Essay- mandatory essay- title of essay: energy drinks should be regulated\" - grade A+90% PDF

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this is a mandatory essay to be written for this course.. However, it is my choice of topic because there are varieties of topics given.. i'm sure it would be a good guide to someone out there.. the title of the essay is ENERGY DRINKS SHOULD BE REGULATED...

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Running head: REGULATION OF ENERGY DRINKS AMONG YOUTHS

Regulation of energy drinks among youths Amakor Ada-amaka Gift International College of Manitoba Dr Karen Soiferman June 29, 2015 Word Count: 1756 Essay Number: 2 Rewrite

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Running head: REGULATION OF ENERGY DRINKS AMONG YOUTHS Energy drinks are beverages that contain caffeine, taurine, vitamins, herbal supplements, and sugar or sweeteners and are marketed to improve energy, weight loss, stamina, athletic performance and enhance alertness (Seifert, Schaechter, Hershorin, & Lipshultz, 2011). Since the inception of energy drinks, the consumption has increased rapidly among adolescents and young adults for the purpose of deriving benefits as advertised and marketed by energy drink companies (Buck, Dixon, Matjasich, & Petersen, 2013). The main active ingredient present in energy drinks is caffeine, however there are other substances present such as amino acids, vitamins, glucose, guarana, ginseng, and yohimbine (Reissig, Strain, & Griffiths, 2009). The absence of regulation of the sale of energy drinks would result in careless consumption of energy drinks among youths because it could lead to caffeine intoxication, inappropriate usage, and health problems. The sale of energy drinks should be regulated because it could lead to caffeine intoxication which occurs when specific symptoms arise as a result of caffeine consumption (Reissig, Strain, & Griffiths, 2009). Energy drink consumption may increase the risk of caffeine overdose in habitual caffeine consumers as well as caffeine abstainers. Common symptoms of caffeine intoxication are anxiety, insomnia, difficulty concentrating, high blood pressure, tremors, and in rare cases death (American Psychiatric Association, 1994). Most adolescent and young adult perceive the need to boost their energy levels by consuming energy drinks. However, energy needed by the body and other dietary fuel sources in the form of carbohydrates is best provided through balanced nutrition diet (American Academics of Pediatrics, 2011). Despite the fact energy drinks provide carbohydrates, caffeine is however the primary source of energy in these drinks. Unfortunately many young people consume large amount of caffeine in various forms despite the fact that regular intake of caffeine causes negative health problems

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Running head: REGULATION OF ENERGY DRINKS AMONG YOUTHS (Reissig, Strain, & Griffiths, 2009). However, caffeine toxicity and overdose can be minimized among young adults and adolescents if the sale of energy drinks are regulated. According to American Academics of Pediatrics (2011), caffeine is absorbed by all body tissues and can attach to cell membrane receptors which would lead to the block of adenosine actions. Caffeine has an effect on various organ systems which include heart rate, blood pressure, speech rate, motor activity, attentiveness, gastric secretion, diuresis, and temperature. There is enhanced awareness about the risks of caffeine use, misuse and toxicity in adolescent and young adult. In 2005, the American Association of Poison Control Centers reported over 4600 calls received for questions regarding caffeine. Of these calls, 2600 involved patients below the age of 19 and 2345 of them required treatment because of the overdose of caffeine ingested in their body system. The actual caffeine content for most energy drinks can not be easily identified on the product packaging or through the internet. The total amount of caffeine in some energy drinks is more than 500 mg which is equivalent to 14 cans of regular caffeinated soft drinks and there is a high possibility that the consumption of this excess caffeine would result in caffeine toxicity. Avoidance of caffeine among young people poses a great habitual challenge because of availability of caffeine-containing substances as well as lack of awareness of potential risks (American Academics of Pediatrics, 2011). Therefore, if caffeine substances are not available for young people and if young people are aware of the potential risk involved when an overdose of caffeine is consumed, there will be few or no cases of caffeine toxicity. In addition to caffeine intoxication, the consumption of energy drinks has been linked to inappropriate usage and misuse. Energy drinks as well as sport drinks consumption among young people is widespread and it continues to grow (American Academics of Pediatrics, 2011). Young people consume this product for diverse reasons including quenched thirst, good taste as well as

