In many companies, the breakroom coffee pot drips or perks coffee all day. Lots of employees enjoy a cup of hot tea or chug on mega-cups of caffeine-laced soft drinks. A strong cup of coffee is often the remedy for a cranky or sleepy co-worker or boss. Skipping your morning Starbucks or Diet Coke is a headache waiting to happen. Some people need a jolt of caffeine just to function.
Just about everyone experiences an energy drop at some time of the day. For those working 9 to 5, that dip comes around 2 p.m., just after lunch. Night owls may crash sometime in the morning hours. Regardless of your body clock, when your energy crashes, you can always reach for some instant energy. Pop open a Red Bull or 5-Hour Energy Shot and you can make it through the day or night. However, you may be getting something more than energy in those drinks.
The Federal Food and Drug Administration (F.D.A.) is looking into whether high-energy drinks are potential health hazards. According to an article in the New York Times, “F.D.A. May Tap Experts on Energy Drinks,” the high levels of caffeine in the drinks could pose health hazards to teenagers or people with health problems.
These energy drinks were already under investigation by the F.D.A. They are now calling in outside experts with specialized knowledge, such as the Institute of Medicine, which is part of the National Academy of Sciences.
Could 5-Hour Energy or Red Bull be banned from company vending machines or the communal break room refrigerator? The article reported that a Canadian health panel made several recommendations to Canada Health, the F.D.A.’s Canadian counterpart. A recommendation to label energy drinks as “stimulant drug-containing drinks” was not adopted. They did agree to limit caffeine levels to 180 milligrams in energy drinks.
How much is too much? Not just caffeine, but regulation? When New York banned 32-ounce sugary soft drinks, people just satisfied their sugar cravings by buying two 16-ounce servings. The same would go for energy drinks. Since an 8-ounce cup of coffee could contain as much as 150 milligrams of caffeine, would some of the more potent coffee products be banned as well? Awareness of these new potential health hazards is important for consumers, employers and healthcare professionals. Some suggestions before the F.D.A. makes new regulations could include:
1. Know thyself. If you have health problems that can be exacerbated by high levels of caffeine, self-regulation is the first step. Making smart decisions about your own health is more effective than struggling against outside regulations.
2. Know thyself (more). How does caffeine affect you? Are you just more alert or do you become loud, annoying or argumentative? Everyone is different. If your caffeine consumption changes your personality from friendly to freaky, switch to water or no caffeine after your first cup or can of instant energy.
3. Offer the best for all. The next time you plan a company luncheon, meeting or celebration, pay attention to the quality of beverages. Sure, buckets of Red Bull on ice may be cool, but can make some otherwise calm and cordial people wired and out-of-control. At least offer a variety of beverages so people can make choices.
4. Keep informed. New regulations or recommendations can help your company develop healthcare plans to help employees stay healthy and productive whatever shift they work.
5. Keep work schedules reasonable. Too many double shifts may drive employees for some outside stimulant to keep their eyes open. Sleep is the best refresher, and no caffeine jolt.
Whatever the F.D.A. decides, companies and individuals have some decisions of their own to make. All would agree that staying alert keeps employees productive and safe.
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