Various Harmful Effects of Energy Drinks
Energy drinks have become very popular, especially among the younger generation. Plenty of people consume these beverages in order to feel more energetic throughout the day. Statistics reveal that over 30% of teenagers in the USA consume energy drinks on a regular basis, and there are over $9 billion dollars in sales of energy drinks just in the US market.
Increase in the consumption of energy drinks is a matter of concern, and there has already been a lot of debate over the safety of these drinks. The caffeine levels in a single bottle of an energy drink can range up to 300 mg, which is too high when compared to coffee which contains approximately 80 mg of caffeine. Hence, an energy drink spikes your caffeine consumption to potentially unsafe levels. Too much caffeine intake can cause nervousness, irritability, heart palpitations, and can also raise the blood pressure levels. Most energy drinks don’t indicate the caffeine levels on their labels, and therefore people aren’t aware of how much caffeine they end up consuming. This is the main reason way people suffering from heart disease and high blood pressure are always recommended to completely avoid having energy drinks. These popular drinks also contain high levels of sugar and excess amount of vitamins that can be unhealthy.
Most energy drinks are now being premixed with alcohol. This can turn out to be extremely dangerous since mixing a stimulant with a depressant can lead to serious health risks such as heart failure. Most people who consume these beverages aren’t even aware of the harmful effects of the interaction of this mixture. People tend to drink a lot of these beverages at night clubs, which can lead to problems such as drunken driving, intoxication and impaired judgment.
Addiction is another matter of concern when it comes to energy drinks. If you consume these drinks frequently, there is a risk of becoming addicted to them. Caffeine and high levels of sugar in these drinks are what make them so addictive. This combination can give you instant energy, but it is bound to be followed by a feeling of energy depletion. The energy boost does not last of a long time. The instant energy boost can also lead to addiction since one might want to continue feeling the energy rush and avoid the energy slump that occurs soon after. Excess consumption of energy drinks can increase the risk of caffeine intoxication. One might also experience side effects such as numbness and rapid heartbeat on account of the mega doses of vitamin supplements that some of these drinks contain.
The side effects mentioned above must be good enough to make you quit energy drinks. You don’t have to consume an energy drink to feel fresh and energetic; there are much healthier ways than relying on these artificial stimulants. Incorporating healthy habits such as eating a well-balanced diet, exercising daily, practicing yoga, drinking a lot of water throughout the day, and managing stress will make you feel truly alive and full on energy.
That’s true. My friend once had monster drink in a taxi while on her way to Limpopo. Sshe just got dizzy and felt fire in her stomach as if she drank alcohol. I thought she was just kidding, but hey, that’s so scary!
I would not recommend any of these energy drinks out there on the market. All these energy drinks rely heavily on caffeine. Therefore, you can expect some kind of crash after a little while. I have tried almost all of these, and I am not going to lie, they did give me an adrenaline rush and I was literally all over the gym, maxing almost every machine out and lifting my personal best. But I literally dropped dead on the couch when I went back home after a couple of hours. And not to mention, these drinks are diuretics, meaning they make you pee more often by temporarily preventing ADH hormone from reabsorbing water in the kidneys. What you should do instead is changing your diet. If you are planning to do athletic activities, you should increase your protein and water intake while training period. Also you’ll aid from a good amount of fruits (especially the ones rich in vitamins like apples and oranges), veggies, meat, and fish.While competing you should start with water, and then switch to electrolytes like Powerade or Gatorade. If you are competing in high intensity and short events like power lifting, sprinting, or discuss throw etc., you can jump start your creatine intake after consulting a medical professional. If you are just wanting to last through the day energetically, I would recommend increased amount of fruits and vegetables (or juices) instead of all that red bull crap. Trust me, all these energy drinks do more bad than good.