Need a jolt--or a kick in the pants?

• Author: Richter, Sharon
• Position: Life in America

STAYING AWAKE to accomplish everything we need to do is an old American pastime. It is what we reach for to remain awake that has changed. Today, those shiny neon-colored cans and mini bottles of purported "healthy" and "natural" energy drinks are our decidedly preferred choice, especially for young people and adolescents--you know the names even if you have not consumed them.

However, are they really any different from that late afternoon cup of coffee our parents used to enjoy to combat the 4 o'clock slump, or even the ritual Cohokia "black drink"--an ancient energizing beverage made from leaves and bark enjoyed throughout the pre-Columbian era--used to muster energy for battle? As it turns out, the answer is no, thanks to the main ingredient providing the kick most of them use.

Indeed, the amount of caffeine contained in most energy drinks (usually high and not specified on the label) has raised concerns, as there has been a growing number of cases of emergency room visits by teenagers experiencing tachycardia (rapid heartbeat), panic attacks, and severe dehydration (often a result of combining with alcohol) that has prompted a serious look into the benefits (if any) of these types of drinks.

Typically, energy drinks will provide greater stamina and performance for athletes and those needing a boost of significant alertness. Health specialists agree, however, that the bulk of the boost comes from sugar and caffeine. Unlike sports drinks, they do not provide the essential electrolytes needed to replenish any potential loss of fluids, resulting in a boomerang effect of headache, lethargy, and irritability when consumed heavily.

In fact, none of the typical ingredients most energy drinks contain help to balance this effect at all and even may contribute to its exacerbation, which is part of the problem. Instead, they often boast a plethora of pseudo pick-me-up ingredients purported to increase energy and endurance: ephedrine (a stimulant that is a common ingredient in weight-loss products and decongestants, with concerns about its effect on the heart); taurine (a natural amino acid produced by the body that helps regulate heart teat and muscle contractions but has not been proven to be beneficial in the form of a drink additive); ginseng (an ancient root believed to have medicinal properties, including reducing stress and boosting energy levels); guarana seed (a stimulant that comes from a small shrub native to Venezuela and Brazil); and...