Energy drink = monster problem: Teen athletes will find caffeine buzz short-lived

Found this article on energy drinks and athletes--just another reason why if one drinks an energy drink at all, it should be one with less than 100 mg caffeine and not loaded with sugar--check out Verve! for a healthy alternative!
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By Amy Howell • ahowell@enquirer.com • August 12, 2008 Found through http://news.cincinnati.com
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With names such as Vault and slogans like "Go Full Throttle or go home," caffeine-packed energy drinks conjure Olympic-sized feats of greatness.
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Teens, looking for a quick energy boost or a competitive edge, are guzzling them.

Thirty-five percent of 12- to 17-year-olds say they consume energy drinks regularly, compared with just 15 percent of adults, according to Mintel, a Chicago market research firm. Mintel estimates the energy-drink market will reach $4.8 billion this year - a growth of 363 percent since 2003.

But as high school sports teams in Greater Cincinnati and Northern Kentucky start sweating it out during intense summer conditioning, nutritionists, trainers and coaches are warning student-athletes that fueling up with energy drinks can deplete - rather than enhance - their performance.

"Our job as trainers is (to) take them to their limits, and it's just not safe to do that when you have this stuff in your body," says Jeremy Hardin, the fitness director at Town & Country Sports & Health Club in Wilder. "You're taking one step forward and two steps backward."

The main concern is when athletes use energy drinks as a substitute for proper nutrition, hydration or sleep - essentials already in short supply for most teens.

"There have been kids who come into our facility and are carrying (an energy drink). We ask, 'How much sleep did you get last night and did you eat breakfast?' " says trainer Rocky Tekulve.

"If the answer is, 'I slept over at a friend's house last night and didn't eat but thought this would perk me up,' then it's, 'Call your mom and dad because we're not working out today. You're in no condition,' " says Tekulve, who helps high school players improve their speed, mechanics and coordination.

The National Federation of State High School Athletic Associations recommends athletes avoid caffeine.

Among the reasons cited: "high risk of dehydration associated with excess urine production (and) decreased voluntary fluid intake."

Ninety-five percent of student athletes don't drink the 64 ounces of water a day recommended for teens and adults, and don't come close to replenishing the 24 ounces of fluid they lose during an hour and a half of training, says Hardin, who coaches the junior varsity men's soccer team at Campbell County High School.

Energy drinks add to the problem. Cindy Cassell, a Hyde Park-based nutritionist who consults athletic trainers at several local high schools, has seen football players drink two or three Red Bulls during practice - in place of water.

The caffeine in energy drinks - which is two to four times the amount found in a typical 12-ounce soda - can act as a diuretic, and the high amounts of sugar slow the body's absorption of water - contributing to dehydration and decreasing an athlete's concentration, speed and strength.

"Performance levels drop if you're dehydrated by even small percentages," says Carlo Alvarez, the strength and conditioning coach at St. Xavier High School.

Without sufficient water in the body, "the liver can't metabolize fat (quickly) enough, and you're going to get slow," Hardin says.

After the caffeine boost wears off - in 45 to 60 minutes - athletes can expect a crash.

"You can tell who's drinking them because two-thirds of the way through practice, they're done. They can't make it through a two-hour practice," Cassell says.

Trainers warn this "buzz-crash" pattern can perpetuate a cycle of unhealthy habits.

"By the time they go home, they want to sleep, not eat," Tekulve says.

Athletes without adequate sleep and nutrition are more prone to respiratory illness - and more time on the bench, says Hardin.

But trainers and coaches acknowledge there's only so much they can do to combat the high-powered marketing of energy drink manufacturers - which sponsor extreme sporting events and endurance challenges.

"Kids are going to drink that stuff. We know that. The marketing is too hard," Hardin says. "That's why we say 'moderation.' "

Although there are no guidelines to a safe amount of caffeine consumption for those under 18, the generally accepted daily maximum for teens is 100 milligrams, says Betsy Oriolo, a registered dietitian who offers nutrition counseling.

One can of Red Bull comes in slightly under the limit, with 83 milligrams, but a 16-ounce can of Monster Energy tips the scales at 160 milligrams.
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Verve! contains 80 mg of natural caffeine in a base of a full 2 oz shot of Vemma, effervescent sparkling water, a proprietory energy blend, and is cold flash pasturizeed to actually maintain the nutrients listed on the label. No post drink energy crash and sustained energy and alertness for hours--thanks to Vemma!