Students can’t possibly get the recommended eight hours of sleep every single night of school. A poll of students in a sophomore class states that they get an average of 7.2 hours per school night. How are they accommodating their tiredness at school?
While some might sleep during their free time or even during class, many opt for an energy drink or two throughout the day. While these eight to twenty-ounce drinks sold at Wawa, CVS, Walgreens, and even sometimes in the school cafeterias can provide a source of energy for students who need it to get through their day, energy drinks can also have severe side effects. Ever experienced feeling shaky after drinking a Celsius, or felt more nervous and anxious than usual after enjoying an Alani halfway through the day? These are some of the common side effects of the most popular energy drinks.
Wilmington Friends School Health Teacher Amy Hess says energy drinks are “not necessary for teenagers, and they can actually be quite harmful. I think teens (and adults, actually) should avoid them and not use them as a source of energy.”
An exhausted student might think, “So what, a few energy drinks won’t cause much harm.” This mindset can actually be quite harmful. Let’s take a look at a horrifying caffeine-caused death. Sarah Katz, a 21-year-old Ivy League university student with a pre-existing heart condition, went into cardiac arrest soon after drinking a “Charged Lemonade” from Panera, which they soon stopped selling in May of 2024. Katz knew about her heart condition and was aware of what she was drinking. Panera had advertised their energy drink as “plant-based and clean”, potentially leading customers to believe these drinks are somewhat healthier than other energy drinks. This case shows that marketing for energy drinks fails to warn consumers about the high amounts of caffeine and unnatural ingredients.
A 20-oz Panera Charged Lemonade contains a maximum of 178 mg of caffeine, varying slightly depend- ing on flavor. Compared to the amount of caffeine in a 20-oz Red Bull, which contains 171 mg of caffeine. Both of these drinks, one outlawed, the other sold in school cafeterias, include around the same amount of caffeine.
WFS sophomore Nora Abd El Kader ‘27 says that she will drink a Celsius two to three times a week. Although she does not experience any significant side effects, she does have shaky hands from time to time. Could the side effects for the average consumer without heart conditions get worse?
Looking deeper into one of the most popular energy drink brands, Celsius has been involved in a number of lawsuits, one being based on their failure to advertise the drink accurately. The company has claimed to produce “fitness drinks”, leading customers to believe that these drinks are supposed to be consumed before, during, or after being active. Celsius has also stated that they do not add preservatives to their drinks, but citric acid, one of the most common food preservatives, is found in their beverages. Celsius beverages are also sold under the “drug” category instead of under “food”, classified based on their ability to “cure, mitigate, treat, or prevent disease,” which renders the beverage as a drug according to ClassAction.Org.
All this information begs the question: What are we putting into our bodies? How can WFS students increase their energy levels without harmful energy drinks? Unfortunately, there isn’t a quick, simple fix for a lack of energy. Cafeteria staff recommends protein bars to students, specifically energy sources that contain more protein than they do sugar. For students looking for other healthy ways to increase their energy, there is the obvious solution: more sleep. Beyond that, vitamin B, D, and Iron supplements or pills can also help improve general energy levels. Students can also increase their water intake and spend more time in the sun, if possible, to increase vitamin D as well as serotonin levels.
