Matt from New Jersey asks:
What is the low down on energy drinks? Are they really good for you?

Matt,
No. Energy drinks are not good for you! First, let’s distinguish energy drinks from Sport drinks. Sport drinks can be beneficial. I often suggest that a sport drink may be needed if you are exercising intensely for 90 minutes or more, or you are working in extreme conditions. Energy drinks, however, are loaded with calories from sugar and those that claim they are sugar free have a sugar substitute. There are unresolved questions about the safety of sugar substitutes. In addition, many energy drinks include stimulants like herbal sources of caffeine – some of these contain as much as four times more caffeine than your morning coffee. Experts have found that these drinks raise blood pressure and stroke volume and there are reports of people experiencing dizziness and nausea. These stimulants can also interfere with sleep.
As far as the claim that the vitamins in these drinks give you energy, vitamins do not directly serve as a source of energy, but they aid the enzymes that generate energy from the energy producing nutrients like protein, carbohydrates and fats. Vitamins play a role in helping out in the chemical reaction that leads to generation of energy. Vitamin doping will not give you instant energy.
Finally, mixing energy drinks and alcohol is becoming a popular practice. Since energy drinks are stimulants and alcohol is a depressant, the combination of effects may be dangerous. The stimulant effects can mask how intoxicated you are and prevent you from realizing how much alcohol you have consumed. In addition, both energy drinks and alcohol are very dehydrating. Dehydration can hinder your body's ability to metabolize alcohol and will increase the toxicity. Given the current evidence – you are far better focusing on eating a healthy diet, getting exercise, and plenty of good rest to improve your energy level.