Walking through the cafeteria during lunch at my old high school, there was an abundance of energy and relaxation drinks on every single table, with students chugging them hoping to make it through the rest of the day or do well on their test next period. Everyone rushed to the vending machines to be able to purchase the best flavor, or most effective drink in their opinion. But one day, a friend decided to read the label on the back of the drink she had purchased. What she found was not comforting; rather, she came to the realization that she understood none of the ingredients on the back of the bottle and honestly did not know what was in the drink at all. The drink she held in her hand was called NeuroDrink. NeuroDrink is a recently popular relaxation drink that makes bold claims. With names such as NeuroSleep, NeuroTrim, NeuroBliss, or NeuroSport, the effects of the drink are self-explained in their title. But the drinks may not be all that they are made out to be. NeuroDrink heavily affects neurotransmitters in the body in order to achieve the effect on the body that is needed. While some argue that affecting neurotransmitters can not harm one’s body, an overwhelming amount of research shows that the amounts or types of neurotransmitters in these drinks, such as melatonin, can be detrimental to a person. In relaxation drinks such as NeuroDrink, there are many amino acids and neurotransmitters used in a way that is not helpful to its consumers. Instead of backing up its claims, NeuroDrink has the potential to hurt you as a consumer if too much of the compounds are ingested and with no substantial research done on the product, long and short term risks are completely unknown.
In order to understand why NeuroDrink is potentially harmful, some terms must be explained though, starting with the most important: neurotransmitters. Neurotransmitters are a very important part of everyone’s body. They are found in the brain, which is why many are so nervous to affect them with outside sources, such as relaxation drinks. Neurotransmitters are used to send signals from the brain to another cell, while passing through a synapse. In layman’s terms, it means that information is communicated from the brain to our entire body. If our neurotransmitters are not working correctly, we would not be able to function properly. Our body would not be able to control stress, feel pain, and even emotions would not be normal. Too much or too little of a certain neurotransmitter can be a huge problem, and adding these to our bodies without a doctor’s permission could be dangerous.
Melatonin, the active ingredient in NeuroSleep, is often used as a clinical sleep aid by doctors and sleep clinics. With this being said, Melatonin is considered a drug, and should typically only be prescribed by doctors. But with a drink like NeuroSleep, unknown amounts of melatonin are used without any regard or warning to the effects that come with it. Side effects of melatonin include sleepiness, dizziness, irritability, or headache. There are many serious safety precautions surrounding the ingredient also. Melatonin is possibly unsafe in pregnancy, should not be used when breastfeeding, and can cause problems with ovulation, although this fact is not stated on the NeuroDrink package. Melatonin can raise blood pressure, increase blood sugar in people with diabetes, and even make the symptoms of depression worse. All of these side effects can affect a great portion of the population, since the number of individuals suffering from high blood pressure and diabetes is on the rise. Children especially should be careful while drinking the cool, new energy drink, since experts say that increased levels of melatonin can be harmful to young ones. With all of the adverse side effects, some being incredibly serious, it is hard to believe that putting an ingredient like melatonin in a marketed drink with no warning label is safe or even ethical. There are many other neurotransmitters besides melatonin used in the brand NeuroDrink, with many adverse effects to accompany them. As consumers, we need to be aware of these facts, and without FDA approval or information on the product, we are left in the dark.
Another concern for consumers is the ambiguity of the drink itself, from its components to the effects it might have. The Food and Drug Administration is vital for obtaining this information. But after reading many articles about NeuroDrink, there is a general consensus that it is not FDA approved. What does this mean for consumers? Essentially, it means that the makers of this product have the ability to put whatever they want in our drinks, without any person regulating what or how much goes into them. The ingredients are not tested to make sure that they are safe for consumption. Without knowing how much of a neurotransmitter is contained in the drink, it is also impossible to know how many drinks can be consumed before it is harmful to our bodies. Short term effects can be harmful and unknown to consumers at this point. News stories have surfaced about mixing these drinks with alcohol, which led to death. Drinking NeuroDrink while pregnant has also been a concern raised in the news, as both doctors and consumers have no idea what effect can be had on the baby or mother. Short term effects are not the only concern though, as long term effects must be thought about. Without long term testing of a product, we do not have any idea about what it can possibly do to our bodies
Many things need to be done in order to keep consumers safer, healthier, and aware of what they are putting into their bodies. The first and most obvious is that further testing needs to be done on the product. Without testing, there is no telling what the side effects may be and how our bodies will be affected in both the long term and short term. NeuroDrink should also go through the process to be FDA approved, even if it means altering the composition of their product. But unfortunately, these two solutions will take time and immediate results are not realistic. In the meantime, short term solutions can be found for this product. First, because of the increased risks for children to ingest these drinks, a viable solution is that one must be over 13 to purchase them. Warning labels should be put on all drinks, especially to warn pregnant mothers, diabetics, people who suffer from depression and high blood pressure, and children of the possible harm of the drinks. These solutions will not fully fix and eliminate all adverse effects of the drink, but hopefully will reduce the risks and inform the consumers of what they are buying. NeuroDrink does not give much hope in it’s product. From research, it actually makes me a little more skeptical than anything. With so many questions, uncertainties, and debates about the product, I don’t have a lot of comfort while consuming it. Until the NeuroDrink company can provide tests and approvals from the FDA, I will not be a consumer. My health and future are more important to me than trying to get an extra hour of sleep or feel more energized while working out. There are many other natural solutions that can be used for our everyday problems. Until the day that answers are given for NeuroDrink, I will stick to my nightly tea and Gatorade.
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