Pick your poison

LEWISPORTE -

Introduced to North America in 1997 by Red Bull - a company hailing from Australia - energy drinks have grown in popularity and dangers to the youth of this country and province.

Energy drinks claim to "energize" the user by providing a combination of ingredients that can include herbal extracts like ginseng and ginko biloba.

Central Health Regional Nutritionist Jill Wheaton informed parents of the marketing strategies used to influence children to consume energy drinks at a recent presentation at Lewisporte Intermediate.

"Children can purchase these drinks basically anywhere - convenience stores, grocery stories, gas stations and even vending machines, because there are no age restrictions," said Ms. Wheaton. "The marketing of this product is aimed at children, with cool graphics and designs, and research indicates that children and teenagers are the main consumers of energy drinks - this worries me."

Energy drinks are not even licensed in Canada as a food or beverage. In fact, the drinks are licensed as a natural health product (NHP), but do not have a nutritional fact label and comes with warnings and dosage instructions.

Caffeine is the main stimulant found in these drinks and the Health Canada warning on the drink bottles read "Health Canada advises that energy drinks should not be consumed in excess of 500 ml per day, should not be mixed with alcohol and should not be consumed by children or pregnant or breastfeeding women."

However, energy drinks can contain up to 505 mg of caffeine per can. Health Canada recommends that caffeine intake not exceed 2.5 milligram per kilogram of body weight per day. That means if a person weighs 60 kg (130 lbs), then they should not exceed 150 mg of caffeine per day.

Ms. Wheaton said Chaotic Beverages, an energy drink company sold under brand names like Mind Strike, Fearocity, Elixir of Tenacity and Power Pulse, was recalled in Canada on Nov. 5, 2009 due to the unacceptable health risk to children. The drinks were also tied to a trading card game, animated TV series and website.

"If that's not marketing to children, then I don't know what is," she said.

Energy drinks sales have increased by 700 per cent since 2000 and Health Canada estimates this year energy drinks will become a $10 billion industry. The energy drink providers are also marketing energy mints, gum, bars and energy shots to young adults throughout the world.

While most energy drink labels and other products do caution that children should not consume these beverages, there are currently no regulations prohibiting sale to children.

"Parents should not allow children to consume or buy energy drinks and they can also set an example by not buying or consuming energy drinks themselves," said Ms. Wheaton. "Business owners can also refuse to sell energy drinks to children, because that is where they are gaining the most access to these drinks."

Additionally, Ms. Wheaton explained energy drinks should not be confused with sport drinks, which are designed to re-hydrate the body after exercise.

"First when they came out with sports drinks, I didn't like what they were trying to sell, but now with energy drinks on the scene - I'd much rather see a young athlete drink a Gatorade than an energy drink."

Ms. Wheaton encourages coaches to promote the use of water during sports events to re-hydrate athlete's bodies and to ban energy drinks at sport venues.

"The drinks can negatively affect sports performance and can actually lead to dehydration, due to large amounts of sugar," she said.

Energy drinks pose several health risks including headaches, trouble sleeping, jitteriness, rapid heartbeat, anxiety and increased blood pressure.

Energy drinks are also considered a "gateway drug". Ms. Wheaton said the consumption of energy drinks opens the doors to other risky behaviours with marijuana use, sexual risk taking, fighting, seat belt omission and taking risks on a dare.

Overall, Ms. Wheaton said anyone, either young or old, who is looking to obtain more energy, should follow Health Canada guidelines and drink plenty of water, eat well, be physically active and get adequate rest.

"You can obtain plenty of energy, without the crash and burn effects of energy drinks," she said. "It's not something your body needs, because it will do no good by consuming it, especially for children."