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Energy drinks have long become a regular part of many people’s lives. I myself enjoy a few in some more demanding workdays or when I have trouble getting up to speed in the morning. However, it’s human nature to question something that seems to have too much of a good effect since we’re all used even to side-effects of regular medicine. As a wise man once said, there is nothing in this world that’s purely good or purely bad, even doctor-prescribed medicine.

That being said, I’m sure you all noticed (those of you that have energy drinks every now and then) that the contents of these cans boast some rather obscure substances (guarana, taurine, etc), that (rightfully) haven’t been too widely researched except for the regular set of empirical volunteer statistics (eg: take 10 people who ingest taurine and 10 who don’t and see if there are any differences).

Most energy drinks have a relatively standard formula: pack a bunch of vitamins, a little coffeine, some taurine and a punch of guarana in some carbonated liquid, add flavor, glucose and serve.

Well, I guess we all know more or less about vitamins, but how about the others? So let’s see:

1. Caffeine: it is a chemical compound that stimulates the central nervous system. Most drinks offer between 100 and 180mg of it, which is around 2 or 3 times the content of a good cup of coffee. Caffeine can also b e found in many other drinks: coke, coffee, for example.

Does it work? Coffee junkies definitely say so. Scientists from Austria and the US have shown that people ingesting coffee have a great increase in brain activity and are much more alert than those who don’t. Caffeine indirectly affects many different neurotransmitters, says Andrew Scholey, Ph.D., an herb and nutrition researcher at Australia’s Swinburne University of Technology. Coffee stimulates circulation and various neurotransmitters, making brain activity more efficient. Coffee can have positive effects when battling headaches caused by low blood pressure.

Is it safe? If having a couple jugs of coffee doesn’t harm you, then an energy drink shouldn’t be a problem either, just don’t combine the two activities. It can lead to various adverse effects such as sleeplessness or nausea. Also, if you’re not a coffee or coke drinker, you have sleep disorders or battle high blood pressure, then you can get in trouble. Finnish researchers have shown that blood pressure really spikes on caffeine.

2. Glucose: it’s sugar, plain and simple. Energy drink cans may display this as sucrose (a combination of fructose - natural sugar from plants … and glucose). Quantities vary between 40 and 80mg.

Does it work? The body uses glucose as fuel for daily activities so filling your tank with sweet stuff should theoretically be good for physical activities … and it is, according to the Journal of Applied Physiology. The limits of glucose come in when dealing with fatigue caused by lack of sleep. British researchers show than when combined with lack of sleep, ingesting glucose has the exact opposite effect, causing the body to experience more fatigue and slower reactions.

Is it safe? Ingesting calories isn’t a very bright idea. The point is that your body will burn them, fuelling it but lacking the activities that will use the energy, your body will just keep them. Moreover, ingesting glucose that’s not used will cause blood sugar and insulin levels to spike and cause your body to stop using fat. New Zealand researchers showed in 2006 that a can of Red Bull’s worth of glucose will temporarely cause your body to store fat instead of burn in.

3. Guarana: is a south american plant. Its seeds contain concentrated coffeine. Quantities in energy drinks vary from 20 to 300mg.

Does it work? Well, yes, if you don’t overdo it. It has improved effects over coffeine but scientists haven’t extensively studied it yet. It displays the same effects as coffeine even when using very small dosages which could mean that coffeine isn’t the only active ingredient and there could be something else inthere that helps with the energizing effect.

Is it safe? Given that it doesn’t require the same amounts as coffeine to get the same effects, it’s rather safe. However, the fact that it hasn’t been fully studied leaves room for future surprises.

4.  Ginseng: is an extract from the ginseng plant. Quantities vary between 8 and 400mg in energy drinks.

Does it work? Well, ginseng doesn’t offer energy to burn but it does stimulate the brain. People ingesting ginseng experienced better results on cognitive tests and higher brain activity, on dosages from 200mg upwards. However, not many energy drinks have the correct dosage.

Is it safe? Mostly yes, however ginseng can interfere with some medications, so it’s good to check with your personal physician before going all out on energy drinks.

5. Taurine: is one of the most abundant aminoacids in the brain. It acts as a light neurotransmitter and the quantities vary between 20mg to 2000mg.

Does it work? Studies in this matter are ambiguous but scients think not. While travelling through the blood stream following ingestion, taurine isn’t absorbed through the membranes protecting the brain tissue where it would be most useful. A team of scientists at the Weill Cornell Medical College concluded after rodent testing that the most likely effect of taurine ingestion is one resembling sedatives since when ingested taurine mimics gamma-aminobutyric acid, which is a chemical that slows brain functions.

Is it safe? Taurine consumption on humans hasn’t been researched almost at all. Right now it seems that small amounts are safe, though the future is uncertain.

To be  be cynical, between coffeine and taurine, I would say that energy drinks manage to cancel themselves out, but there is much positive effect to be noticed and most of the side-effects can be avoided if care is used. Don’t exceed what your body can take is a golden rule and a medical advice is always welcomed.