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Running head: REGULATION OF ENERGY DRINKS AMONG YOUTHS extra energy needed to enhance sport performance (Reissig, Strain, & Griffiths, 2009). Most importantly, the adolescent and the young adult did not differentiate between sport drink and energy drink and therefore assumed the same benefits for both beverages (American Academics of Pediatrics, 2011). According to American academics pediatrics (2000), sport drink has specific roles in young athlete’s diet who are involved in prolonged vigorous sport activities which are to rehydrate and to restore carbohydrates, electrolytes and water that were lost during the exercise. However, confusion about energy by young people can lead to unintentional inappropriate ingestion of energy drinks when their goal is to simply rehydrate and restore carbohydrates, electrolytes and water with sport drinks (American Academics Pediatrics, 2000). On the other hand, using energy drinks instead of sport drinks for rehydration can lead to ingestion of large amount of caffeine and other stimulant substances as well as the unfavorable effects previously described. According to American Academics Pediatrics (2011), the deliberate use of energy drink by young people who desire stimulant effect to reduce fatigue and boost energy during sports and school activities is of great concern. Advertisement that are directed towards young people contribute to the confusion rather than effectively differentiating between sport and energy drinks. Also, marketing contributes to the inappropriate use of energy drinks by adolescents and young people because they fail to identify appropriate sources and amount of energy substrate that should be consumed by young people as well as adolescents (American Academics Pediatrics, 2011). Frequent consumption of energy drinks can lead students at risk of substance use but education on proper dietary and eating habits may help reduce stress in adolescents and young adult and may decrease stimulant behaviors as well as the inappropriate usage of energy drinks.

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Running head: REGULATION OF ENERGY DRINKS AMONG YOUTHS Apart from the fact that the sale of energy drinks should be regulated because it could lead to caffeine intoxication and inappropriate usage, it could also lead to health problems. There are various health problems such as insomnia, seizures, blood pressure that occurs due to the careless consumption of energy drinks and most health problems occur due to the large amount of caffeine and the presence of sucrose in the energy drink (Chrysant, & Chrysant, 2014). According to Attila and Cakir (2011), the stimulating properties of energy drinks that can increase heart rate and also dehydrate the body may speed up the effects of other stimulants and prevent sleep which later results in insomnia. The hemodynamic effect of caffeine intake in young adults of age 21-26 results to a heart rate afterload that lasts up to 4.5 hour after consuming caffeine (Attila, & Cakir, 2011). Energy drinks should however be regulated because of its risky effects on health which poses a problem in the lives of young people who consumes it the most. Furthermore, according to Clauson, Shields, McQueen, and Persad, (2008), ginseng which is an ingredient of energy drinks has led to loss of menstrual period among ladies and also vaginal bleeding after menopause. Ginseng has not shown significant benefits in the health of those consuming it, rather it has a lot of negative effects that leads to future health risk among women which is vaginal bleed after menopause. Energy drink consumption overdose can also lead to seizure which is a sudden attack of illness that could lead to convulsion. Seizure occurs mainly when multiple cans of energy drinks are consumed on an empty stomach and when multiple cans of energy drinks are consumed along with caffeine-containing pills. Also, the increased consumption rate of caffeine-contained beverages could lead to dental erosion. The effects of energy drinks on premolar teeth indicated that there is a 16% reduction in enamel hardness after 30 minutes of immersion of those energy drinks (Clauson, Shields, McQueen, &

