In Good Health: The Effect of Energy Drinks On Children And Adolescents

In Good Health: The Effect of Energy Drinks On Children And Adolescents

By NPR

It's back to school season, which means America's students are back to studying. And some kids are turning to energy drinks to handle their workload.

But energy drinks aren't the same as your morning cup of coffee. In one serving, there's way more caffeine and other ingredients to enhance the "energizing" effect. But that's nothing new. They've been around for years, with flashy branding and the promise of a quick jolt of activity. But they might not be the healthiest option for those of us whose bodies are just beginning to develop.

Doctors advise against children drinking them, yet between 30 and 50 percent of adolescents do.

For this installment of our "In Good Health" series, we break down down what exactly an energy drink is and how they interact with the bodies of young people.

Want to support 1A? Give to your local public radio station and subscribe to this podcast. Have questions? Connect with us. Listen to 1A sponsor-free by signing up for 1A+ at plus.npr.org/the1a.

Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoices

NPR Privacy Policy
-
-
Heart UK
Mute/Un-mute