30 GoodLifeFamilyMag.com JANUARY | FEBRUARY 2019 HOLIDA F ormanystudents,withthestressofachallengingcurriculum comes long hours of late night studying and in turn a lack of sleep. Often, these students look for an edge to stay focused and alert for extended periods of time. While it may seem like a good approach, some stimulants could come with potential risk and harm.   ENERGY DRINKS Energy drinks have been labeled a dietary supplement within the marketplace and considered to be the highest in increasing consumer penetration. It is estimated that the U.S. sales of energy drinks reached $21.5 billion in 2017. The standard energy drink with 100-200 mg of caffeine is not the major concern. The concern lies with products that contain high levels of caffeine alongside multiple stimulants, such as Guarana Seed, Yohimbe and Yerba Mate. Combining high levels of caffeine with other stimulants may cause an electrical disturbance that can lead to a life threating arrhythmia (i.e. heart palpitations). As we’ve seen in several cases in teens and adults, it could lead to cardiac arrest and eventually death. While energy drink ingredients, such as caffeine, have been widely studied, other ingredients have not and manufacturers are using mainly anecdotal evidence as justification of their use in their products. Consumers should be aware of the ingredients contained in energy drinks and make educated decisions whether or not these beverages are the best choice for their bodies. STUDYING WITH STIMULANTS By Don Hooton | Contributor With the stress of“making the grades,”many students are looking for an edge to fuel late night study marathons. CONSUMERS SHOULD BE AWARE OF THE INGREDIENTS CONTAINED IN ENERGY DRINKS AND MAKE EDUCATED DECISIONS WHETHER OR NOT THESE BEVERAGES ARE THE BEST CHOICE FOR THEIR BODIES.