Energy Drinks: Good or Bad for Fitness?

Energy drinks are all over.  You see them in your local drug store, convenience store, and even nutrition stores.  There have been claims that these drinks can help your training and your performance in sporting events.  There are also worries about how safe they are to use for fitness or if they are even safe to consume on a regular basis.  So are these drinks good for you and your performance?

Do they help my performance?

Based on many recent studies there is limited to no data that shows the main active ingredients in energy drinks, caffeine and carbohydrates, can help with your aerobic or anaerobic exercise performance.

Are they safe?

Caffeine is one of the most studied substances in the food supply and it has always been shown to be safe when consumed in moderation.  I guess it goes back to the old saying, “The dose make the poison”

Suggestion?

It does not seem that energy drinks have any beneficial effects to your sports or fitness performance and may be dangerous for your health.  There is little data indicating short term, low dose use will be bad for your health but little long-term studies have been conducted.

Ref: www.nsca.com/contenttempletes/publicationarticledetail.aspx?id=2147486468
Img: http://www.energyfiend.com/the-15-top-energy-drink-brands