NatNews

While coffee still remains the top pick-me-up option for approximately 75 percent of adults in the U.S., energy drinks have continued to grow in popularity as a way of providing a boost to help give some extra zest throughout the day.

Mithra Cama, a student at the University of Texas at Austin, said she drinks an energy beverage every morning to help provide a little extra pep in her step.

“I’m generally a pretty tired person, so I really like that energy drinks are able to help with that drowsy feeling I would otherwise have throughout the day,” she said. “I think when I drink an energy drink, I’m able to take on more work, and my ability to focus improves. The taste is usually not a huge determining factor for me; a lot of energy drinks can be a little too sweet, but I don’t really pay much attention. One negative effect is sometimes I have definitely noticed them making me feel pretty anxious, which can be hard for me to control.”

Anxiety from an energy drink is not uncommon, as it’s one of the many significant side effects individuals can experience. Like Cama, Dallas-area resident Cisco Lopez consumes energy drinks regularly, estimating that he drinks one roughly four or five times per week.

“I do have them often, especially drinks like Celsius and those with similar ingredient content,” he said. “I like these types primarily because they don’t have a heavy caffeine content and because of the added minerals and vitamins.”

In addition to Celsius, those who prefer energy drinks have plenty of options, including Red Bull, Alani Nu, C4, Sparkling Ice Energy, and Gatorade Fast Twitch, among others. Lopez has found one that he believes is superior, though.

“I’ve recently moved on to another energy drink called UPTIME,” he said. “I think it’s better than [many of the others] because it contains L-theanine.”

L-theanine is an amino acid that can help relieve stress, stimulate the brain, and improve mood. While not all energy drinks contain this amino acid, many have additional beneficial ingredients, such as B vitamins, taurine, guarana, ginseng, and green tea extract. Dallas resident and registered dietitian Lyndsey Kohn said she doesn’t necessarily consume energy drinks on a regular basis but does so on occasion.

“During those busy seasons or days when I have to rally for something, I have relied on an energy drink or two,” she said. “When I have early morning travel days for work, am moving, or am attending big celebrations like birthdays or engagement parties, I have leaned on a Celsius or a Red Bull to power up, so to speak.”

While energy drinks can certainly provide a temporary jolt and improve focus for a time period, in addition to anxiety, they can also result in other side effects, including depression, headaches, nausea, rapid heart rate, stroke, and tooth decay. Kohn said she isn’t a fan of the negative impacts these beverages can have on a person.

“Essentially, it’s ‘fake’ alertness that your body will pay for later on,” she said. “The jitteriness, anxiety, insomnia, and dehydration effects are not worth it to me at the end of the day. Most of the common energy drinks like Celsius and Red Bull have 200 milligrams of caffeine, which is equivalent to two cups of coffee alone. If I’m not mistaken, the USDA or FDA recommends the upper limit as 400 milligrams for adults, and even then, that’s the limit our government places and recommends for adults.”

From both a personal and professional standpoint, Kohn said she strongly advises individuals to be mindful of how certain foods and drinks make their bodies feel.

“If you are someone who is relying on energy drinks regularly to get through the day, it might be good to do a gut check on your circadian rhythms and sleep patterns,” she said.

Kids and adolescents, women who are pregnant, those with pre-existing conditions (e.g., heart disease and kidney disease), and anyone who takes medications regularly for health conditions are advised to avoid consuming energy drinks because of the risks they pose. The National Institutes of Health also cautions even healthy individuals when using such a beverage as a source of energy.

Regardless, energy drinks still remain a go-to option for many people, especially teenagers and young adults. In the U.S., approximately 30 percent of individuals ages 13 to 35 consume energy drinks on a consistent basis. Cama said she believes that the appeal remains because of how effective they are and the convenience they offer in helping a person feel energized.

“A cup of coffee can be time-consuming to make and expensive to buy, but grabbing an energy drink on my way out the door is no hassle,” she said. “They also work so well to help focus, which is why I think they are particularly popular for students.”

The average cup of regular coffee in the U.S. is just more than $3, with fancier options and cold brews averaging upward of $5 (numbers are obviously contingent upon coffee size, location, etc.), while the average cost of an energy drink is between $2 and $4. In addition to the previously mentioned appeals of energy boosts, Kohn said she thinks it also doesn’t help that there are certain expectations projected onto people by society.

“We live in a fairly demanding world that requires—or, I’d say, demands—our attention to always be ‘on.’” Energy drinks are another option to help keep up with that demand and a potential tool to help push through hard seasons (like marathon training or balancing multiple jobs) or simply providing the energy to work out after a long day at work.”

