It's not that much caffeine!
There's something in some people that cannot stand the thought of energy drinks. They are convinced energy drinks must be bad for you, so they put together alarmist infographics like this one, about the caffeine content in the most common energy drinks.
Problem being? It's not that much caffeine!
The highest caffeine content is 5 Hour Energy, which has 100mg per ounce. But a serving size is only two ounces. Thus, each 5 Hour Energy has the same amount of caffeine as an average tall latte. Is that "too much" caffeine? Maybe for some people, but I think for most, a tall latte is a perfectly reasonable amount for a pick-me-up first thing in the morning or during that mid-afternoon slump.
Tellingly, that aforementioned infographic does not list the caffeine content of other beverages. If it did, regular drip coffee would be next to Red Bull, with an average of 10 mg per ounce. Coke would be on the other side of Red Bull, with 4.8 mg per ounce.
Why single out energy drinks for this kind of treatment? Why not place them in context with Coke, drip coffee, and espresso? Because for whatever reason, people hate energy drinks, and they want you to hate them, too. The truth is, energy drinks are no worse for you than anything else.
Their sugar content is a much bigger threat to your health than their caffeine or taurine content. But once again you have to put it in perspective. When it comes to sugar, energy drinks are no worse than Coke, or orange juice for that matter. And there are plenty of sugar-free energy drink options for those who want to skip the calories.
If you don't like energy drinks, if you don't enjoy drinking a weird, perfume-y tasting cocktail of industrial chemicals, that's fine! Don't drink them! But don't try to spoil everyone else's fun with a misleading and fearmongering infographic.
Image courtesy Flickr/The Master Shake Signal