I used to think all those warnings about energy drinks were kind of just adults overreacting, but after stuff I’ve read lately, I don’t think it’s just hype. For teenagers, there might not be a huge issue if it’s just the occasional can, but there are some concerns beyond just taurine – like, energy drinks as a whole usually have tons of caffeine and sugar, which already mess with your body and can make your heart race or make you feel jittery.

With taurine, the biggest worries are for people who have health problems like leukemia. That new research about taurine helping cancer cells grow is super recent, so it’s not like anyone knows for sure if drinking energy drinks as a teen without cancer is gonna hurt you, but it kinda makes me pause. I know a guy from school who got heart palpitations after chugging a couple, and he was totally freaked out!

My opinion? It’s probably fine if it’s once in a while, but definitely not something I’d make a daily thing. There are other ways to get energy without all the weird ingredients. Just something to think about next time you reach for one!