Energy drinks have become extremely popular, especially among this generation of young people, as they are marketed toward teenagers and athletes. These drinks have recently had their fair share of controversy as many people are beginning to believe that they aren’t as healthy as they are made out to be.

Studies show that energy drinks such as Red Bull and Monster have been gaining popularity due to their “low to no sugar” branding. Instead, these energy drinks have sugar alternatives such as sucralose and aspartame which are shown to have negative effects. Sucralose is proven to be about 600 times sweeter than sugar which can lead to eating and drinking more calories due to desensitization of the taste buds. Aspartame has also received backlash as it has been linked to issues including headaches, migraines, irritability, anxiety and insomnia. All of these symptoms affect physical as well as mental health.

Celsius is another example of an energy drink branded as low calorie that is supposed to give consumers more energy and increase metabolism before participating in physical activity. Unfortunately, one of its ingredients is the artificial sweetener sucralose which has been shown to induce cravings and make people consume more calories.

The way energy drinks are advertised make them look healthy even though there should be a limit on how much one should consume a day. Studies show that the recommended daily limit for caffeine is 400 milligrams which is often equivalent to more than one energy drink. This means that consuming more than one energy drink a day could already be a health risk.

But, energy drinks aren’t all bad as they do have some benefits. They do give energy and can enhance one’s physical performance which is why they are marketed toward athletes. They can also increase alertness and improve memory if taken in safe quantities. These drinks can help give students that boost of energy they need for stressful school days. Although they do have these benefits, energy drinks still should not be considered “healthy.”

What matters most is consuming energy drinks in moderation. If they are not consumed excessively, they should be fine to have.