a la carte in the cafeteria.8
- Seifert SM, Schaechter JL, Hershorin ER, Lipshultz SE. Health effects of energy drinks on children, adolescents, and young adults. Pediatrics.2011:127(3), 511-528.
- Brown University Health Promotion. Energy Drinks. Retrieved from,
- Schneider MB, Benjamin HJ. Clinical Report–Sports Drinks and Energy Drinks for Children and Adolescents: Are They Appropriate? Pediatrics.2011;127(6):1182–1189.
- Pomeranz JL, Munsell CR, Harris JL. Energy drinks: an emerging public health hazard for youth. Journal of Public Health Policy.2013;34(2):254–271.
- Ishak WW, Ugochukwu C, Bagot K, Khalili D, Zaky C. Energy drinks: psychological effects and impact on well-being and quality of Life—a literature review. Innovations in Clincial Neuroscience.2012;9(1):25–34.
- Center for Behavioral Health Statistics and Quality. The DAWN Report: Update on Emergency Department Visits Involving Energy Drinks: A Continuing Public Health Concern. Rockville, MD: Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration; 2013.
- Demissie Z, Brener N, McManus T, Shanklin SL, Hawkins J, Kann L. School Health Profiles 2014: Characteristics of Health Programs Among Secondary Schools. In: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, ed2014.
- Chriqui J, Resnick E, Schneider L, et al. School District Wellness Policies: Evaluating Progress and Potential for Improving Children’s Health Five Years after the Federal Mandate. School Years 2006-07 through 2010–11. Chicago, IL: Bridging the Gap Program, Health Policy Center, Instriture for Health Research and Policy, University of Illinois at Chicago; 2013.
- Heckman MA, Weil J, Gonzalez De Mejia E. Caffeine (1, 3, 7-trimethylxanthine) in Foods: A comprehensive review on consumption, functionality, safety, and regulatory matters. Journal of Food Science.2010;75(3):R77–87.
- National Federation of State High School Associations. Position Statement and Recommendations for the Use of Energy Drinks by Young Athletes ; Indianapolis, IN: National Federation of State High School Associations, Sports Medicine Advisory Committee; 2014.
Can I drink 2 bangs a day?
The level of caffeine intake considered safe for most people is about 400 mg per day. Bang ‘energy drink’ has 300 mg in a 15 fluid ounce can which means that most medical experts would suggest you stop at no more than one and a third cans over the course of a day —and that assumes you are not getting caffeine elsewhere.
Can I drink 900 mg of caffeine?
1. Overdoing Caffeine Can Be Dangerous – According to the Department of Agriculture’s latest Dietary Guidelines for Americans, up to 400 mg of caffeine per day—the amount in two to four 8-ounce cups of coffee —can be part of a healthy diet for adults.
The Food and Drug Administration says 600 mg per day is too much, While everyone’s tolerance is different, getting more than your normal amount could make you feel nervous, anxious, irritable, jittery, and could cause excessive urine production or irregular heartbeat, says caffeine researcher Maggie Sweeney, Ph.D., postdoctoral research fellow at the behavioral pharmacology research unit at Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine.
“That could be the case even for people used to caffeine. And for those who have anxiety or insomnia, it could worsen their symptoms.” Your caffeine intake can easily add up if you drink coffee and also consume several caffeinated products in a day. For example, if you have a Starbucks coffee in the morning, a water with added caffeine in the afternoon, and a few caffeinated mints during the day, you could easily exceed 600 mg.
Is 1000 mg of caffeine bad?
Are there long-term health risks? – While consuming moderate amounts of caffeine does not seem to have long-term detrimental effects, consuming large amounts of caffeine (1000 mg or about ten 8-oz cups of coffee a day) on a regular basis may be linked to fertility issues, increased episodes of heartburn, and changes in bowel habits.
Is 1g of caffeine too much?
It’s rare for adults to die from a caffeine overdose. You would have to inject at least 3.9 g of caffeine or swallow about 10 g. However, children can die from as little as 1 gram of caffeine.
Can 13 year olds drink Monster?
Recommended Reading – Researchers from the Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, in a 2008 review published in the journal Drug and Alcohol Dependence, note that that lack of consistency is partly due to our long love affair with drinks in which caffeine is naturally occurring, including coffee and tea.
- In 1980, citing health concerns, the FDA proposed to eliminate caffeine from soft drinks, which are regulated as foods.
- The manufacturers, however, claimed the caffeine was a flavor enhancer.
