Energy Drinks

[BMCS Dave Considine]

Anyone else seeing the number of younger crew drinking these so-called "energy drinks"? They have names like "Rock Star" "Hype" "Blow" "Cocaine" etc. They even have websites which review them and tells which are the most powerful. Just read an article in Reader's Digest that talks about how the school age kids are getting addicted to them.

http://www.energyfiend.com/ (http://www.screamingenergy.com/)

Check out the caffeine levels

http://www.energyfiend.com/the-caffeine-database/

Seems like the new addiction of the crew. They also cost over $2-$3 a can. I guess if people aren't smoking as much any more than they can afford the drinks. Then again I just got rid of all my smokers and some new ones PCS's in and they drink the drinks as well.

My concern is that they are "amped" on caffeine - not sure what happens when they "come down" at 3:00 am on a SAR Case.

It's worth reading the Reader's Digest article

http://www.rd.com/content/spiked-/1/

Dave

[BMCS Mike Ellis]

Dave,
I'm right there with you on this one. I was basically a habitual "user" of Red Bull and whatever other new drink came on the market. I averaged at least two per day. That lasted until May 11th of this year, when at age 30, I passed a huge kidney stone. The urologist stated that it's more and more common in younger people these days due to the use of those drinks, combined with a failure to drink water.

That was the last day I drank a Red Bull, soda, or any other drink with caffeine. The only occasional carbonation I have now comes with a side of hops and barley!:D

Mike

[BMC John Phillips III]

another thing most of them do not consider is that the large cans are actually TWO servings! The redbull can is smaller because it's only one serving. I have never seen someone open one of those large cans and save the rest for later or split it with anyone.

[MKC Craig Thorngren (Ret)]

Dave,
You have a valid concern in what type of shape he/she will be in when the call comes in during the middle of the night, but that's why you get the big bucks!!

The other thing that concerns me (more like pisses me off) is some of the names you mentioned. "Coke", "Hype" and "Blow" to me glamorizes drugs and the drug culture. For that reason and that reason alone, those particular drinks should not be allowed on the station in my opinioin...

Craig

[ETC Joe Jester (Ret)]

Coke, while adopted by the drug trade, also adornes the Coca Cola product. Coca Cola in the begining, did contain the drug.

[BMCM Wray Gillette (Ret)]

Just off the top of my head I would say these energy drinks are for the un-educated, that have too much money in their pocket, & just want to try or use the latest fads to hit the market....

My guess is if you read the ingredients you would see that those buying them are just making the producers rich.

While I'm definately no "health nut" I'm positive there are several ways to get more "energy" at a fraction of the cost. Just like the "I-phone", there will be a sucker born every minute....

Wray... :cool:

[ETC Joe Jester (Ret)]

Here's a link describing the changes in a person from caffeine ... http://www.abc.net.au/quantum/poison/caffeine/caffeine.htm

From the link ...
Too much caffeine may not be good for complex reasoning tasks, but it can improve mental speed-related tasks.

And to go with John's railling against alcohol usage by those under 21 ... there can be personality changes from caffeine ...

http://www.caffeineweb.com/ looks to provide some details ... like “Caffeine-induced psychosis, whether it be delirium, manic depression, schizophrenia, or merely an anxiety syndrome, in most cases will be hard to differentiate from organic or non-organic psychoses….

The treatment for caffeine-induced psychosis is to withhold further caffeine.”

[BMC John Phillips III]

My "railing" huh Joe?

OK, well you are right, Caffeine does have some negative side affects, which is why I don't drink coffee or allow my kids to drink caffeinated soft drinks. I actually went 3 years without drinking any caffeinated drinks, then I saw conflicting report saying there were some benefits from caffeine.

Of course, I have been known to sample an energy drink from time to time, but if I had to place a number on the total I have ever consumed, I would go with less than 20.

[ETC Joe Jester (Ret)]

Yeah John, your railing. :D

I'm sure I'm in single digits for some energy drinks ... especially the caffeine laden ones.

Maybe the Medical Officer at the palace will make a ruling ... as there are always conflicting information.

Everything is good for you ... and bad for you, depending on the study you wish to view. :D

[EMC Travis Parks]

I would encourage anyone railing against the evils of energy drinks to take a long hard look at the coffee consumption in their own mess.

[BMCS Dave Considine]

I'm not railing against the energy drinks, I drink on average two cups of coffee a day, equaling about 20 ounces. Some of my crew are drinking three or more of these drinks totalling 48 ounces a day. Most they are drinking have a higher caffeine content then the brewed coffee. What concerns me is if they are "hyped" on these when they are underway at three in the morning on a SAR case, what are the implications. There may not be any, I don't know - this is why I started the thread. The other thing that concerns me is the cost. My two cups of coffee cost me only $3.25 FOR THE WHOLE WEEK in the coffee mess. The three drinks the crew are drinking cost about $6 a day or $30 for a five day work week, or $1,560 a year. Put that money in the TSP and by the time they retire they've contributed $31,200 to their retirement which at 4% return compounded annually would be just about $50,000. The same scenario works for smoking - put it in the terms of money and it's an eye opener. Plus smoking is now over $5 a pack.

It's not railing Travis, it was an invitation to discuss an issue that some of us see as a potential problem.

[BMCS Eric Guerette]

I just noticed that the flavored water that I sometimes buy is enhanced with vitamins. They changed their label a couple of months ago and I didn't pay much attention. I just looked again and one of the flavors has caffeine added. Not a great way to re-hydrate after all.

