College students are known for their busy lives.  Between partying, studying and working when do they have time to sleep?  College students tend to get a lack of sleep and do anything they can do get a boost of energy.  Today, college students are relying on energy drinks more than every.  Although it is important to have energy in college, drinking an energy drink is not the way you should get your energy for the day.  Find out the harmful effects energy drinks have on your body below:

• We all know pop is bad for us, but has anyone ever looked closely at the ingredients in energy drinks?  The average amount of caffeine in an energy drink is usually between 23-37mg, energy drinks are around 80mg!
• Energy drinks like Rockstar,Red Bull, and Amp have large doses of ephedrine, guaranna,  caffeine, taurine, and glucuronolactone.   These are naturally made in our bodies, but energy drinks supply even more and at too high of a rate.
• Caffeine has an effect on the brain that can cause a decline in the immune system.

I had mentioned that energy drinks have: ephedrine, guaranna, ginseng, caffeine, taurine, and glucuronolactone.  But what do they all mean?

Ephedrine – Is used to give your body more energy, hence the name energy drink.  Although giving your body more energy can be dangerous.  Your body has a certain amount of energy each day and should stay at that rate.  By giving your body more energy you are throwing off its natural sense. 

Taurine – Is an amino acid that occurs naturally in the body. Amino acids help to build protein. Some people use energy drinks to try to replace or build up their body’s level of taurine. Replacing these amino acids will also throw off your body and confuse it.  If you drink energy drinks your body will be still confused and may not produce them like it would on a regular basis.

Glucuronolactone – Also occurs naturally in the body. It is a natural metabolite and carbohydrate formed when glucose breaks down, and is believed to be helpful in ridding the body of harmful substances and providing an instant energy boost.

Caffeine – is a stimulant which acts on the central nervous system to speed up the messages to and from the brain so that the person feels more aware and active.  If you get too much caffeine you can effect your body in many dangerous ways. 

As you can see, energy drinks can be pretty dangerous to your health.  Anything that is unnatural should be given an extra look at.  It is best to go natural and get your energy by sleep.  Too many of these acids and chemicals can really screw your body up.  It is known that too many energy drinks in a few hours can send you to the hospital, does that sound like a wise and healthy choice to you?