caffeine at midnight Archives - GEG Research and Consulting

Are energy drinks worse than coffee for stress and sleep?

April 8, 2021April 8, 2021greeneyedguide

Does drinking energy drinks instead of coffee give you worse stress and sleep? One research paper says, “YES”, but this might not be the case for all energy drink users. In this post, we’re going to take a closer look at that study and what it means to YOU. In other words, I’m going to give you three things you should look for to see how energy drinks might be affecting YOUR stress and sleep.

Short on time? This blog post is available in podcast format too! Click the player below, and don’t forget to subscribe to this show on your favorite podcast platform.

Nurses Drinking Energy Drinks Report Worse Sleep and Stress

To begin with, we should briefly discuss this research paper. The paper is called, “Nurses Consuming Energy Drinks Report Poorer Sleep and Higher Stress” [see Reference 1, below]. In this study, they asked nurses about their stress levels, their sleep habits, and their caffeine intakes.

Most of these nurses worked 10-hour shifts back to back to back. So you know these nurses were legitimately tired! Furthermore, in this study, there WAS a statistically significant difference between the coffee drinkers and the energy drink users. In fact, those who drank energy drinks had worse sleep. They had worse stress too, but it wasn’t a statistically significant difference compared to the coffee drinkers.

But let’s talk about what this means to you.

5 Ways Coffee is Better Than Energy Drinks

February 17, 2021March 1, 2021greeneyedguide

I enjoy my caffeine in many different forms. But sometimes, coffee is a better choice than an energy drink.

In terms of biology, caffeine is caffeine is caffeine. However, sometimes, coffee offers things energy drinks cannot. Sometimes, coffee is better than an energy drink.

Hi. I’m Caffeine Scientist GreenEyedGuide. In this episode of the Caffeine at Midnight podcast, I’ll share 5 benefits of choosing coffee versus energy drinks.

You can listen to this short podcast below or on your platform-of-choice by clicking the button.

Podcast and Show Notes

Burnout and Caffeine Use in Collegiate Athletic Trainers

January 28, 2021January 28, 2021greeneyedguide

What can we learn from burnout in athletic trainers?

It feels like everyone is emotionally exhausted these days. That’s why this 2020 research article, “Burnout and Substance Use in Athletic Trainers” really caught my attention. In this condensed episode, I’ll explain what they found and how it can help ANYONE struggling with burnout.

First, how “burnout” is defined and measured.
Second, how many trainers struggle with burnout, and how this compares to burnout in nurses.
Finally, how to reduce burnout – what works, and what doesn’t.

Podcast Show Notes and Additional Graphics

3 Reasons Energy Drink Bans Fail

January 18, 2021January 15, 2021greeneyedguide

Energy drinks are not intended for minors. And yet, energy drink bans are not the way to go.

Many states and counties in the US have tried to pass laws to prevent minors from buying energy drinks. In this episode of the Caffeine at Midnight podcast, Caffeine Scientist GreenEyedGuide describes the 3 reasons energy drink bans fail, and what lawmakers SHOULD do instead.

Where Minors Get Their Caffeine

Few get it from energy drinks

Reference: Beverage caffeine intakes in the US – Food Chem Toxicol, 136-42 Jan 2014

The 3 Most Important Things You Need To Know

Energy Drink Bans Don't Address Dangerous Ingredients

People have overdosed on caffeine from shots of espresso, from pure caffeine powder, and from soda [see References, below].
A ban on energy drinks won't address situations where OTHER ingredients pose a health risk. For example, yohimbe, beta-alanine, and even B-Vitamins can be harmful in the wrong dose.

Energy Drink Bans Don't Include "Energy Drinks In Disguise"

Starbucks Doubleshot has 2x the caffeine of Red Bull. Some preworkout powders have 3x the amount of caffeine a minor can have in 1 day. Energy drink bans fail to include these products, which pose just as much risk to minors as the stereotypical energy drink.

Energy Drink Bans Don't Protect 18 Year Olds

Eighteen year olds don't magically wake up immune to caffeine toxicity. And yet, college students are more likely than minors of overdosing on caffeine. This is due to their newfound independence, peer pressure, and the stress of juggling college and Adulthood responsibilities.

Bottom Line

Preventing a minor from buying Red Bull is not the best way to keep minors safe from the health risks associated with energy drinks. There are too many loopholes, and there are better methods that protect everyone, not just minors.

In the next episode of the Caffeine at Midnight podcast, GreenEyedGuide shares why Canada’s Energy Drink Restriction is the way to go.

References

Documented Deaths By Caffeine – Caffeine Informer
Yohimbe Side Effects – WebMD
Energy Drink Hospitalizations – GreenEyedGuide.com

What Caffeine and Energy Drinks Do To Your Liver – It’s Not All Bad News

December 17, 2020December 17, 2020greeneyedguide

What do energy drinks do to your liver?

Did you know drinking coffee helps your liver? But what about energy drinks? In this episode of the Caffeine at Midnight podcast, Caffeine Scientist GreenEyedGuide reviews the science behind what caffeine and energy drinks do to your liver.