[HSC Chris Fly]

Sometimes it's not so much about the caffiene than other ingrediants in the energy. I've had a few people come ask me about energy drinks and aviators, probably some of the same questions for boat drivers. I gave a call to the Capt in charge of Aviation Medicine and his response was while there is nothing in any manual that prohibits energy drinks exclusively, there certainly lots of supplements/etc that may be in the drinks that are either banned or banned within 24 hrs of flying. His take is to not drink ANY energy drinks within 24 hrs of flight duty. There is an extenive list of substances in the Aviation Medical Manual, if you're interested. I haven't really been in the Boat Crew manual to see if there is a similar list, however I would think there might be. Again, it's not all about the caffiene. Did you know that aviators can't use Ginko Biloba within 24 hrs of flying? Just a nugget of thought on something that is promoted to heavily as a health supplement.
Chris

[MSTCM Jerald Motyka]

Isn't the use - and abuse - of caffeine a trait in the senior ranks of enlisted folks? When I was coming up the ranks, the Chiefs I saw were almost all wrapped around that coffee mug - and their left hand was in a permanent curl from holding it. Wasn't there a thread recently about mess cooks washing the "seasoning" out of a coffee mug?

This just smacks of, "Damned alcoholics - drinking that whiskey. It's bad for ya! Hey, gimme another beer, wouldja?"

Just an observation...

[MKCM Brett Ayer]

Sometimes it's not so much about the caffiene than other ingrediants in the energy.

Just to add to the above, I was reading a can the other day, one of the Ingredients was hemp oil. Now hemp oil has absolutely no nutritional benefit that I know of, but I guess it gave the manufacture the excuse to put a pot leaf on the label (which is why I was reading the label).

This is what bothers me about this whole energy drink thing. Whatever is in them (regulated or not), people are drinking them for the effect it has on their body; in my book that is the definition of a drug.

I don't want to get into the whole so is coffee or beer thing (I don't drink either by the way), I just wanted to point out the direction I see this going in.

Be Safe.

[FSC Mike Rawski]

I am pretty sure most of us know how the caffein jitters can make us a bit jumpy when we are tired.

Also, what effects does excessive caffein have on the body in a survival situation? It's well known that it's a diuretic. Does anyone know if there are other effects?


I love coffee. I drink 3 cups a day easily, generaly more. I also drink a gallon of water just while I sit at my desk, not including the quart I drink coming in to work and the water I drink in the evening.

[BMCS Jim Madsen]

A few weeks ago I was at a family reunion. My Brother-in-Laws are both "Rock Star" drinkers. There was a "Rock Star" can sitting next to a "Coke" can on the table. Just for curiosity sake, I looked at the amount of caffeine in them. One can of "Rock Star" has 5 times the amount of Caffeine that a can of "Coke" has. Come to think of it, "Rock Star" may have 10 times the amount because there are 2 servings in a can of "Rock Star".
I have been through the "withdrawl" headaches that come from kicking the caffeine habit so I try to avoid it. I can't imagine what these "so called" energy drinks must do to folks.

[FSC Mike Rawski]

A few weeks ago I was at a family reunion. My Brother-in-Laws are both "Rock Star" drinkers. There was a "Rock Star" can sitting next to a "Coke" can on the table. Just for curiosity sake, I looked at the amount of caffeine in them. One can of "Rock Star" has 5 times the amount of Caffeine that a can of "Coke" has. Come to think of it, "Rock Star" may have 10 times the amount because there are 2 servings in a can of "Rock Star".
I have been through the "withdrawl" headaches that come from kicking the caffeine habit so I try to avoid it. I can't imagine what these "so called" energy drinks must do to folks.

WOW!

I didn't think it was that much. I just drink red bull and only on rare occasions. Too much $$$.

[EMC Travis Parks]

Ok Dave I gotcha, no railing here. I'd say we all have an obligation to address the irresponsible use of totally allowable products. Most of the energy drinks have less caffiene per ounce than coffee. In terms of caffiene per container I could only find one that had more caffiene than a grande drip coffee from starbucks.

http://www.energyfiend.com/the-caffeine-database/


Not a big problem, except being a stupid way to waste money.

[BMC Russell Miller]

I had a member become very dehydrated after working for a few hours on a rebuild,:mad: I did notice the only thing he had drank was the high energy drinks and no water, after sitting in the AC for an hour and drinking alot of water he was fine, after that I ban them from being use during the summer months and if they had a need they could drink one before the we got to a rebuild site and they had to drink twice the amount of water as the energy drink no problems since.

[ASTC Mario Vittone]

Many energy drinks contain ingredients that ground aviators for 24 hours if consumed. I don't know, but if the Coast Guard wont let you fly for 24 hours after drinking something (consider that a Bud light grounds you for only 12 hours) that might be an idication that its a bad thing to drink before a SAR case.

v/r Mario

[BMCS Dave Considine]

I guess I should have attached a poll. It seems that quite a few here are concerned enough to want to discuss the "irresponsible use of a totally allowable product."

[HSC Chris Fly]

Many energy drinks contain ingredients that ground aviators for 24 hours if consumed. I don't know, but if the Coast Guard wont let you fly for 24 hours after drinking something (consider that a Bud light grounds you for only 12 hours) that might be an idication that its a bad thing to drink before a SAR case.

v/r Mario

Mario,
That's the point I was trying to make earlier. The problem is there is nothing in the Aviation Medical Manual that bans energy drinks as a whole, just certain ingrediants. Someone at HQ needs to come out with a concrete instruction that addresses this.
Chris

[ETC Joe Jester (Ret)]

Someone at HQ needs to come out with a concrete instruction that addresses this.

HQ will react to this when the accident investigation identifies the ingredients in the causal effects of the incident.

I guess the OICs can issue a standing order for preventative measures based on the information in the Aviation Doctor's opine.