Like many students, Anthony Omokha said he buys energy drinks when he feels fatigued and has to engage in a lot of physical activity.

"I've had Red Bull and Jolt [cola], and they boost your energy for a couple of hours," Omokha (sophomore-finance) said. "I try not to drink them often because I heard they're not very good for you to use frequently."

He added that some people drink these types of beverages when they have to study late because it keeps them up.

Energy drinks have become increasingly popular among students, but Chip Harrison, head strength training coach at the White Building, said there is "questionable nutritional value, if any," to drinks like Red Bull.

"The majority of energy drinks that are very high in carbohydrates all fall into the same category," Harrison said. "They have extra caffeine and extra sugar, and [there is a] limited physical application to why someone would need something like that."

Harrison said these drinks are mixed with stimulants that supposedly boost metabolism or make a person think more sharply.

Kristine Clark, sports nutrition director and assistant professor of nutrition, said she thinks the concept of energy drinks is nothing more than a gimmick.

"The word 'energy' means calories," Clark said. The drinks "are not dangerous, but you're paying for the marketing."

She added that people would get more energy from fruit juice than drinks like Red Bull, and they would probably save money because energy drinks are expensive.

Timothy Padalino (junior-landscape architecture) said he has tried energy drinks, and they didn't have any effect on his energy level.

"They're supposed to give you energy like coffee, but I wouldn't turn to a Red Bull to do any of that," Padalino said.

Energy drinks also contain caffeine, which is a diuretic and makes the body lose water, Harrison said.

According to the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA), caffeine is considered a performance-enhancing drug and is a banned substance among student athletes.

Clark said an athlete would have to consume an excessive amount of caffeine -- more than two to three fresh-brewed cups of coffee one hour before training -- in order to give an athlete a performance benefit and for caffeine to test positive in the blood.

The amount of caffeine in energy drinks "could contribute to an excessive amount of caffeine on any given day when an athlete gets randomly tested," she said.

Many energy drinks contain herbs like ginseng, which are not proven to have any physiological effect on the body, and are heavily fortified with vitamins and minerals, Clark said.

"Getting vitamins and energy from a wide variety of balanced foods is the absolute best way to perform athletically in an optimal way," Clark said. "These beverages give the impression that they are good substitutes, but they don't come close to real food."

Both Harrison and Clark said they do not recommend energy drinks to athletes.

Sports drinks, like Gatorade and Powerade, are another type of beverage used widely among students, particularly athletes. These drinks are beneficial because they contain carbohydrates and electrolytes, which are salts found in the body that are released in sweat, Clark said.

"Loss of body water leads to dehydration, which leads to fatigue," Clark said. "Electrolytes play a role in muscle contraction and fluid balance."

W. Larry Kenney, professor of physiology and kinesiology, said another advantage of sports drinks is that people drink more of it than water because it contains sodium, an electrolyte.

"When people dehydrate after prolonged or extensive exercise, you want them to drink more to replenish what they've lost through sweating," Kenney said. "If they just drink water, usually they stop drinking before they've replaced all the fluids."

Fitness waters, such as Gatorade's Propel, contain artificial sweeteners, which stimulate thirst and cause a person to drink more, Clark said.

"A lot of people who eat well don't need sports drinks, but they need fluids," Clark said. "All Propel is is a good-tasting water."

Brad Boyer (sophomore-kinesiology) said he drinks Gatorade after working out because he likes the taste and it's "something other than water."

"I keep it in my room all the time," Boyer said. "I drink it sometimes when I'm done with classes and just want to feel rejuvenated."

The carbohydrates in sports drinks are effective if a person is engaging in rigorous activity for more than an hour beause they provide glucose, which muscles use for energy, Kenney said.

However, if someone exercises for only a half hour, then water is just as beneficial, he added.

Harrison said that sports drinks are sometimes too concentrated for people to be getting the best benefit, and they can be diluted with water for a better effect.

"There are a lot of people out there who have never had Gatorade or Powerade and are doing just fine," Harrison said.