Hey, Soldier, You Might Want to Cut That Caffeine

As if the threats of terrorist ambushes, booby traps and truck bombs weren't enough, one military expert thinks U.S. troops abroad are facing another potent risk -- one that comes in 8-ounce cans. In a post published by the Army War Institute at West Point, Sergeant Eddie Jackson warned that energy drinks such as Rip It, which has become ubiquitous at U.S. military sites in the Middle East and Afghanistan, "have caused more physiological damage to soldiers than actual combat."

As anybody who's chugged can after can of Red Bull for an overnight drive or cram session knows, energy drinks loaded with caffeine and sugar can help stave off sleep and keep one's focus. A study published by the North Atlantic Treaty Organization found that "during periods of unavoidable sleep loss, the use of caffeine can extend the period of operational effectiveness during the conduct of military operations."