listener Syed is a consultant radiologist. He wants to know if an energy drink could help him stay on his A-game any better than his usual cup of coffee. He's also keen to know about some of the ingredients they contain – from taurine to guarana. What exactly do they do? And are energy drinks safe to drink?live up to the hype. Are they the best thing since sliced bread – or marketing BS? Here's what Syed needs to consider before switching his cup of coffee for caffeine in a can.
In comparison, a can of Red Bull contains 80mg, which actually makes it less caffeinated than a strong coffee. The supermarket own brands contain around 70mg or 75mg. However, Monster Original and Relentless Original contain 160mg. And Rockstar Original has a whopping 200mg of caffeine – that’s the recommended max for a single dose.Consultant cardiologist Dr Rohin Francis says we need to think again when it comes to the risks surrounding caffeine and energy drinks.
But, although it's good to make a move from sugar to sweeteners, Duane says these may have an effect on our biology, such as our gut microbiome. He suggests unsweetened coffee would be a better choice than a zero-sugar energy drink.6. There's a lack of evidence surrounding the benefits of other ingredientsis an amino acid that, unlike others, isn't used to make proteins. It's thought to potentially have an effect on our nerves and brain, so it could increase alertness.
Although the cardiologist doesn’t think drinking them is as harmful as some make out, he"would exercise caution and not do it too often".Neither expert believes there are benefits to imbibing an energy drink over a sugary coffee.