Energy drinks part 1 – sugar and caffeine combined

Of course, you don’t need me to tell you that there’s an energy drinks craze. Red Bull, V, Monster and Mother are just some of the energy drinks seen in the hands of young adults – just like a fashion accessory. Energy drinks are used as a pick-me-up, giving drinkers “the ultimate high” or even “wings”, according to their marketing claims.

Energy drinks are popular at late-night clubs and watering holes because they let you push past tiredness and party on (and these days, who isn’t tired?). But the hype is marketing gone wild. They’re basically soft drinks “supered up” with caffeine plus a concoction of assorted herbal extracts, vitamins and minerals – anything with a vague connection to releasing energy by the body (a biochemical definition) or elevating mood or allowing greater physical activity.

Consume too many, however, and there can be a deadly aftermath, as reports of cardiac arrest attest. Just what’s in these drinks? Do they work how the ads say they do? And how much is safe to consume? In this post, I’ll decode the cocktail of ingredients for you.