Are Energy Drinks Healthy?
- Tokyo Chiropractor Dr Ariel Thorpe
- Jul 19
- 3 min read
Energy Drinks and Your Body: What You Should Know Before You Sip
The debate about caffeine is not new. Caffeine is praised for its benefits like:
improved focus
faster reaction times
the ability to relieve certain headaches
On the other hand, it has been linked to neurological concerns, heart problems, and disruption to sleep patterns and circadian rhythms.
Despite the risks, caffeine remains a favorite stimulant for people around the world, including professional athletes. While coffee is a go-to for many, energy drinks are now a popular way to get a quick boost, especially during an afternoon slump. But it’s worth asking what the real cost of that short burst of energy might be.
What’s Really in an Energy Drink?
Unlike coffee, which typically contains 20 to 60 milligrams of caffeine per serving, energy drinks can contain anywhere from 50 to over 500 milligrams per container. Many labels are misleading, and the amount of caffeine listed may not include all sources, especially ingredients like guarana.
Common ingredients in energy drinks include:
Caffeine
Guarana, a natural source of caffeine that is absorbed more slowly
Taurine, an amino acid that supports nerve function and hydration
Ginseng
B Vitamins
Artificial or natural sweeteners
This mix is designed to increase energy and alertness quickly, but it may also push your body into overdrive.
Why People Reach for Energy Drinks
Most people drink energy drinks for one of three reasons:
To make up for lack of sleep
To boost performance or energy
To mix with alcohol
While the short-term effects may be satisfying, the long-term consequences are often overlooked. There are currently no well-established safety guidelines for energy drink consumption, but data on caffeine’s impact on the body is clear.
How Much Caffeine Is Too Much?
The suggested maximum intake of caffeine is 2.5 to 6 milligrams per kilogram of body weight per day. That equals about 100 milligrams for adolescents and 400 milligrams for adults. However, these are only guidelines and may not account for other ingredients in energy drinks.
Caffeine has a half-life of 3 to 7 hours, meaning that half of the caffeine you consume can still be in your body hours later. This overlap means yesterday’s caffeine may still be in your system when you start the next day with a new dose, increasing the strain on your nervous system.
Physiological Effects of Caffeine and Energy Drinks
Energy drink ingredients affect your body in a number of ways including:
Increased heart rate
Elevated blood pressure
Faster speech and motor activity
Heightened alertness
Increased gastric secretions
Higher urine output
Raised body temperature
Guarana contributes additional caffeine that is not always included in total caffeine calculations. Because it is absorbed more slowly, its effects last longer than regular caffeine.
Taurine, while beneficial in appropriate amounts, is often found in extremely high levels in energy drinks. Excess taurine may alter calcium levels in the smooth muscles of the heart, potentially leading to coronary vasospasm, a dangerous narrowing of the coronary arteries.
Energy Drinks and Nervous System Imbalance
Heart Rate Variability (HRV) is a way to measure nervous system function. A healthy HRV indicates that your body can switch easily between the sympathetic state (alert and active) and the parasympathetic state (calm and recovering).
Energy drinks heavily favor sympathetic activation, pushing the body into a constant state of stimulation. Over time, this can lead to nervous system imbalance, poor recovery, and reduced resilience to stress.
If you rely on energy drinks regularly, take a moment to consider the impact on your long-term health. Supporting your body’s natural energy through sleep, hydration, movement, and balanced nutrition will always serve you better than a short-term caffeine spike.
If you're looking for better brain function, alertness, and focus, consider getting your spine and nervous system checked by a doctor of chiropractic. Dr. Ariel Thorpe, D.C., of Electra Chiropractic in Tokyo provides comprehensive health consultations. Book online here for a native English speaking, U.S.-trained and licensed chiropractor in Minato, Tokyo.
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