Amal Al-Sibai

Saudi Gazette



JEDDAH — Unsuspecting consumers, particularly the young men in our society, have fallen in the trap of the so-called “power drinks,” or “energy drinks,” under the false belief that these beverages will give them energy, stamina, physical and mental prowess, and self-confidence.

 

To stay awake all night and study for exams, high school and college students rely heavily on these harmful beverages, without considering the deleterious effects on health these beverages can have.



One college student, Basel S, admitted drinking five cans of a power drink before his physics exam. “The material to cover was simply too overwhelming. I was very anxious and worried that if I slept I would miss out on reading something important, so I kept on drinking these power beverages to keep me up.”



The advertisements that promote these beverages and promise lasting energy and better physical and mental performance are flawed and misleading, and of course they fail to show the young men and women the negative side-effects that these beverages have on their health.



While the drink may give a boost of short-term energy, this vigor is fleeting and will pass, and afterwards the drink actually saps energy and leaves the body feeling drained and exhausted.



The body needs rest and depriving the body of rest by using these stimulating beverages can lead to physical tiredness and immense emotional fatigue as well.



“One major problem is that these beverages are addictive and the youth rapidly become hooked to them.



“Drinking these power drinks increases the resting heart rate to up to 150 beats per minute.



“They increase blood flow to muscles, elevate blood pressure, and in the long run can cause liver damage.



“Some compounds in the drinks are diuretic; meaning they sharply increase urine output which not only puts a strain on the kidneys but also can lead to dehydration, which has its own set of problems.



“Over consumption of these beverages has been shown to cause kidney failure, kidney stones, and osteoporosis over the span of just 10 years,” said Alaa Ibrahim Aggad, a nutritionist who graduated from the Health Sciences Department of King Abdulaziz University. 



These beverages are very high in caffeine, and caffeine is actually a strong stimulant of the nervous system and this excessive stimulation can cause irritability, depression, mood swings, and jittery nerves.



The caffeine content of the different types of energy beverages varies; one of them on the market has three times the amount of caffeine as that in a large cup of black American coffee.



“On average, whereas a can of regular cola has 19mg of caffeine per 100ml of the beverage, the typical power drink has 31mg of caffeine per 100ml of the beverage.



“Taurine, an amino acid, is also found in power drinks at high levels. In laboratory studies, the lab rats given high amounts of taurine became aggressive, violent, and even started to maim themselves.



“These drinks pose a grave risk to university students and adolescents and when coupled with peer pressure and the stress associated with this stage in life; they are more prone to become involved in drug abuse and self-inflicting harm upon themselves or others,” added Aggad.



Due to the long list of serious health risks linked to such beverages, some European countries including Norway and Denmark have banned these power drinks from the market.



In France, health proponents kept on fighting these products and they were banned for seven consecutive years until they finally infiltrated the market and could be sold to the general public.



Thirty years ago, even in the United States there was only one type of a power beverage and it was not very popular.



By 2006, these drinks became so widespread and today there are 50 different brands of power or energy drinks available.



Unfortunately, power beverages are gaining popularity and acceptance in Saudi society as well.



And the media is partly to blame for making such harmful beverages appear so attractive and even beneficial.



“Young men are drawn to such products because advertisements say that the drinks give energy; they give strength and they give wings. It is ironic because the truth is that the drinks do not really provide energy. They supply a pseudo or false rush of energy that is short-lived and then leaves one feeling tired, fatigued, nervous, and wanting more,” said Aggad.