Hot Weather and Energy Drinks

Summer is at our doorstep and most days are breaking eighty first thing in the morning. By the time noon rolls around, it’s well past ninety and sometimes recently it has been pushing one hundred. While it's always important to stay hydrated, in the summer it is even more important as the heat literally boils moisture from your body when you sweat.

Wherever you are – inside or outside – it’s important to drink a lot of water. It’s best to stay away from things like soda and energy drinks as they will actually further dehydrate you.

This may come as a surprise to you as soda companies and energy drink companies do not advertise this fact. And, seeing that these energy and sports drinks are often sold at your local gym, it’s hard to imagine that they dehydrate you – but it’s true!  

The Simple Science

The purpose of an energy drink is to give the consumer a sudden rush of chemically created energy thanks to a lab-developed combination of caffeine, sugar, and an 'energy blend' of select vitamins and minerals. And, it can do the trick.

Many report receiving a burst of energy as well as raised blood pressure and heart rate. If you drink this during an exercise session or while you are undertaking extremely hard labor, such as construction, it can be considered a great boost or a much-needed pick-me-up.

However, in reality, it is absolutely terrible for you and, in some cases, deadly. Studies have concluded that the amount of caffeine in these drinks can be equivalent to the amount in 240 cups of coffee, which is completely insane. In addition, the taurine milligrams found in one of these drinks usually amounts to nearly 4,000mg more than the recommended daily value of supplemental taurine.

Finally, contrary to popular belief, an energy drink does not hydrate you, and the idea that they claim there is 'no crash later’ is also false. The reality is that your body will be dehydrated, your heart will be strained, and there is always a crash to some degree when your body comes 'down.'

What to Do

While it may seem okay to just have one now and again, it may be better to forego them altogether. Of course, be sure to check with your physician about the effects before making any decisions about energy drinks as we are not a medical expert on the subject.

However, with a background in health and wellness, our conclusions are that water is always the best choice in the hot summer sun. Plenty of water will keep you hydrated, which will then keep you energized as well without risking your heatlh!