Are Energy Drinks Bad for You?
February 23rd, 2009
Are energy drinks bad for you?
Source: www.nycapollo.org/are-energy-drinks-bad-for-you/
To put it simply, they can be quite unhealthy. In recent years energy drinks have become very popular amongst teens, due largely to the fact that they have been marketed as a natural product for improving stamina and concentration.
The majority of these popular drinks like Red Bull, Venom, and Adrenaline Rush, among others, contain large amounts of caffeine and sugar. Some reports show that the amount of caffeine in an energy drink was higher than 65 mg per 12 ounces, which is higher than the FDA limit set for soft drinks. Many of these drinks contain more than 80 mg of caffeine. To put these caffeine levels into perspective, a regular cup of coffee contains about 80 mg of caffeine, while a Mountain Dew contains around 37 mg.
Energy drinks should be consumed with caution. While studies do not link caffeine with any serious illness, caffeine does produce some side effects. Increased heart rate and blood pressure may occur with increased consumption of caffeine. Dehydration may also happen when a person exercising uses energy drinks as fitness beverages. Continued ingestion of caffeine may result in difficulty sleeping, stomach concerns and anxiety.
Along with caffeine and sugar, some of the energy drinks also contain legal stimulants like guarana and ginseng. Guarana is known as an effective energy booster. It contains almost twice the amount of caffeine found in coffee beans. According to some research studies guarana might have some metabolic effects like increased memory retention and physical endurance. Ginseng is supposed to be a promising dietary supplement while assessing a better quality life. According to some research studies ginseng can stimulate mental as well as physical activity,improve upon the accuracy of work, prevent fatigue, stimulate the endocrine glands, and improve memory. The complete benefits of these natural stimulants are still being studied.
So to sum it all up, although energy drinks may not necessarily be bad for you, they are not really good for you either. If you are going to drink them, be sure you are drinking sufficient amounts of water to ensure you stay properly hydrated at all times. Be wary of the claims like “improved performance and concentration”, as these can be misleading. They are basically just highly-caffeinated short-term energy boosters. Be aware of what they contain and how they affect you.
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