In this episode, David C. Smalley, a fact-checker, comedian, and podcast host, dives into the intriguing world of energy drinks. He explores their bizarre ingredients and the addictive nature that hooks many users. The conversation touches on alarming health risks like irregular heartbeats and the potential lethality of excessive caffeine. Smalley shares his personal battle with energy drinks, encouraging critical thinking about their consumption. The hosts also discuss regulatory controversies and the importance of informed choices to safeguard health.
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Jordan Harbinger's Energy Drink Addiction
Jordan Harbinger discusses his past addiction to energy drinks, consuming them regularly during his radio show.
He experienced negative effects on his sleep and found it difficult to function without them, highlighting the addictive nature of these beverages.
question_answer ANECDOTE
David C. Smalley's Energy Drink Addiction
David C. Smalley shares his experience of being addicted to energy drinks for 11 years, consuming up to three a day.
He describes using them to combat midday fatigue and maintain energy levels late into the night.
question_answer ANECDOTE
Near Fainting Incident
David C. Smalley recounts experiencing tremors and nearly fainting on stage due to energy drink consumption combined with a banana allergy.
This incident led him to quit energy drinks for a period.
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Energy Drinks. What is in these things? Why are some people hooked on them? Why are they wild, unnatural colors? What exactly do they do? Are they dangerous? Are they hype? Or are they both? Sit back, pour yourself a nice tall glass of carbonated, bright-blue, sugar-packed whatever the hell this is, commence vibrating, and get the straight dope on energy drinks.
Welcome to Skeptical Sunday, a special edition of The Jordan Harbinger Show where Jordan and fact-checker, comedian, and podcast host David C. Smalley break down a topic that you may have never thought about, open things up, and debunk common misconceptions.
Energy drinks have been linked to irregular heartbeats, cardiomyopathy (a disease that makes it difficult for the heart to pump blood), increased blood pressure, and other heart conditions.
A lot of people in the fitness world like energy drinks, especially diet ones, because they get an energy boost for working out without a huge caloric intake — but their bodies tend to be healthy enough to deal with any adverse effects.
When it comes to caffeine, experts recommend no more than 400 mg per day for adults, or 100 mg for kids. A standard cup of coffee provides anywhere between 95 mg to 200 mg, while one can of an energy drink varies by brand from 111 mg to 280 mg.
The FDA warns that 4,200 mg of caffeine can be lethal to an average adult if ingested all at once — although other conditions can exacerbate its effect at much lower doses. An autopsy reported "caffeine toxicity" as a contributor to a 14-year-old's death after she drank just two cans of 24 oz Monster energy drinks — or about 488 mg of caffeine.
Most energy drinks contain B12 and lots of other vitamins that can be good for fighting off depression (especially in vegans with a low B12 intake), but supplements can provide the same benefits without added caffeine and sugar.
Connect with Jordan on Twitter, on Instagram, and on YouTube. If you have something you'd like us to tackle here on Skeptical Sunday, drop Jordan a line at jordan@jordanharbinger.com and let him know!
The Jordan Harbinger Show