Long ago, doctors used to recommend cigarettes for asthma symptoms. It seems that not only was ignorance bliss, but also ignorance was common among everyone including doctors. In today’s modern era, there is more education and awareness regarding tobacco than ever because everyone knows the risks of tobacco use. So the question that now remains is: what is the next cigarette?
Caffeine is an addictive stimulant. Sugar is the sweet nectar that everyone’s taste buds adore. These two main ingredients found in energy drinks are paired with other chemicals and wreak havoc on the body. The massive amounts of caffeine in your typical energy drink ranges from 160mg to 300mg, which is double to triple the amount in standard cup of coffee. This poses many health risks, especially on young children and teens with developing bodies and minds. The disturbing realization is that these beverages haven’t been around long enough to accurately determine their long term affects.
Energy drinks affect the human body differently than any product preceding them. They are in an entirely different category when compared to a mocha or Mt. Dew. The added ingredients are at a new level of extreme, and many of which are designed to “supplement” the body’s already normal functions. However, these supplements are not necessary and can lead to devastating harm on the nervous, circulatory and digestive systems.
So, what did it take for people’s eyes to be opened about the effects of tobacco smoke? Was it realizing Uncle Bill wasn’t dying from old age, but rather lung cancer? Or was it when Mary’s child developed asthma due to her chronic smoking habits? One way or another, people began to see a pattern in declining health, and the bandwagon for early education thus began.
Regardless of education, parents are still purchasing energy drinks for their children and thinking nothing of it. Teens are still buying and drinking them on a daily basis, and a large majority of college students rely on them to get them through the cramming for finals. It will be a terrifying day when we discover the true, underlying affects of these beverages. Notice it’s when; not if.
