First, a growing number of energy drinks are loaded with sugar and caffeine, plus a variety of herbs not always known to be safe. The amount of caffeine in these energy drinks is equivalent to a cup of coffee and can cause insomnia and anxiety in sensitive teens. One recent study of seventh to ninth graders found that heavy caffeine users had disturbed sleep patterns (Pediatrics, Jan 2003). "Kids like the revved-up feeling they get from these drinks, but they're not thinking about the consequences, such as poor school performance from lack of sleep," says Leslie Bonci, RD, director of sports nutrition at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center.
"We need to educate our teens that regular food will give more sustained energy than any so-called energy drink," says Bonci. For kids performing intense activity, she advises using products such as Gatorade, Powerade, or even plain old water with a little honey.