The energy drinks that contain up to 16 TEASPOONS of sugar – as campaigners call for a ban on them being sold to under 16s
Just one energy drink could be hiding more than TWO DAYS worth of sugar in one 500ml can
YOU'VE heard about the dangers of high levels of caffeine in energy drinks - but did you know they are packed full of extra sugar as well?
Some energy drinks contain as many as 16 teaspoons of sugar - that's more than twice an adult's recommended daily sugar intake.
The recommended amount is no more than seven teaspoons per day and for children it's much less.
So one energy drink could be hiding more than TWO DAYS worth of sugar in one 500ml can.
Campaign group 'Action on Sugar' has analysed popular energy drinks and called for a ban on the popular cans being sold to children under the age of 16.
Experts from Queen Mary University analysed the drinks sold in the UK between 2015 and 2017.
The worst offender, according to the study, is Rockstar punched energy in guava flavour which contains a whopping 16 teaspoons of sugar.
It is closely followed by Relentless energy drink in passion punch flavour which contains 14 teaspoons of sugar and Rockstar super sours which is also packed full of 14 teaspoons of sugar.
On the better end of the scale is Multipower red kick which only has two teaspoons of sugar and Monster rehab tea with still lemonade and energy which also contains two teaspoons.
Lucozade energy orange is also a better option containing just two teaspoons of sugar and, unlike the other energy drinks listed, has very low levels of caffeine.
While the study, published in the British Medical Journal, shows the number of products available on the market has fallen from 90 to 59, sugar, caffeine and calorie content still remains a concern for health care professionals.
Overall energy drinks had shown a ten per cent reduction in the amount of sugar contained in each serving in preparation for the Soft Drinks Industry Levy coming into effect in April, but the levels are still far too high.
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Soft drinks, including energy drinks, are the main contributor of sugar intake in children and teenagers and the second main contributor in adults.
For some children and teenagers soft drinks contribute to 30 per cent and 40 per cent of their overall sugar intake, respectively.
And kids in the UK are among the biggest drinkers of energy drinks in Europe.
The study also found that the average sizes of energy drinks are considerably larger than other sugar laden drinks - some an excessive 500ml, which is twice the standard drink serving.
Some 78 per cent of energy drinks still exceed the maximum daily recommendation of sugar for children, despite calls for sugar levels to be reduced.
Kawther Hashem, a nutritionist and researcher for Action on Sugar at Queen Mary University of London, said: "Whilst it’s encouraging to see that some energy drinks manufacturers have reduced sugar in advance of the levy next spring, the huge can and bottle sizes (500ml) means youngsters are still consuming far too much unnecessary sugar and caffeine.
"It’s clear that further reductions in both sugar and caffeine are urgently needed, and that they should get rid of large serving sizes – action must be taken now without further delay."
Graham MacGregor, chairman of Action of Sugar, added: "This study illustrates the huge contribution of energy drinks to sugar intake, which is linked to the development of obesity and various types of cancer, as well as type 2 diabetes and rotting our children’s teeth.
"They are completely inappropriate for children to consume, form no part of a healthy balanced diet, and should be banned for under 16s."
A recent review of all the studies into energy drinks and their effects on the body has found they seriously damage your physical and mental health.
The caffeine and sugar laden drinks can cause mental health problems like anxiety, high blood pressure, obesity, kidney damage, fatigue and even encourage risk-seeking behaviour.
Researchers also found that people who mix them with alcohol are likely to drink far more because the energy masks the effects of being drunk.
The study, published in Frontiers Public Health, also recommended restricting the sale of the drinks to children and teenagers.
Eating excessive amounts of sugar comes with an array of health risks linked to obesity.
Those who are overweight are more at risk of type 2 diabetes, which comes with the risk of complications including heart attack, stroke and diseases.
Type 2 diabetes is the more common form of the disease – accounting for between 85 and 95 per cent of all cases, according to .
It is usually associated with obesity and occurs when the pancreas is unable to produce enough insulin to maintain a normal blood glucose level.
Carrying excess weight around your tummy, a common side effect of eating too much sugar, increases your risk of the disease because it releases chemicals that can upset the body's metabolism.
Studies have also linked excessive consumption of sugary treats to Alzheimer’s disease later in life.
So just how much sugar should you be eating?
It is generally recommended that sugar intakes should only be about five per cent of your daily energy intake.
So that means no more than seven teaspoons per day for the average adult - the equivalent to a small glass of fruit juice and a flavoured yoghurt each day.
Children should be consuming far less than that.
Kids aged two and under should have just 3 teaspoons per day, kids aged three to six should have no more than four teaspoons a day and kids between seven and ten should have no more than six teaspoons.
Earlier this year research revealed that kids in the UK were eating 20 chocolate chip biscuits worth of sugar every day.
MORE ON SUGAR
Around one in ten British kids are obese by the time they start primary school, but this doubles by the time they reach their final year, with one in five 11-year-olds dangerously tubby.
Action on Sugar, based at Queen Mary University of London, is calling on the Government to get tougher when it comes to regulating sugar in food.
Earlier this year they revealed just how much sugar is hidden in the sweet spread you put on your morning toast every day.
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