Are energy drinks bad for you?
Source: www.nycapollo.org/are-energy-drinks-bad-for-you/
Well, lets just say they are not necessarily good for you. Energy drinks have become all the rage amongst the younger generation over the last few years. Energy drinks have been highly touted as natural alternatives that can improve performance and concentration and this has made them the younger generations pick me up of choice.
Most of these famous drinks like Red Bull, Venom, and Adrenaline Rush, among others, have large amount of caffeine and sugar in them. According to some reports the amount of caffeine in energy drinks was more than 65 mg per 12 ounces which is more than the FDA limit for the soft drinks. Presently the caffeine levels in energy drinks is not regulated by the FDA. Most of such energy drinks have more than 80 mg of caffeine. Putting these caffeine levels to perspective, a regular cup of coffee has around 80 mg of caffeine, whereas a Mountain Dew contains around 37 mg of caffeine.
Caffeine is not directly associated with serious health risks, but everyone reacts differently to caffeine, and energy drinks should be treated carefully because of how much caffeine they contain. The caffeine in energy drinks will likely boost the heart rate, raise blood pressure and possibly even dehydrate the body. Keep in mind that because energy drinks contain such high levels of caffeine, it would be smart not to use them as a fitness drink while exercising. The combination of fluid loss from sweating and the diuretic (a substance that promotes fluid loss) quality of the caffeine may leave you severely dehydrated.
In addition to caffeine and sugar, some energy drinks contain legal stimulants like guarana and ginseng. Guarana is said to be an effective energy booster. It contains about double the amount of caffeine found in coffee beans. Research has shown guarana may have some metabolic effects such as increased memory retention and physical endurance. Ginseng may be “a promising dietary supplement” when assessed for an increase in quality of life. Studies have shown that ginseng may stimulate mental and physical activity, improve accuracy of work, prevent fatigue, stimulate the endocrine glands, and improve memory. The full benefits of these natural stimulants are still being studied.
Even though energy drinks may appear to have numerous health benefits, they really are not good for you either. Be sure to drink enough water while consuming these beverages in order to prevent dehydration. Use caution when purchasing energy drinks that make claims of increased performance as most often these beverages have high amounts of caffeine to give you a short term boost.
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