When “Energy” Isn’t Energy at All
Reality Check:
Energy drinks promise focus and stamina — but what they actually deliver is a short burst followed by fatigue.
The Mayo Clinic Health System makes it clear: those “energy” drinks don’t provide real fuel. They stimulate the body, then deplete it — the opposite of what developing athletes need for sustained performance and recovery.
The facts behind the buzz
Caffeine overload: Many popular energy drinks contain 150–300 mg of caffeine per can — well above the American Academy of Pediatrics guidance of roughly 100 mg per day for adolescents.
Sugar spikes: Many energy drinks contain around 20–40 g of sugar. These high-sugar formulations can cause sharp blood-sugar swings that impair focus and slow recovery.
Hidden strain: Ingredients like taurine, guarana, or ginseng may sound “natural,” but when combined with caffeine, they can elevate heart rate and stress the nervous system.
In short: what’s marketed as “fuel” often undermines the body’s ability to stay hydrated, rested, and ready.
Why it matters for developing athletes
For athletes still growing while competing, energy should come from fuel that supports the body — not stimulants that push it. Caffeine and excess sugar disrupt sleep, hydration, and hormone balance — all essential for growth and recovery. Over time, that can mean slower adaptation, higher fatigue, and increased injury risk.
True energy supports consistency: carbohydrates and electrolytes that sustain performance, protect recovery, and keep the body in rhythm.
A shift already underway
The tide is turning:
United Kingdom: Proposed ban on sales of energy drinks to anyone under 16.
Canada: Health Canada advises adolescents to limit caffeine intake to roughly 2.5 mg per kg of body weight per day — about 100 mg for many teens.
United States: Pediatric and sports-medicine groups are pushing for clearer labeling and limits on youth-targeted “boost” drinks.
It’s validation of what we see every day in youth sport: developing athletes don’t need adult energy drinks — they need fuel built for how they actually train, grow, and recover.
League’s take
The message from research and regulation is clear: energy shouldn’t come from stimulants.
Our approach starts with fuel that supports growth — steady carbohydrates, balanced electrolytes, and clean ingredients that help athletes perform and recover naturally.
That’s your Reality Check. Now you know. Now you choose.
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