Energy Crisis: Dangerous Drinks?

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. (Ivanhoe Newswire) - In the last four years alone, ER visits associated with non-alcoholic energy drinks increased by about 12,000. There have been more than 1,000 reported cases of energy drink overdoses and adverse reactions. Still, they're flying off store shelves.

"They were desperately trying to save him," Cheryl James, told Ivanhoe. "I mean he was 19 years old, you don't die at 19, right?"

Two months after he graduated high school, Cheryl James buried her seemingly healthy son, Drew.

"I said some strangers are going to call and tell me what happened to my son, and I rather you guys call and tell me what happened to my son," Cheryl said.

Cheryl said Drew's friends told her they saw him vomit and suffer seizures before he died.

"They brought me a can of Monster Nitrous and pretty much said they were almost confident that's what killed Drew," she said.

Drew's autopsy was inconclusive, but there have been numerous documented deaths and seizures associated with alcohol-free energy drinks.

"What's on the label doesn't necessarily mean what's in the drink, and the amounts don't necessarily coordinate either," Mindy Black, a registered dietician, explained.

Black said a key ingredient to check for is caffeine. Too much can cause heart palpitations, seizures or sudden death. In some cases it can trigger unknown preexisting heart conditions.

"They don't recommend you to have more than 300 mg of caffeine a day and kids should not have more than 100," Black said.

Kids under 12 don't need more than 80. Also important is sugar.

"If we had two of these [drinks] a day for a week that's almost a pound a week in fat," Black said.

One Amp energy drink is equal to six glazed donuts. One Full Throttle equals eleven butter croissants. And for the cans that tout extra energy boosters like Taurine, Ginseng, Ginko or Guarana.

Black said don't pay extra money because the amounts that they put in the can are not enough to actually work. If you're looking for a boost, switch energy drinks for water. Seventy five percent of Americans are chronically dehydrated, a top reason for fatigue.

"If we're dehydrated a lot of our organs and vital systems are slowing down which can make us lethargic and tired," Black said.

Drinking cold water can increase energy for up to two hours. Also, don't skip meals.