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Running head: REGULATION OF ENERGY DRINKS AMONG YOUTHS Persad, 2008). Therefore, health problems associated with energy drinks among young people will be minimized if they abstain from those energy drinks. On the other hand, Energy drinks have some positive effects on individuals leading to various increased performances. According to Mets, Ketzer, Blom, Van Gerven, Van willigenburg, Olivier, and Verster (2011), energy drinks especially red bull leads to increased attention when driving which results to prolonged highway driving without sleeping. Energy drinks also overcomes driver’s fatigue as well as increased cognitive performanes. (Mets, Ketzer, Blom, Van Gerven, Van willigenburg, Olivier, & Verster, 2011). Furthermore, there is an improvement of memory as well as improved mood if energy drink is consumed. It also increases long term exercise endurance and restores strength after the exercise (Haskell et al, 2005). Due to the fact that young people are involved in exercises as well as driving, there would be an increase in the consumption of energy drinks to make them alert while driving and improve their endurance during those exercises. Despite the fact that energy drinks have some positive effects on individuals, it is seen to be unconsidered and significantly rare. Energy drinks do more harm than good in the lives of those that consumes a lot of it. Therefore, the importance of regulation of energy drinks is necessary because if not regulated it could lead to caffeine intoxication which is a common effect of overdose of energy drinks (Reissig, Strain, & Griffiths, 2009), inappropriate usage and misuse (American Academics of Pediatrics, 2011), and also lead to various health problems (Attila, & Cakir, 2011). Nevertheless, it is important for adolescents and young adult to be familiar with the potential health risks and consequences of energy drinks and abstain from them.

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Running head: REGULATION OF ENERGY DRINKS AMONG YOUTHS

Annotated Bibliography American Academy of Pediatrics, Committee on Sports, Medicine and Fitness. Climatic heat stress and the exercising child and adolescent. Pediatrics. 2000; 106, 158 –159. This article discusses the misuse of energy drinks and also the lack of awareness among adolescent and young adult being unable to differentiate between sport drinks and energy drinks. The authors made a claim that education on proper dietary and eating habits may help reduce stress in adolescents and young adult and may decrease stimulant behaviors as well as the inappropriate usage of energy drinks. This article will be used to support my second claim that the consumption of energy drinks could lead to inappropriate use especially among adolescents and young adults.

Reissig, C.J., Strain, E.C., & Griffiths, R.R. (2009) caffeinated energy drinks – A growing problem. Journal of drugs and alcohol dependence, 99, 1-10. This article discusses the effect of overdose of energy drinks and how it could lead to caffeine toxicity and the symptoms that would be encountered. The authors made the claim that caffeine toxicity and overdose can be minimized among young adults and adolescents if the sale of energy drinks are regulated. This article will be used to support my first claim that the consumption of energy drinks leads to caffeine intoxication.

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Running head: REGULATION OF ENERGY DRINKS AMONG YOUTHS

References American Academy of Pediatrics, Committee on Sports, Medicine and Fitness. Climatic heat stress and the exercising child and adolescent. Pediatrics. 2000; 106, 158 –159. American Academy of Pediatrics, Committee on Sports, Medicine and Fitness. Clinical report – Sports drinks and energy drinks for children and adolescents: Are they appropriate? Pediatrics. 2011; 127, 1182-1189. Attila, S., & Çakir, B. (2011). Energy-drink consumption in college students and associated factors. Nutrition, 27(3), 316-322. Buck, R., Dixon, J., Matjasich, L., & Petersen, R. (2013). Energy Drink Consumption among Adolescents and Young Adults: Health Effects and Implications for Practice, 1-58. Chrysant, S. G., & Chrysant, G. S. (2014). Cardiovascular complications from consumption of high energy drinks: recent evidence. Journal of human hypertension, 2015, 29, 71–76. Clauson, K. A., Shields, K. M., McQueen, C. E., & Persad, N. (2008). Safety issues associated with commercially available energy drinks. Pharmacy Today, 14(5), 52-64. Haskell, C.F., Kennedy, D.O., Wesnes, K.A., Scholey, A.B., 2005. Cognitive and mood improvements of caffeine in habitual consumers and habitual non-consumers of caffeine. Psychopharmacology, 179, 813-825. Mets, M. A., Ketzer, S., Blom, C., Van Gerven, M. H., Van Willigenburg, G. M., Olivier, B., & Verster, J. C. (2011). Positive effects of Red Bull® Energy Drink on driving performance during prolonged driving. Psychopharmacology, 214(3), 737-745. Reissig, C.J., Strain, E.C., & Griffiths, R.R. (2009) caffeinated energy drinks – A growing problem. Journal of drugs and alcohol dependence, 99, 1-10.

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Running head: REGULATION OF ENERGY DRINKS AMONG YOUTHS Seifert, S. M., Schaechter, J. L., Hershorin, E. R., & Lipshultz, S. E. (2011). Health effects of energy drinks on children, adolescents, and young adults. Pediatrics, 127, 511–528....