The Energy-Drink Buzz Is Unmistakable. The Health Impact Is Unknown. - New York Times

The Energy-Drink Buzz Is Unmistakable. The Health Impact Is Unknown. - New York Times: "Nearly 200 new energy drinks have hit store shelves since January, according to the market research firm ACNielsen. Led by such brands as Red Bull, Rockstar and Monster, energy drinks are a $3.7 billion industry whose revenues have increased by 51 percent in the past year alone. Red Bull is the third-largest source of beverage profits in convenience stores, according to one recent market survey.
“It started out as something for clubbers and extreme-sports types,” said Jeffrey Klineman, the editor of Beverage Spectrum. “Now it’s gone mainstream.”
So has the ingredient list. Energy drinks increasingly are formulated with fruit juices, teas and dietary supplements like ginseng and glucosamine that appeal to older, health-minded consumers. Taurine, an amino acid essential to growth in infants, is a frequent additive, though scientists say large amounts provide no advantage to ordinary adults."