Energy drinks containing radium were introduced in the US in the early 1900s and were promoted as a source of energy and cure for health problems. One brand, RadiThor, caused radium poisoning and death. Modern energy drinks contain less caffeine than coffee and often include taurine.
Energy drink makers boast that their products will make you feel alive, but a century ago such drinks contained the kind of energy that could do just the opposite. While it might come as a surprise to learn that energy drinks are not a new fad, having been introduced to the US market in the early 1900s, it will almost certainly come as a shock to learn that the “energy” many contained was radium. Radium is radioactive and fatal when taken in sufficient doses, but brands that contain it, such as RadiThor, have enjoyed great success. RadiThor was just radium dissolved in water, but it has been promoted as a source of energy and even able to cure some health problems, including impotence. Luckily for most people, the brands that contained radios were expensive, and many consumers bought other, less expensive products that promised power but didn’t contain radios. Those who could afford the radium-fortified beverages, however, were really giving themselves trouble in the bottle. One famous victim of RadiThor was Eben Byers, a Pittsburgh tycoon who drank it regularly for years after first taking it to help heal a broken bone. Over time, the radium seeped into his bones and tissues, and he finally died of radium poisoning in 1932. By that time, health problems and other factors had largely knocked the products off the shelves. but not before they had caused considerable damage.
Inside energy drinks:
An average (modern) energy drink contains only half the caffeine of a regular cup of coffee.
One of the most popular energy drinks, Red Bull, originated in Thailand and was marketed to truck drivers and construction workers.
As well as being a popular ingredient in energy drinks, taurine can be found in all cat foods, as it helps protect the eyes, teeth and coat.
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