Energy drinks can kill you.

That's what the creators of the Web site www.energyfiend.com want you to believe.

James Foster, director of the New Zealand Web site, said it keeps people updated on information about caffeine levels in drinks and food. Although it may appear funny, it should be taken seriously, he said.

A "Death By Caffeine" calculator on the Web site determines how many energy drinks it will take before it becomes deadly, based on a person's body weight and the drink.

For example, a person weighing 180 pounds will need to drink 154 cans of Red Bull before it "kills." Someone weighing 200 pounds will need to drink 98 cans of Monster Energy Drink to "end (their) life."

"The Death By Caffeine calculator is a tongue-in-cheek feature that points to the potential dangers of caffeine and, at the same time, provides some entertainment," Foster said.

"Realistically, there is no way you could consume that amount of fluid in a very short period of time — your stomach simply couldn't hold that much liquid."

Studies on whether someone can die from downing too many energy drinks are scarce. However, there are still some unhealthy disadvantages to drinking them, physicians say.

Manufacturers put caffeine and "quite a bit" of sugar in energy drinks, said Diane Fischer, a registered dietitian at Sparrow Hospital.

"If you're concerned about weight gain and concerned about watching how many sugar calories you get, then the energy drinks — you have to remember — they're usually loaded with sugar and caffeine," she said.

But some people don't mind the sugar high. Breakfast for Douglas J hairstylist Katie Mackis usually includes a ShockWave Energy drink.

"I'll drink a cup in the morning to get me going," Mack said. "It will usually last for a couple of hours."

But Mack said she limits how many drinks she has for personal dietary reasons.

"I'm on a diet," she said. "That's why I only drink one a week."

But one sugar-filled drink each week can still add up, Fischer said.

She used Red Bull, which has 110 calories, as an example. Fischer said 31 drinks is equivalent to gaining one pound.

She breaks this down: If you drink four Red Bull energy drinks a day, seven days a week, "that would be a pound a week," Fischer said. "That would be freshman 15 pretty quickly."

It wouldn't take long for the pounds to add up, especially if you're replacing healthy food with energy drinks, said Ronda Bokram, a registered dietitian for Olin Health Center.

"It's seems easier to get a can and open it than it is to eat food," Bokram said. "I think a lot of marketing for Monster and for Red Bull makes it look like the right thing to do.

"It's sad to see marketing win out over common sense."

However Coca-Cola spokesperson Scott Williamson said not all energy drinks are filled with sugar. Tab Energy drink, produced by the company, has only five calories.

"All the ingredients in Tab energy drinks are safe, and our advice to consumers, with all food and beverages choices, is that they maintain a balance in the choices they make," Williamson said.

If students want to make healthy decisions, they can choose different alternatives for energy from their own refrigerator, which saves money and extra calories.

"I would eat crunchy foods to stay awake, meaning carrots, apples and celery," Fischer said. "Sometimes I would use cereal. So, you can have some whole grain cereal."

Bokram recommends sports drinks, such as POWERade and Gatorade, for energy.

"Look at eating foods and drinking beverages that have nutrition that is attached to them, like juice and milk," she said.

Prices run anywhere from 99 cents and up for an energy drink.

"Energy drinks are fairly expensive," Bokram said.

For some students, cheaper is just plain better. Social work sophomore Ashley Bellant said she stays on a budget when purchasing energy drinks.

"Usually, I'll drink Monster because it's cheaper than Red Bull and it doesn't taste that bad," she said. "Usually, I will only drink them if I'm going to study at night and about to fall asleep."

She also downs Monster Energy Drinks before heading out with friends. Bellant said she has even tried them with an alcohol drink, known as the "Jager bomb" — Jager mixed with an energy drink, usually Red Bull.

But Fischer said mixing energy drinks with alcohol only adds flavor and calories. There is no harm in mixing the two together, she said.

"You're just sweetening your alcohol drink," Fischer said. "My concern about that is that people need to realize that you're drinking sugar and you're getting a lot of extra calories."