Does anyone have definitive reports that energy drinks are harmful?
I don't drink them only because I don't like the taste and I only drink water with lemon. However, I have a girlfriend who swears by them and said her doc told her that they are mainly caffeine & as long as she gets enough calories in a day, they won't hurt you. Oh, & she drinks one to get through her workout

I read an article one time (in Oxygen magazine?) about the beneficial effects of caffeine before a workout. And I have been known to drink a small sugar free coffee from mickey d's to run faster, longer, and lift more. That's not to say it's without risk. Caffeine can elevate your heart rate, and that's not necessarily a good thing. It's also a diuretic for people not accustomed to it. The high levels in energy drinks are a tad scary for me at least. My boss drank so much coffee one time he actually had a bout of atrial fibrillation. I would warn your friend to be careful with those things!

Yikes-- we work out together sometimes and I never see her with a water bottle
Like said, she's convinced ( since her doc said ok) they are harmless and helps her work out. I read somewhere that people get addicted to them!