Beyond soft drinks

John Aguilos, 12, left, Ernie Delacruz, 13, center, and Harland Kenyon, 14, all students at Millswood Middle School, pick out energy drinks to buy on Tuesday after school at Lodi Food & Liquor on Ham Lane at Lockeford Street. (Brian Feulner/News-Sentinel)

Beyond soft drinks

Lodians getting the kick from nationwide energy drink craze

By Kendyce Manguchei
News-Sentinel Staff Writer

Wednesday, November 1, 2006 6:45 AM PST

Comments (5 comment(s))

Millswood Middle School students, John Aguilos, 12, Harland Kenyon, 14, and Ernie Delacruz, 13, rushed down the street after school Tuesday and into Lodi Food and Liquor.

They peered into the soft drink cases, mulling over neon-colored, 24-ounce cans of energy drinks, debating whether they liked "Pimp Juice" better than "Hyphy Juice" or "Monster."

"Pimp Juice is my favorite. It tastes like a Jolly Rancher. I like the Red Bull too but it's too small. Sobe, the one with 'Superman' (a black and white Superman design) tastes like cough medicine," Delacruz said.

Paul Koont owns the shop at Lockeford Street at Ham Lane. Located about half a mile from the Millswood and Lodi High campuses, it's a popular after-school stop.

He said in the six or seven years since Red Bull became a household name, energy drinks have come to make up half of his non-alcoholic sales.

Young and old alike get hooked on energy drinks, and he said he sometimes wishes they would be taken off the market.

"I'd rather the kids buy juice or snack packs than energy drinks. They can buy more things with the $3 than one can of energy drink," Koont said.

"It's good for business now, but you have to think about the community as well."

Energy drinks are made up mainly of a sugar base similar to soda, but usually contain about twice as much caffeine as soda as well as some vitamins, protein and herbs.

Nationally, the popularity of energy drinks has exploded — a research firm recently revealed that one-third of teens across the country drink energy drinks, and consumers have a choice from at least 500 different labels, available in grocery stores, gas stations and barring that, online.

Local business owners and health professionals say they are concerned with the potential effects of the drinks.

Koont and other shopkeepers like Jed Green, owner of Max Muscle, prevent customers under 18 from purchasing certain brands, like Red Line and Liquid Speed. Both drinks were developed for weightlifters.

Several stores offer a variety of engergy drinks. (Brian Feulner/News-Sentinel)

Sandi Higgs, a Lodi Memorial Hospital dietitian, said energy drinks are not considered a diet staple because ingredients vary among brands. Also, research into them has been minimal.

"I don't think people are aware that the word 'energy' actually equals calories. If you buy an energy drink, that doesn't have any calories, it's really not providing you with energy," Higgs said.

If a person feels "energetic" with a lowor no-calorie drink, it's not because of protein or sugar; they've been hit by stimulants like caffeine, vitamins and herbs, Higgs said.

Mike Walsh, a doctor of pharmacy with the California Poison Control office in Sacramento, said that about a year ago he noticed a surge in calls from parents worried about symptoms in their teenagers, later found to be from energy drinks, and mainly Red Line.

Walsh said more than anything, it's the caffeine that's a problem. Youth just aren't used to caffeine like an adult is — 80 milligrams in 12 ounces, compared to 46 in the same amount of soda. But most drinks are sold in 16-ounce or 24-ounce cans.

Consumers vary on their individual research into ingredients.

Common ingredients in energy drinks

Glucuronalactone: (Red Bull) — A chemical compound produced when the liver metabolizes glucose, allowing chemicals to enter the bloodstream more rapidly
Eleutherococcus senticosus: (Rockstar) — A species of small, woody shrub native to Northeaster Asia. Its herbal properties are similar to the more expensive Panax ginseng.
Taurine: (Monster, and many others) — Derivative of a naturally-occurring amino acid. Amino acids are the "building blocks" of protein.
Brominated vegetable oil: (Mountain Dew AMP) — Keeps flavor oils in suspension and gives a cloudy appearance to citrus-flavored soft drinks.
Source: Food & Drug Administration, National Library of Medicine, National Institutes of Health.

John Kranich, a diesel truck inspector who stopped in at Lodi Food and Liquor, looked at some energy drinks shortly before the teens came in. He didn't buy one. Kranich said some of his night-shift co-workers take two and "run around all wired."

Energy drinks don't require any preparation and can be toted around, and they cost $2 to $3, comparable to some beverages from Starbucks.

Kranich, 44, said people his age must look at ingredients before downing just any energy drink. Twelve ounces is charged with about as much caffeine as an equal amount coffee, but Kranich said doctors discouraged him from energy drinks because herbal extracts and caffeine could interact with heart and high blood pressure medications.

Contact reporter Kendyce Manguchei at kendycem@lodinews.com.

First published: Wednesday, November 1, 2006

Reader Feedback

N/A wrote on Nov 3, 2006 11:49 PM:

" I think that people over 18 can drink this... I don't think it is healthy...but what can we do...It is better that kids under 18 drinking it...If it causes side effects, then someone has to do something about it... No children under 18 should be aloud to drink energy beverages because the are not to srong to be able to handle it. "

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Lacie wrote on Nov 3, 2006 1:59 PM:

" i agree with you, i think that kids should be aloud to drink anergy drinks. "

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Chris wrote on Nov 2, 2006 2:12 AM:

" My son and I, get atachycardia from having too much caffeine. It can raise your blood pressure. My son was taken by helicopter to Children's hospital of Oakland because he drank too much caffeine. Kids need to be warned. "

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J Bonk wrote on Nov 1, 2006 8:37 AM:

" wtf: I agree with you on this, energy drinks are not the way to go. A former San Joaquin RTD driver told me those drinks are like liquid methamphetamine, meaning they are very addicting, and put you on a small "rush." This sounds like it could lead to strokes or heart-attacks. "

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wtf wrote on Nov 1, 2006 7:25 AM:

" The article didn't mention two other health devils: MSG and aspartame (Nutra Sweet) - both causes of major health issues. An apple is a great source of glucose for the brain and energy; while taurine can be found in eggs, meat, and milk. These kids wouldn't need energy drinks if they followed a healthy diet. Chances are they reach a peak with this stuff, then a drop in blood sugar and fatigue. Not good. "

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