- The FDA approved caffeine, but limited the maximum content of cola-type soft drinks to,02 percent, or roughly 71 milligrams per 12-ounce serving.
“If caffeine had not been accepted as a flavor enhancer, but had been regarded as a psychoactive ingredient,” write the Johns Hopkins researchers, “soft drinks might have been regulated by the FDA as drugs”—which are subject to additional regulations.
When energy drinks first appeared on the American market in the late 1990s and early 2000s, some manufacturers claimed the products were neither drugs nor conventional foods, but dietary supplements. Drugs with caffeine require warning labels, but dietary supplements don’t. “It is a striking inconsistency that, in the U.S.
an stimulant medication containing 100 mg of caffeine per tablet (e.g. NoDoz) must include warnings,” write the Johns Hopkins researchers, “whereas a 500 mg energy drink can be marketed with no such warnings and no information on caffeine dose amount in the product.” As early as 2009, sports and medical organizations began issuing position statements discouraging energy-drink consumption by young people.
In 2011, the American Academy of Pediatrics concluded that energy drinks “are not appropriate for children and adolescents, and should never be consumed.” Further, the group warned that adolescents might mistakenly use energy drinks, rather than sports drinks like Gatorade, for rehydration during physical activity.
“Advertisements that target young people are contributing to the confusion,” wrote the authors. Two years later, in 2013, questions about safety and marketing came to a head in the halls of Congress. Three Democratic senators launched an investigation into the marketing practices of energy-drink companies.
They found that adolescents between the ages of 13 and 17 are frequent targets of energy-drink marketing, and stated in a written report that “this population is also at risk for the detrimental impacts of energy-drink consumption.” The report also noted a range of claims not evaluated or substantiated by the FDA.
For example, the makers of AMP Energy marketed the drinks as helping to “energize and hydrate the body,” while advertisements for Red Bull promised “increased concentration and reaction speed.” (As it happens, a few months before the senate hearing, Monster Beverage Corporation and Rockstar announced their intention to follow in the footsteps of Red Bull by declaring their products to be foods, rather than dietary supplements.) Among those providing testimony at a committee hearing was Jennifer L.
- Harris, a researcher at the Rudd Center for Food Policy and Obesity, currently housed at the University of Connecticut.
- She and her team had conducted an earlier study of how sugary beverages are marketed to children.
- What we learned about energy drinks stunned us,” she said at the hearing,
- Energy-drink companies had been pioneers in using social media to market their products, said Harris.
At the time of her study, Red Bull and Monster Energy were the fifth and 12th most popular brands on Facebook—a platform that was, at the time, particularly popular among college students and adolescents. Further, said Harris, “energy-drink brands often promote teen athletes and musicians and sponsor local events, where they provide free samples, including to minors.” The marketing is effective, she noted.
- Sales of most other beverage categories were declining, but energy-drink sales had increased by 19 percent the previous year, reaching $8 billion in 2012.
- The energy-beverage industry vigorously defended its products and marketing practices.
- In his congressional statement, Rodney Sacks, the CEO of Monster Beverage, noted that a 16-ounce can of Monster Energy contains 160 mg of caffeine.
In contrast, the equivalent amount of Starbucks coffee contains 330 mg—more than twice as much. Further, Monster cans include a label recommending against consumption by children. (According to guidelines put forth by the American Beverage Association, a trade group, energy drinks should not be marketed to children under 12, and other leading brands such as Red Bull and Rockstar carry similar labels recommending against consumption by children.) Further, Sacks and representatives from Rockstar and Red Bull North America denied that their companies advertise to young teenagers.
- Doing this, said Sacks, “would undermine the credibility of the brand image in the eyes of young adults,”—nominally their target consumer demographic.
- Not everyone buys this.
- A 2017 study published in the journal Public Health Nutrition, for example, tested whether young consumers perceived energy-drink advertising as being targeted at people their age and younger.
Researchers at the University of Waterloo randomly assigned over 2,000 Canadians ages 12 to 24 to view one of four online ads for Red Bull. Among the youngest subjects—those ages 12 to 14—nearly 72 percent of participants who viewed an advertisement featuring the company’s sponsorship of the X Games, an extreme-sports event, perceived the ad to be targeted to people their age and younger.
