I’ve been researching this energy drink phenomenon and here are some of the things I’ve found:

FoxNews: Aug 15, 2008- reports: Red Bull might give you wings but new research suggests just one can of the popular energy drink may increase the risk of heart damage.

IVillage: September 23, 2008- HealthDay News shows Drinking too much of the popular Red bull energy drink may lead to heart damage says an Australian study.

ABC News in Nevada reports You may want to think twice before grabbing a can of Red bull. A new study says just one can of the Sugar Free beverage may up your risk of heart damage. This may be due to it causing the blood to become stickier, thus raising the risk of blood clots which can cause heart attacks and strokes.

Red Bull contains sodium citrate, a flavor additive. Americans consume far too much sodium, putting them at risk for high blood pressure and heart disease. It is also stated that extremely large oral dosages may produce gastrointestinal disturbances.

Red Bull vehemently denies that their drink is harmful to anybody. When I researched further on Wikipedia, it stated that natural Taurine can help the heart. Conversely, the synthetic Taurine has a negative effect on the heart. It is also stated on Wikipedia that it is the synthetic Taurine (the type that Red Bull uses) can lead to heart damage.

L-taurine, the natural Taurine contained in some energy drinks on the market, has been shown to reduce the risks of heart disease and combat heart damage, including heart disease, diabetes, stroke, Alzheimer’s disease and arthritis. Some of them also contain green tea leaf extract, which helps metabolize fat and reduce the risk of cancers, heart and liver disease.

It is shocking that most of the students that participated in the Australian study have refused to drink Red Bull, and will never consume it after learning the results of the study.

With 75 million energy drinks being consumed on a daily basis, how can we warn the younger generation of the dangers of drinking these kinds of beverages? With increased consumption of beverages like Red Bull, it will lead to increased health problems & possibly lead to more deaths.