Panel to discuss energy drinks

You see the ads for them everywhere. Red Bull, Monster, Radioactive, and even SoBE Green Tea are popular energy drinks consumed by teens and adults who want an extra jolt to stay alert. Some people are using them as a mixer with their favorite alcohol.

The trendy “pick-me-ups” have become a billion-dollar business and are aggressively marketed to people between the ages of 13 and 35.

Find out what you’re putting in your body from UConn experts in nutrition, exercise physiology, and hydration, at a panel titled “Energy Drinks: Harm or Hype?”

The event will take place on Wednesday, Nov 19, at 7 p.m. in Konover Auditorium, Thomas J. Dodd Research Center.

Presentations will include, “A Nutritional Perspective,” by Nancy Rodriguez, professor of nutritional sciences; “Carbohydrates: The Real Energy in Energy Drinks,” by Jeff Volek, associate professor of kinesiology; “Caffeine: The Primary Stimulant,” by Lawrence Armstrong, professor of kinesiology; and “Your Health and Energy Drinks: Can They Coexist?” by Dr. Jeffrey Anderson, a physician with Student Health Services. The talks will be followed by a question-and-answer session.

The event, which is sponsored by the Department of Kinesiology in the Neag School of Education,

is free and open to the public.

For more information, call 860-486-2647.