NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WTVF) — Energy drinks are everywhere these days. Many of them look like sports hydration drinks and taste like candy.
“They have flavors like Jolly Rancher flavor and sour gummy worms," said Consumer Reports Investigative Reporter Lisa Gill. "It’s so easy to just pop open a cold can and chug it.”
But inside that can is often a jolt of caffeine that can be far from harmless.
Consumer Reports found that many drinks contain 2 to 3 times the daily caffeine limit recommended for teens: 100 milligrams. Too much caffeine has been linked to insomnia, anxiety, jitters, and heart-related symptoms, and teens may be especially vulnerable.
To find out exactly what’s in these drinks, Consumer Reports tested 23 popular energy drinks and shots.
“We wanted to see how much caffeine is on the label versus how much caffeine is actually in the product,” said Gill.
The results? Consumer Reports found most drinks came close to or matched their labels, but some had up to 16 percent more caffeine than advertised.
The American Beverage Association, an industry trade group says, “parents should be in the driver’s seat when it comes to what their children have for beverages.”
So what can parents do?
Check labels, track total caffeine from all sources, and pay attention to sleep, because using caffeine to fight fatigue can create a cycle that’s hard to break.
The bottom line: when it comes to energy drinks and teens, even one can be too much.
Consumer Reports also recommends that teens learn to read labels, with a reminder that one drink can push them over their daily caffeine limit.
Do you have more information about this story? You can email me at jennifer.kraus@newschannel5.com.
It's has been a dry spring for us. Nashville is over 6 inches below normal for rainfall for the year with Clarksville over a 9 inches deficit. Kim Rafferty went to a nursery to get a couple of tips that may be useful for you.
- Lelan Statom
