Worried Child bearing 'Energy Drink' query?

Question

Hello, my name is Ciaran. I have a father who, since the mass-market 'scandall' of cheap energy drinks drowning the UK in taurine, my dad has been hooked to the cheap but popular Tesco Kick, Retailing at 24p.

However, his often-sublime ignorance causes a relentless over consumation of these products (he has already gulped his way through four today, and he has had more than that in a day in the past)... I am more than worried about his wellbeing, and how over-feeding his body with minerals such as caffeine COULD NOT be good - please, could I have a verdict on how bad these drinks can be in excess?

Answer 1

Tesco kick has 30mg of caffeine per 100mL

http://www.ciao.co.uk/Kick_Stimulation_D...

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kick_(energ...

Up to 400mL-450mL of caffeine per day day is considered safe or 2.5mg per kg of body weight.

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/15500...

http://www.hc-sc.gc.ca/fn-an/securit/fac...

A standard can is 250mL meaning it has 75mg of caffeine.

Therefore 5-6 cans per day is safe.  Assuming he doesn't consume other caffeine.

By comparison an 8oz cup of coffee (drip) contains 137mg of caffeine.  And 8oz of tea is 48mg.

Answer 2

these drinks are definitely bad in excess in sweden a study showed that people had died drinking too much red bull and they were trying to ban it, it makes yr heart beat faster and gives u a buzz maybe thats why hes addicted to it. i worry about my son he drinks 2 cans before playing football i just don tthink its good.

Answer 3

Good point. Do some research on caffeine to show the side effects and what the adviced daily amount is. I looked briefly once and the effects of caffeine can be shocking.

Answer 4

Pretty bad. These drinks contain about 29 grams of sugar, and 30 milligrams of caffeine per serving. With those four servings, symptoms can include (depending on weight) mild irritation and withdrawal symptoms to full-blown insomnia during the night. That sugar also elevates his risk to become overweight, or open up a whole host of illnesses, such as heart disease.

At the very least, your dad will be drinking up "empty" (non-nutritional) calories through Kick, and will be at risk for many illnesses healthy people are not as susceptible to. Use your common sense. If your dad is filling up his stomach each day with sugar water spiked with caffeine, how much room will he have for good, nutritious food?

If you want him to stop, consider a long-term approach, like lowering his intake gradually, by day, week, or month. His body is most likely "addicted" to caffeine and sugar by now, and, unless he respects your opinion a great deal, will not care to stop drinking Kick immediately.

Answer 5

There is good cause to be concerned. That is way too many. Even the healthy energy drinks will recommend to not have more than 2 a day. Plus I aways tell people, especially when it comes to health related items that you get what you pay for definately is VERY true when you are in those products.

If he wants to take into account money and energy drinks tell him to become a distributor for one of the independent health companies like Amway, Herbalife, and ..., well I can't remeber the other one off of the top of my head for energy drinks. It might be Hilo but I am not certain. They are new anyhow and may not be in the UK. Amway and Herbalife are.

Answer 6

If you have just one occasionally like once a week then i think that would be fine but if you have like 2 or more a day then that is not good at all. A friend of mine had 4 with in a 48 hour period and she said it was horrible it gives you a high/makes you drunk, thats what she called it