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The State Fair of Texas kicked off last Friday and is open daily until Sunday, October 20, allowing for plenty of opportunities for residents and visitors alike to make their way to Big Tex’s stomping grounds.

Last year, over the course of the fair’s 24 days, there were more than 2.3 million attendees, which was a decrease from 2022’s record-setting 2.5 million individuals. For Dallas-area resident Carolyn Macduff Levanway, this year’s fair outing holds some significance and a bit of nostalgia.

“My mom wanted to go as a birthday gift, so my family is going for the first time together since my brother and I were little,” she said.

Dallas resident Emily Paul said she has gone to the fair with friends the past few years and will also be one of its many attendees this year.

“It’s a fun way to transition from summer into the fall,” she said. “If the State Fair were open year-round, I’d be less inclined to go, but there’s something about it only being around a few weeks that makes it more appealing and exciting.”

Paul admits that there are certainly downsides to attending the fair, including sometimes scorching-hot temperatures, overly crowded days, and parking and traffic inconveniences, though she said those are all simply part of the experience. Overall, she truly enjoys what the fair offers.

“I love being able to be outside and walk around, especially if you can catch some crispy weather,” she said. “I enjoy getting to try new foods, see the animals, and just feel like a kid again. It’s the closest I get to an amusement park and feels nostalgic. On a hot day, it’s fun to take an afternoon break in the cool A/C looking at all of the cars.”

Not everyone is as enthusiastic as Paul. Dallas-area resident Josh Odegard said he hasn’t been to the State Fair in a few years, but he plans to go this year to take some friends who have never experienced the annual event. There aren’t too many aspects of the fair that actually appeal to Odegard, though.

“I don’t ride the rides, play the games, or care about the auto or livestock shows, so I really only go to hang out with friends,” he said.

Macduff Levanway, on the other hand, said the car show is one fair attraction to which she looks forward each year. She could do without the massive crowds, though.

“I love being around people, but I feel like the fair gets too busy, and the lines get really long,” she said.

But there is one attraction that many fairgoers tend to claim is what excites them most: the unique food options. Macduff Levanway said the fair is the one place where she can get a really well-done Fletcher’s corn dog, though she also plans to try some of the new foods available this year.

“I take $20 every year and use that to try as much of the new food as I can,” she said. “$20 only gets me about two items, but it helps me really think about the foods I actually want to try. This year, I’m getting the Churro Crumble Cheesecake and the dumplings—something sweet and something savory.”

While Odegard may not be looking forward to many of the activities the fair offers, he is mostly on the same page as Macduff Levanway when it comes to enjoying the food at the fair, though he said that’s mainly only because he really loves food.

“I looked at the list of new foods for 2024—which is overwhelming—but there wasn’t anything that stood out as an ‘I’ve got to try that’ food,” he said. “The food at the fair is also so overpriced, so I usually won’t try more than two or three things. If I had to pick a few to try this year, it would be the Hot Cheetos Korean Corn Dog, Island Rumble, and Tajin Twist Sundae.”

Paul said fair food is a “solid 80 percent” of why she goes to the fair each year, so she certainly intends to try some of the new items offered.

“We usually get the map with photos when we get there to see what sounds good,” she said. “I do have my eye on the Hot Chick-in-Pancake Poppers this year—chicken, pimento cheese, and pancake batter sound like a perfect sweet-and-savory combo. And though it’s not a new food, I’ll also keep my out for the Fried Pickle Pizza.”

Additional information regarding the food, tickets, and planning your visit can be found on the State Fair of Texas website.

WEEKLY PHOTO OP

Congrats to dear readers Anil Devegowda and Rob Buwalda for rollerblading a marathon the day before running one

Monday, September 30: Johnny Marr and James at the Majestic Theatre
Tuesday, October 1: 2024 Civil Discourse Series — The Electoral College at the Dallas Holocaust and Human Rights Museum
Wednesday, October 2: The Life and Music of George Michael at the Majestic Theatre
Thursday, October 3: Usher at the American Airlines Center (also on Friday and Saturday); Candlelight Jazz — The Best of Frank Sinatra and Nat King Cole at Edison’s
Friday, October 4: Oktoberfest at Harwood Arms; Taylor’s Version — A Taylor Swift Party at Sundown at Granada; Britney Spears Tribute — Toxic at Legacy Hall
Saturday, October 5: WRRC Saturday run from Taco Joint; Hike, Yoga, and Mindfulness at Arbor Hills Nature Preserve; Frisco Oktoberfest at The Star; Oktoberfest Dallas at Flag Pole Hill
Sunday, October 6: DMA First Free Sundays — Access for All at the Dallas Museum of Art; Cowboys vs. Steelers Watch Party at Legacy Hall