The University of Waterloo researchers compare energy-drink marketing practices with those of 20th-century cigarette companies. “While tobacco advertising was ostensibly targeted only at adults,” they write, “it nevertheless achieved very high levels of reach and appeal among young people.” Read: Juul’s new marketing is straight out of Big Tobacco’s playbook Further, and perhaps not surprisingly, across all age groups, 71 percent of those who were shown a Red Bull ad with a sports theme—the X Games, for example, or an image of an airborne snowboarder with accompanying text reading “RED BULL GIVES YOU WIIINGS”—thought the ad they viewed promoted the use of energy drinks during sports.
This is a problem, says Matt Fedoruk, the chief science officer at the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency (USADA). Though his organization is perhaps best-known for its role in testing Olympic athletes for banned substances, it also promotes a positive youth-sports culture.
Fedoruk says it fields questions about energy drinks from athletes of all ages. “Caffeine is the most studied ergogenic aid on the planet,” says Fedoruk, and its use is widespread among elite athletes. Research has even produced recommended guidelines for ingestion prior to exercise. But these guidelines were developed for adults.
Young people who try to follow them could quickly surpass the American Academy of Pediatrics’ guidelines for adolescents: no more than 100 mg of caffeine per day, or roughly the amount in a typical cup of coffee. Further, because energy drinks are manufactured in adult serving sizes, says Fedoruk, it’s easy for a child to get too much.
“Depending on the product you choose, you could definitely be dosing your young child or youth athlete in doses that far exceed what may be safe for their body weight and size.” When it comes to youth athletes, “our experts recommend both water and sports drinks as the best options for hydration,” writes Danielle Eurich, a USADA spokesperson.
Athletes exercising less than an hour probably don’t even need sports drinks, she adds. “Water would be best.” Last year, John Higgins, the sports cardiologist, ran a small study in which healthy medical students downed a 24-ounce can of Monster Energy.
Ninety minutes later, the students’ arteries were measured to test their ability to bounce back—or dilate—after being compressed by a blood-pressure cuff. Dilation helps control blood flow, increasing circulation when necessary, including during exercise. In this study, the medical students’ blood flow was “significantly and adversely affected,” says Higgins.
Higgins suspects that the combination of ingredients—the caffeine and other stimulants such as guarana, taurine, and L-carnitine, along with added vitamins and minerals—interferes with the endothelium, a thin layer of cells that control dilation. But he can’t say for certain because there hasn’t been enough research.
Higgins’s own study was preliminary and lacked a control group. Further, a recent review by a group of Harvard researchers noted considerable limitations to the existing energy-drink literature. Most studies, the authors found, used small sample sizes or employed a cross-sectional design, which isn’t able to determine causation.
Large longitudinal studies, meanwhile, require time and money. Higgins says the main reason there is no evidence of safety is that energy drinks are not classified by most countries as drugs. “They are classified as supplements, additives, or whatever.” Until more data are available, Higgins’s opinion is that energy drinks should be avoided before, during, and after exercise.
- Anyone under 18 should avoid them entirely, he says.
- This recommendation has been endorsed by the American College of Sports Medicine.
- Yet at the Connecticut hearing, Red Bull’s Joseph Luppino insisted that there is ample evidence of safety.
- He referenced the European Food Safety Authority, which conducts food-chain risk assessments for the European Union: “They have unequivocally concluded there are no synergistic effects between the various ingredients that are contained in energy drinks.” When asked for a comment, the European agency pointed to its 2015 report, and a spokesperson explained the findings: In general, the combination of substances typically found in energy drinks “would not affect the safety of single doses of caffeine up to 200 mg.” Individuals who might drink a 16-ounce can of Rockstar or a 24-ounce can of Monster containing 240 mg of caffeine plus other stimulants were not considered by the analysis.
The EU agency spokesperson also issued a caveat: There weren’t enough data to determine whether other common energy-drink ingredients like guarana and taurine influence the acute effects of caffeine on blood pressure. Monster and Rockstar did not respond to repeated requests for comment.
When asked about the discrepancy between Luppino’s characterization of the European report and the agency’s own characterization of its findings, Erin Mand, a spokesperson for Red Bull, pointed to particular passages in the report that suggest the safety of particular ingredient combinations up to 200 mg of caffeine.
She additionally noted that “its single-serving products fall under 200 mg of caffeine.” The American Beverage Association also did not respond to specific interview questions, but did provide this statement: “Energy drinks have been enjoyed by millions of people around the world for more than 30 years, and are recognized by government health agencies worldwide as safe for consumption.
