Is Red Bull Bad for You? 4 Reasons to Skip These Dangerous Drinks

Energy drinks might be tempting when you’re tired but need to keep yourself alert. And to some, they might seem harmless. But are they safe? Is Red Bull bad for you? Or Monster? Or 5-Hour Energy? The medical community recommends that we don’t let such products become a regular habit. There’s growing evidence that these energy drinks can cause some significant harm in your body.

The Dangers of Energy Drinks

The answer to “Is Red Bull Bad for you?” is self-explanatory when you consider the following:

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Drinking Just One Energy Drink Causes Elevated Blood Pressure

A 2015 study found that after adults drank one 16-ounce can of an energy drink, the average systolic blood pressure of the participants increased by 6.2 percent, while the average diastolic blood pressure increased by 6.8 percent.[1]

Additionally, norepinephrine levels increased by 74 percent after drinking the energy drink; elevated norepineprhine can cause changes in blood pressure, heart rate, and heart function.[1] The researchers conclude that the changes in blood pressure and norepinephrine levels may increase one’s chances of cardiovascular problems.

Other studies have found similar effects—that energy drinks lead to significant increases in blood pressure readings.[2]

Caffeine itself has blood-pressure-raising effects, which may partly explain why energy drinks are so dangerous when it comes to keeping blood pressure in the healthy range.[3] But studies show that energy drinks raise blood pressure by other mechanisms, too, different from caffeine alone.[4]

ENERGY DRINKS AND CHILDREN

The high caffeine levels in energy drinks are one reason that energy drinks are so bad for children, especially those with underlying heart conditions.[3]

Is Red Bull Bad for You? Yes—So Look for Energy from Other Sources

If you want to avoid the negative health effects of energy drinks, and especially if you have high blood pressure and want to protect you heart, stay away from products like Red Bull and 5-Hour Energy. Instead, look to natural alternatives for boosting your energy levels.

For starters, try the options noted in our post 8 Energy Boosting Foods to Keep You Alert. You also may want to use vitamins to increase your energy levels. Read more about which ones work best here.

Share Your Experience

How do you keep your energy up naturally? What works best for you? Share your experience in the comments section below; just scroll down past the links section.


Originally published in 2015, this post is regularly updated.

[1] JAMA. 2015 Nov 8:1-3. [Epub ahead of print]
[2] Circulation. 2015;132:A12689.
[3] Pediatrics. 2011 Mar;127(3):511-28.
[4] Physiol Rep. 2015 Feb 25;3(2). pii: e12290.

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