Energy Drinks May Give You More Than a Buzz

Today’s Re-Powering Information:
You should be getting through at least one bottle of water during camp and another on the ride home. For the new campers, we do have access to bathrooms inside so don’t’ be afraid to drink. Your body is made of 70% water so that is always going to be the beverage of choice. Once again we have been sucked in by the media into believing we need alternate beverages for energy. Caffeinated beverages have been around for ages and now they are targeting teens who come to rely on them for energy, sports performance, to get through an all nighter of homework or just for the buzz. I just found this article by a local Doctor in Grapevine on the effects of caffeinated beverages. I hope this moves you closer to drinking more water and less diet or caffeinated beverages.

Energy Drinks May Give You More Than a Buzz
Did you know that caffeine is the main ingredient in many energy drinks? Just one energy drink can contain up to 300 milligrams of caffeine--as much as one or more cups of coffee. If you consume a combined total of 300 milligrams of caffeine in a day, from energy drinks, coffee, soda, food or medication, it may lead to jitteriness, nausea and heart palpitations, according to Dee Rollins, Ph.D., R.D., of Baylor Regional Medical Center at Grapevine in Texas. When someone ingests 1,000 mg of caffeine in a day, the result may be extreme symptoms that require hospital attention, such as disorganized speech, muscle tremors and heart arrhythmias.
To reduce the chance that you'll experience these effects, pay attention to the amount of caffeine listed on the product label for the entire container, not just one serving, and monitor what else you're consuming that may contain caffeine.

Follow these tips, too:
- Don't drink energy beverages while exercising. It can lead to severe dehydration.
- Don't ever mix energy drinks with alcohol because doing so can mask how intoxicated you really are and cause extreme dehydration.

In addition to caffeine, most of these energy drinks contain sugar and sodium, which could lead to problems if you have diabetes or high blood pressure.

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So remember to stick to water as your primary source of hydration.

Your friend in fitness,

Kelli Calabrese
www.KelliCalabrese.com
Kelli@KelliCalabrese.com