May 2, 2023
The gaming scene is on fire globally, with pros looking at different adrenaline boosters and casual gamers settling with whatever helps them make it through gaming marathons. But, of course, their cheapest best friends are energy drinks. Available at every drugstore and corner T-shop, energy drinks are considered mood and energy boosters. Are energy drinks really the miracle elixirs they claim to be, or are they overhyped beverages?
Energy drinks have quickly become a staple for those seeking an edge in gaming. These caffeine-loaded sugary drinks contain many ingredients such as taurine, B vitamins, and amino acids. This powerful blend is supposed to give you a quick hit of energy and mental sharpness to help your fingers stay nimble on the keyboard.
Why do gamers need energy drinks?
The simple answer is: to gain energy. All of us have experienced those late-night gaming sessions with our squad that last until the crack of dawn. However, to fuel these marathons, plain old coffee just doesn’t cut it.
When it comes to competitive gaming, hardcore gamers always look for something to catalyze their rank grind. One popular belief amongst gamers is that energy drinks can give a quick mental boost to help them achieve their goal, enabling them to stay energized in games like Valorant, where enemies can really tilt you a few rounds in the game.
Most busy gamers begin their grind in the middle of the night, short on sleep. In simpler words, caffeine acts as a stimulant that blocks adenosine, which ultimately helps increase alertness and reduce feelings of drowsiness. So how do you think popular Twitch streamers run their marathons? Caffeine is the key.
To chain those wins together and turn them into a shiny new rank, you need a brain that stays alert and a body that doesn’t give in. Humanly, it’s not possible, but energy drinks do help considerably, which is why gamers swear by them.
Do energy drinks really help?
Energy drinks do help power through those gaming sessions briskly, convincing the gamers to return for more. Typically, caffeine and sugar are the main driving factors behind the energy boost that these frizzy drinks are famous for. Of course, you may find these two ingredients in your kitchen cupboard as well, but your regular off-the-shelf energy drink has an insane amount of both, which leads to an instant kick.
With high-dose caffeine and energy-boosting compounds packed in a small can, these drinks are meant to enhance the overall functioning of your nervous system. Energy drinks can also help reduce fatigue during a long gaming spree, especially when dealing with toxic teammates in an hour-long CSGO battle. In addition, when you feel low, sipping on energy drinks can offer a quick burst of alertness, which allows you to sharpen your reflexes.
If they’re so good, why do tournaments ban them?
The earlier study also found that energy drinks increased heart rate and blood pressure, which could harm individuals with cardiovascular conditions or those consuming large amounts of caffeine. Gamers tend to go overboard with beverages as they are not consciously paying attention to the can count while gaming. For these reasons, energy drinks have a terrible reputation among tournament organizers.
Some organizers ban energy drinks from tournaments because of high levels of caffeine and other stimulants that can negatively affect the body. Also, the reason behind this may be the unfair advantage for the player over those who don’t consume.
Moreover, energy drinks will undervalue the skills of players, and gamers will start relying more on these drinks rather than the muscle memory that develops after round-the-clock gaming. However, Energy drinks do not contain any products on the WADA Prohibited List. So, the risk of abnormal doping control is almost zero.
However, it’s noteworthy that energy drinks might give you a short blast of energy to power through those sessions but don’t be fooled. That buzz is short-lived and can leave you crashing even harder than before. They contain high levels of caffeine and sugar that can give you a temporary high but come with the not-so-fun side effects of a racing heart, jitters, and a sleepless night. Ultimately, they can leave you addicted to it, which could affect your well-being.
The question of whether these frizzy drinks are good for you stays up in the air, but they sure are a difference-maker. And until or unless there’s a healthier alternative, gamers will keep opting for energy drinks to fuel their midnight gaming marathons.