Energy drinks don’t carry any nutritional value, as claimed; rather it is mere a new drug if someone wants to choose. Energy drinks are labeled as supplements and you can find them lying right next to beverages like Coke and Pepsi. Energy drink labels also claim to burn calories and provide energy for hikes or workouts but the truth is, energy drinks have receive fewer restriction because of the claims they make and these claims are still unproven. Since, energy drinks have no nutritional value or benefit; they should not be given any place in diet.
Energy drink companies target youth by catchy and super energized ads. They make false claims like, energy boast, elimination of weariness during long hours of exercise, unusual brain alertness. Young adults, when come across such claims, try energy drink and due to high caffeine amount present in the energy drink they get hooked; giving the company boost in sales.
As the energy drink sales are soaring high, experts are conducting studies and warning people about its harmful effects. Energy drinks are so far under-studied and with such claims they’re widely over used, hence, dangerous for the health. Electrifying ads produced by energy drink companies must not outshine the health risks that an energy drink offers.
Recently, a study was conducted by the journal Pediatrics. The study reported, an 8-ounce energy drink contains about 300 milligrams of caffeine, while, a cup of coffee contains only 100 milligrams. The report also suggested that 30-50 percent of U.S. teenagers and young people consume energy drinks. Also, reportedly some consumers mix energy drinks with alcohol which has higher risks than consuming it alone. A study other explained, it’s not just the thrice the amount of caffeine that harms but also the way energy drinks are consumed. Energy drinks are taken faster in manner and mostly before or after exercise, or during late nights when stomach is empty.
Caffeine is not the only issue, but one of the issues that experts have with energy drinks. One common ingredient of energy drinks, the herb guarana, has been known to cause difficulty urinating and abdominal cramps. Guarana contains caffeine about three times more than coffee does, hence, can cause raipd heart rate and blood pressure rise. Another ingredient, Theobromine, also speeds up heart rate and frequently leads to sleeplessness, queasiness and anxiety. Yohimbine, another typical ingredient found in energy drinks, has similar effects as Guarana and Theobromine.
There are some documented deaths due to overdose of these drinks, while, cardiac arrest has also been reported. Energy drinks are highly caffeinated, hence, very risky for children with heart abnormalities, attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) or other health problems.
Keywords: energy drink, drinks, caffeine, guarana.
