Dangers of Energy Drinks - KXNet - Bismarck/Minot/Williston/Dickinson

Dangers of Energy Drinks

Whether it's after school activities, sports or trying to stay awake to finish tomorrow's homework assignment--kids are looking for a quick energy fix.

And many are turning to energy drinks.

Reporter Sarah Gustin has the details on the dangers inside those colorful cans.

It takes a lot of energy to get through a busy school day.

And cans like these are an attractive option for a little help in staying awake.

McKenzie Carlson/9th Grader: "Sips of them, but I don't care for them at all. I just don't like the taste of them.

Tucker Ell/9th Grader: "I feel a little bit right away and then it's just nothing."

Joan Knoll/Registered Dietitian: "As a parent, I would be concerned if my child was drinking energy drinks, and I would highly discourage energy drinks in my child's diet."

Many students and adults don't understand the dangers in tipping one of these cans back.

Joan Knoll is a registered dietitian for Bismarck Public Schools.

Knoll says one teacher was so about concerned about kids drinking these drinks--she's now inside Bismarck classrooms teaching more than 2000 middle schoolers of the dangers of energy drinks.

Joan Knoll/Registered Dietitian: "The kids were drinking them in the morning and he noticed that they would have maybe a lot of energy first thing, but then they would crash by about 3rd period, so they were concerned about that because it affects their learning."

Knoll says the FDA doesn't regulate the amount of caffeine in energy drinks.

She says some drinks have 5 times the amount of caffeine as a can of pop.

Joan Knoll/Registered Dietitian: "Energy drinks have an unregulated amount of caffeine, there are other chemicals in them that are caffeine like. This amount of caffeine can cause rapid heart rate, abnormal heart rhythms, dizziness, muscle twitching, nausea and vomiting, hallucinations. they have an addictive quality so they have some withdrawals with headaches, insomnia. But, they can also cause seizures coma and even death.">>

Knoll says recent studies show they offer no national value.

She says there have even been cases where people have died from having just 1 energy drink.