The Science Behind the Buzz in Each Can
Redbull gives you wings, Monster Energy unleashes the beast, Alani empowers your every move, but do they actually give you energy? Caffeine is the secret behind these drinks (1). It is a stimulant, which means it affects the brain and nervous system activities (2). Some neuroreceptors lower your brain activity and make you feel drowsy and unproductive, as they control sleep and cognition. Caffeine blocks these receptors from functioning properly and creates a temporary effect that tricks your brain into being more alert and efficient (3). Your gastrointestinal tract absorbs the caffeine from the drink and sends it to your brain. In small doses, like one can of a colorful drink, can help you feel focused, though substantial amounts of caffeine, along with other harmful chemicals, can create anxiety and trouble sleeping (2). Glucose is a form of sugar, which is another ingredient commonly found in energy drinks. The brain needs sugar as it provides energy to all cells (4); the brain has nearly 86 billion cells (5). Sugar increases the brain’s functionality through fueling neurotransmitters (4). However, high amounts of sugar can also harm your health. Although the brain depends on glucose, an overload of it can cause memory and cognitive issues (6). So, do energy drinks fuel you? No, they fool you, but when consumed in moderation, they can provide a temporary productivity boost.
Bibliography
- Alsunni, A. A. (2015). Energy Drink Consumption: Beneficial and Adverse Health Effects. International Journal of Health Sciences, 9(4), 468. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC4682602/
- Health. (2019). Caffeine. Vic.gov.au. https://www.betterhealth.vic.gov.au/health/healthyliving/caffeine
- How Does Caffeine Give Us Energy? (2022, September 8). Tufts Now. https://now.tufts.edu/2022/09/08/how-does-caffeine-give-us-energy
- Sugar and the Brain. (2025). Harvard.edu. https://hms.harvard.edu/news-events/publications-archive/brain/sugar-brain
- Cleveland Clinic. (2025, January 25). Brain. https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/body/22638-brain
- Flaggert, O., & Flaggert, O. (2017, October 16). The Effects of a High Sugar Diet on the Brain – Texas Institute for Neurological Disorders. Texas Institute for Neurological Disorders – | Top Rated Neurologists. https://www.texasinstituteforneurologicaldisorders.com/uncategorized/effects-high-sugar-diet-brain/
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