Energy drinks are considered a magic potion that improves vitality. But, these drinks are also dangerous elixirs.
The main ingredient of most energy drinks is caffeine and other non-nutritional ingredients that have nothing to do with your health. In spite of the buzz about the dangers of energy drinks, the sheer volume of these products is still available and accessible in the marketplace.
The common customers of energy drinks are younger people. It’s because these drinks are easy to drink and heavily sweetened. Thus, the dangerous side effects are seen in younger demographics as they consume too much.
Yes, energy drinks are bad for you
According to Popeck, excessive or frequent usage of energy drinks might cause cardiac arrhythmias, headaches, high blood pressure, and anxiety.
In 2011, over 20,000 emergency room visits in the United States were linked to the consumption of energy drinks. Five out of eleven patients with major heart issues, including cardiac arrest, reported drinking a lot of energy drinks, according to a small 2014 study.
Energy Drink Ingredients
To rule out how energy drinks negatively impact your health, the first thing to do is to know the ingredients.
- Taurine
Your body can produce the amino acid Taurine which is essential in many biological roles. Healthy individuals can produce the necessary level of taurine needed. A regular 8-ounce energy drink contains 1,000 mg of taurine that is deemed to be safe.
- Ginseng
This medicinal herb is also present in many energy drinks. A meta-analysis presented that Ginseng offers a positive effect in regulating blood glucose. However, make sure that the Ginseng content is lower and you should not consume the energy drink frequently.
- Guarana
Guarana can be found in Brazil and it grows in the Amazon. The indigenous people of Amazon have been using the seeds of Guarana plant for centuries to enhance alertness and energy. According to research, this plant contains more caffeine than any other plant.
The good thing is that a recent study showed that Guarana content in energy drinks has no serious effect on your psychological well-being.
- B Vitamins
If you will check the label of most energy drinks, you’ll notice that it contains B Vitamins including vitamin B6, B3, B5 and B12. Vitamin B can provide extra energy, but it’s not recommended to ingest more as it will just get lost in no time in your urine.
Aside from those ingredients listed above, energy drinks also contain sugar, which when consumed in high amounts is very unhealthy. You may choose drinks with artificial sweeteners, but you should anticipate that it may affect your body.
Are Energy Drinks Bad for Your Heart?
Energy drinks are harmful to your heart because they contain a lot of caffeine, which might put you at risk for major cardiac problems.
In 2011, the usage of energy drinks was linked to 20,000 emergency department visits in the United States.
Energy drinks are designed to help you concentrate and focus, however, the substances in these drinks might have negative health consequences. What you need to know about energy drinks and how they might damage your health is outlined here.
These beverages might help you feel more energized and focused, but they can also have negative health consequences including a faster heart rate and higher blood pressure.
Energy drinks can cause cardiac rhythms, headaches, high blood pressure, and anxiety if used in excess or on a regular basis.
Read More: How to Use Apple Cider Vinegar to Lower High Blood Pressure
Because of its tendency to boost alertness, caffeine is the most common component in energy drinks. Caffeine, when eaten in high doses of more than 400 mg per day, can cause:
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- Palpitations in the heart
- Blood pressure has risen.
- Heart rate has increased.
- Disturbances in heart rhythm
Sugar is abundant in energy drinks.
Inflammation has been related to a variety of chronic illnesses, including cancer, diabetes, and heart disease, and can be caused by eating too much sugar. Obesity and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease are both linked to increased sugar consumption.
When coupled with alcohol, energy drinks might make you feel less inebriated and enthusiastic while still causing indicators of alcohol impairment such as slurred speech, impaired coordination, and memory loss.
Energy drinks, according to the NCCIH, increase the risk of a variety of health problems in teenagers and young adults, including:
- Anomalies of the cardiovascular and neurological systems
- Underdevelopment of the brain
- Depression and other mental diseases are more likely to occur.
- Sleep disturbances
The Effects of Consuming Energy Drinks for Long-Term
Energy drinks are categorized as stimulants and ingesting them in large quantities may impact your cardiovascular health and mental health.
Researchers revealed that caffeine is a prominent ingredient that isn’t healthy for all energy drinkers.
| Energy Drinks | Product Size | Caffeine Content |
|---|---|---|
| 5-Hour Energy | 1.93 oz (57 ml) | 200 mg |
| Full Throttle | 16 oz (473 ml) | 160 mg |
| NOS | 16 oz (473 ml) | 160 mg |
| Rockstar | 16 oz (473 ml) | 160 mg |
| Monster | 16 oz (473 ml) | 160 mg |
| AMP | 16 oz (473 ml) | 142 mg |
| Red Bull | 8.4 oz (250 ml) | 80 mg |
Habitual consumption of caffeine will make you dependent on it. However, caffeine withdrawal shows various symptoms such as restlessness, nervousness, gastrointestinal disturbance and tachycardia.
FDA has concluded multiple cases about the adverse effects of consuming too many energy drinks. In fact, deaths may be associated with them.
Bottom Line
Consumption of energy drinks must be in moderation. To avoid adverse effects, you should choose energy drinks that contain healthy ingredients and must carry the FDA approval.
Make sure that the amount of caffeine and sugar is minimal. Likewise, you should check the serving size and each can must contain 8 fluid ounces.
There are other ways to keep you awake, rather than consuming energy drinks. Having a nap or a good night’s sleep can be healthy options.
Energy drinks may just be fine for short-term consumption, but not for long-term use.
Reference:
- Health effects of energy drinks on children, adolescents, and young adults
- Drinking patterns and risk behaviors associated with combined alcohol and energy drink consumption in college drinkers
- Do energy drinks contain active components other than caffeine?
Dietitian with around 5 years of experience in assessing the nutritional needs of patients, counselling individuals, communicating the appropriate nutritional information to other members of the health care team and implementing nutritional care plans by following all the standards.
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