Do “energy” drinks like Red Bull really help athletes play better?
— Kenny A: “Energy” drinks like Red Bull, Piranha, Pit Bull, Adrenaline Rush and 180 are being marketed toward athletes with the promise of increased endurance, improved stamina, performance and reaction speed. Most of these “energy” drinks are just a combination of vitamins, amino acids, sugar and caffeine. The “energy” effect is coming from the caffeine. An 8 ounce can contains about 100 mg of caffeine — the same amount of caffeine in one cup of coffee. Caffeine can cause poor hand-eye coordination, diarrhea, jitters or heart palpitations in people who don’t regularly drink large amounts of caffeine. Also, caffeine is a diuretic that promotes fluid loss. Other ingredients such as B vitamins, taurine (an amino acid) and herbal additives such as guarana have not been shown to improve athletic performance. Before you reach for an “energy” drink, keep these things in mind: • Are you well rested, well fueled and well hydrated? Should you work on these factors before downing a can of liq