The amount of caffeine in energy drinks is typically half the amount found in a coffeehouse coffee and is no different from the caffeine found in other foods and beverages. Further, America’s mainstream energy drink companies have taken voluntary steps to ensure their products are not marketed to children.” In the spring of 2017, Gary Watts, the coroner for South Carolina’s Richland County, released the autopsy results for Davis Cripe, the teenager whose death spurred the state’s bill to ban sales of energy drinks to minors.
The cause of death: a caffeine-induced cardiac event causing a probable arrhythmia. “Typically you don’t see the results of an arrhythmia in an actual autopsy because there’s no real damage to the heart,” Watts says. After Cripe collapsed at school, a staff member who had previously worked as a nurse in a cardiac unit diagnosed a cardiac arrhythmia.
“Who’s to say that this hasn’t happened before?” says Watts, whose office has performed autopsies on other young adults who died of sudden death. “It probably has—it’s just that we’ve not been able to document with someone on the scene at the time who says, ‘Okay, this is an arrhythmia.'” Watts believes there are too many uncertainties about energy drinks to say that they are safe for adolescents.
“I’m not trying to get rid of energy drinks,” he says. “I know a lot of people use them. But I do think that the age is a concern that everybody needs to be really serious about.” As for the Connecticut bill, it has not moved out of committee, but in mid-May, the City Hill Middle School students and their teacher returned to the state capital to lobby lawmakers.
- They shared informational brochures created by the students, as well as informal results from a survey of students and parents, indicating widespread support for their bill among the latter.
- In the meantime, the students say, their siblings and peers continue to consume energy drinks—on soccer fields, in dugouts, and in front of video-game consoles.
“It’s so interesting,” a City Hill student, Emily Fine, said of energy-drink makers and their products, “how they still put them on the market.”
What energy drinks are good for 13 year olds?
Advice for Parents: Energy Drink Consumption – The bottom line is that children and adolescents should never consume energy drinks. And they should drink plain water during and after routine exercise, rather than sports drinks, which contain extra calories that contribute to obesity and tooth decay.
Sports drinks have a limited function for pediatric athletes. They should be ingested in combination with water when there is a need for rapid replenishment of carbohydrates and/or electrolytes during prolonged, vigorous physical activity. Finally, children and adolescents should maintain the recommended intake of juice and low-fat milk with meals.
For more on this subject, it’s well worth reading the June 2011 report issued by The American Academy of Pediatrics, It’s also important for parents to know that the negative health impact of energy drinks is starting to become a major issue in families all across the United States.
86% think energy drinks should report caffeine content on the label 85% think energy drinks should carry warning labels about risk for “adverse effects” 78% think energy drinks should not be marketed to kids or teens 74% think energy drinks shouldn’t be sold to kids or teens
Until things seriously change, though, ongoing conversations between parents and pediatricians about energy drinks are essential in order to maintain our children’s overall health and well-being. Suzan S. Mazor, MD, is the director of the Medical Toxicology service and an emergency attending physician at Seattle Children’s Hospital.
How much caffeine can a 13 year old have?
How much is too much? – Caffeine, a central nervous system stimulant, helps people feel more alert and less tired. That’s why so many people reach for a morning cup of coffee or a lunchtime soda for a quick energy boost. SEE ALSO: When Should Kids Stay Home Sick from School? “About 15 minutes after a drink, it’s entering your bloodstream and you’re feeling the effect,” says Miller.
- There are also more widespread effects on the body, including temporary increases in heart rate and blood pressure.
- In the digestive tract, there is increased acid secretion in the stomach and faster transit time.
- Caffeine also acts as a diuretic, causing the body to get rid of water.
- Common neurologic effects include tremor and heightened anxiety.
Still, it is typically harmless: Adults can safely consume up to 400 mg of caffeine per day — about four to five cups of coffee — according to the Food and Drug Administration. And natural sources of caffeine, such as pure coffee and tea, have been shown to have some health benefits.
But with regular ingestion, individuals generally develop some level of tolerance and will need higher doses to get the same benefit of alertness. Abrupt cessation can lead to withdrawal symptoms of headaches, irritability and drowsiness. For kids and teens, the American Academy of Pediatrics suggests caution.
Adolescents ages 12 to 18 should cap daily caffeine intake at 100 mg (the equivalent of about one cup of coffee, one to two cups of tea, or two to three cans of soda). For children under 12, there’s no designated safe threshold. Roughly 73 percent of kids consume caffeine each day, a 2014 study found.