veryone needs an energy boost from time to time, and many people turn to energy drinks to get that boost. But are energy drinks healthy?

Many energy drinks are advertised as being healthy because they contain ingredients such as B vitamins and amino acids. While these types of ingredients are healthy and may have energy producing benefits, the reality is that many energy drinks contain small amounts of these ingredients and most of the energy actually comes from sugar and caffeine.

Many energy drinks contain large amounts of sugar and caffeine. Some energy drinks contain as much as 64 grams (16 teaspoons) of sugar in an eight ounce serving. Some energy drinks contain three times more caffeine than a can of Coke or Pepsi. While you can always check an energy drink's ingredient label to see how much sugar it contains, determining the amount of caffeine it contains is not always so easy. The caffeine in many energy drinks comes from multiple sources, so it's often hard to tell how much caffeine the drinks actually contain. Many energy drinks list herbal stimulants (like guarana) as separate ingredients from caffeine, but they often don't tell you how much additional caffeine these herbal stimulants provide. Guarana contains two to three times more caffeine than coffee beans do.

Here are the side effects of energy drinks that you need to be aware of:

The high amount of caffeine in many energy drinks can overstimulate the heart and nervous system and increase blood pressure.

The high amount of sugar in many energy drinks can cause an energy spike, followed by an energy crash.

The high amount of caffeine and sugar in many energy drinks can cause dehydration. Energy drinks should never be used before, during, or after exercise.

The high amount of sugar in many energy drinks can lead to excess calories and weight gain.

Some of the herbs in energy drinks may not interact well with certain medications.

Energy drinks and alcohol can be a dangerous combination. The stimulant effects of energy drinks can mask how intoxicated you are. No matter how alert you feel, your blood alcohol concentration is the same as it would be without the energy drink.

If you're consuming energy drinks because you're frequently tired or run-down, there are better and healthier ways to boost your energy. Get adequate sleep, exercise regularly, stay hydrated by drinking plenty of water, eat a healthy diet, and take a high quality multivitamin/mineral supplement. These strategies will not only increase your energy in the short run, they will keep you fit and healthy in the long run.