The weather is getting hotter. You are thirsty playing basketball or riding
home from school. A cold drink may be just the thing. But be careful what
you are drinking. Something that looks cool may not be good for your health. There are plenty of "energy(能量) drinks" on the market. Most of them have
beautiful colors and cool names. The lists on them tell you they are helpful to your health. Sounds great!
But after a careful check you may find that most energy drinks have lots of caffeine (咖啡因) in them. These drinks are especially(尤其) aimed at(针对) young people, students, busy people and sports players. Makers sometimes
say their drinks make you better at sports and can keep you awake. But be
careful not to drink too much.
Caffeine makes your heart beat(跳动) fast. Because of this, the
International Olympic Committee has limited( 限制) its use. Caffeine in
most energy drinks is at least as strong as that in a cup of coffee or tea.
Possible health dangers have something to do with energy drinks. Just one
box of energy drink can make you nervous, have difficulty sleeping and can
even cause heart problems. Scientists say that teenagers should be
discouraged from taking drinks with a lot of caffeine in them.