There has been a simmering debate as to whether energy drinks provide any real benefit to users. Many people believe that energy drinks provide them with the energy they need to power their daily activities. However, the question that then follows is, are energy drinks good or bad for you?
To get more insight into the significance of these drinks, we will first delve into the benefits that they claim to provide to people. Energy drinks are usually taken to help improve concentration and focus. They contain ingredients that help to keep the body alert and remain focused. However, the same ingredients have been found to cause adverse side health effects to users.
What exactly are these energy drinks?
As already pointed out above, these drinks are intended to enhance alertness, concentration, energy as well as attention. Consequently, some ingredients are contained in the beverages that make them provide the intended results.
Here are some of the common ingredients that are found in energy drinks:
• Sugar
• Caffeine
• B Vitamins
• Various herbs including; ginseng, ginger, and flavor
• Certain amino acids derivatives such as taurine and L- carnitine
Some popular brands of energy drinks include; Monster, Red Bull, and Five-hour Energy.
While these beverages may help you experience a boost in energy and alertness, they also present many adverse health effects. For instance, they can cause you to get an increased heart rate or blood pressure according to Lauren Popeck – registered dietician at Orlando Health.
Here’s why energy drinks are bad for you
Caffeine is a major ingredient found in almost all energy drinks yet it features addictive properties which may lead to dependence on it. Also, when beverages containing caffeine are taken in excess, the effects can be dire.
Many health cases such as headaches, heart arrhythmias, anxiety, and blood pressure are directly associated with energy beverage use. In the USA alone, more than 20,000 emergency room attendance in the year 2011 was attributed to their use.
Below are more reasons for you to avoid or at least limit their intake:
- Energy drinks are not so good for your heart health
They contain caffeine which makes them boost your alertness, however, when consumed in large amounts you may suffer:
– Increased blood pressure
– Heart palpitations
– Increase in heart rate
– Disturbance in heart rhythm
According to the USA Food and Drug Administration (FDA), the safe level of caffeine for adults is not more than 400mg per day. The American Academy of Pediatrics also discourages caffeine use in children below the age of 12. Even children who are aged between 12 and 18 years may only consume 100mg or less in a day.
- Energy drinks contain lots of sugar
There is no doubt that popular energy drinks contain high levels of sugar making them unhealthy. In most cases, various brands pack an average of 27 grams of sugar for eight ounces. In contrast, the American Heart Association recommends no more than 25 and 36 grams of sugar for women and men respectively per day. Given this measure, any 24-ounce energy drink already surpasses the recommended daily intake limit.
Excessive sugar intake also presents other serious health effects such as inflammation which is linked to a myriad of health complications. These may include cancer, heart disease, and diabetes.
- Avoid mixing energy drinks with alcohol
Most consumers of these drinks prefer to mix them with alcohol. Now when this is done, a person’s intoxication levels then get altered. What happens next is that you get a feeling of less intoxication but are still energized. This in effect may result in a situation of binge drinking which is not healthy but dangerous.
- These drinks are not safe for teens
The drinks are even more harmful to children and adolescents because they are still in a stage of development. Their bodies have not fully developed to handle the adverse effects brought about by energy drinks.
According to a study by NCCIH, energy beverages increase the risk of several health conditions for teenagers. These include the following:
– Cognitive underdevelopment
– Anomalies in the cardiovascular nervous system
– Sleep disorders
– Increased risk of depression as well as a host of other mental illnesses.
