Recent research reveals some troubling side effects of these popular beverages.

Energy drinks are one of America’s most popular dietary supplements, according to the National Institutes of Health, but that doesn’t mean they’re actually a boost for your health. There’s been a lot controversy surrounding the drinks following several recent overdoses — and even deaths — linked to the beverages. In 2014, World Health Organization researchers labeled the rise in energy-drink consumption a “danger to public health.”

So, what’s in an energy drink, and how does it affect your body?

A 2015 Mayo Clinic study, published in JAMA, examined the effects of drinking a single 16-ounce can of a popular energy drink (Rockstar Punched). Researchers conducted the randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study on 25 healthy volunteers with an average age of 29.

The Effects

• 74%: The average percentage increase of the fight-or-flight stress hormone norepinephrine in study participants’ blood levels.
• 6.2%: The average percentage increase in study participants’ systolic blood pressure.

The Ingredients

Researchers observed that the effects could be the results of the following stimulants in Rockstar Punched.

• Caffeine: 240 mg (by comparison, a shot of espresso has about 64 mg)
• Sugar: 62 grams (15½ teaspoons)
• B vitamins and ginkgo biloba (additional stimulants)

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