Energy drinks are harmfulIntroductionConsumption of energy drinks such as Red Bull, Monster and 5- Hour Energy Shot, which contain caffeine and other additives, is dangerous to an individual's health and in some cases fatal. Energy drink manufacturers claim that consumption of their products will improve sports performance, concentration and reaction time, as well as increase basal metabolism. However, energy drink manufacturers add additional energy ingredients such as glucose, taurine, guarana and ginseng. Each of these ingredients has many unwanted side effects, see Table 1 on page 8. Yet energy drink manufacturers are not required to list the amount or type of additive used in their products. According to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), FDA approval is required to use additives in conventional foods. Dietary supplements are considered by the FDA to be generally recognized as safe by qualified experts and therefore are not considered a food additive. Unfortunately, the FDA does not need to approve their addition to conventional foods such as beverages. Energy drink manufacturers therefore take advantage of this by labeling their products as “food supplements”. » Therefore, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) should be able to regulate the ingredients added to energy drinks. Additionally, the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (FFDCA), which regulates both dietary supplements and conventional foods, does not require conventional food manufacturers to report serious adverse events (FDA , 2012). Caffeine, a central nervous system stimulant, is the main psychoactive ingredient in energy drinks, which improves alertness and mood and counteracts sleep symptoms. There is no doubt... middle of paper ... you eat. Retrieved June 20, 2014 from Mayo Clinic: http://www.mayoclinic.org/caffeine/ART-20045678?p=1Szpak, A. a. (April 2, 2012). A case of acute suicidality following excessive caffeine consumption. Journal of Psychopharmacology. doi: 10.1177/0269881112442788 Terry, L. (June 25, 2014). The Oregonian. Retrieved June 26, 2014, from More Deaths Linked to Energy Drinks: 34 Since 2004: http://www.oregonlive.com/health/index.ssf/2014/06/more_deaths_linked_to_energy_d.html Yew, DM (March 31, 2014). Caffeine toxicity. (AM Tarabar, editor) Retrieved June 18, 2014, from Medscape: http://emedicine.medscape.com/article/821863-overviewZeratsky, KR (2012, March 27). Can energy drinks really increase a person's energy? Retrieved June 23, 2014 from Mayo Clinic: http://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-living/nutrition-and-healthy-eating/expert-answers/energy-drinks/faq-20058349