Energy drink are marketed with the claim that it will boost your energy. Here in Nigeria, we see some mix their alcohol drinks with energy drinks or maybe just have energy drink to enhance their performance in….you know.
There can be some disadvantages to drinking these beverages. This is especially true in the case of children and teenagers, because they cannot safely consume as much caffeine as adults, although adults could have issues as well, particularly if they mix energy drinks with alcohol.
If a drink advertises no caffeine, the energy comes from guarana, which is the equivalent of caffeine. 5-hour energy drink advertises “no crash,” but this claim is referring to no “sugar crash” because the drink has artificial sweetners.
There are many brands and varieties of energy drinks.
According to wiki – “An energy drink is a type of beverage containing stimulant drugs, chiefly caffeine, which is marketed as providing mental and physical stimulation”. Energy drinks are simply high doses of caffeine, which is not good for people in excess. Well, basically, too much of everything is bad.
1) Side effectsIf you were not already aware, energy drinks have some extremely serious side effects. Some of the side effects are: agitation, tremors, nervousness, stomach upset, chest pain, dizziness, seizures, insomnia as well as heart attacks. Just because they are easily available and look innocent enough does not mean that they can’t do some serious harm.
2) High in sugarYour “energy” drink likely contains a fair amount of caffeine & loads of sugar calories. Have you noticed how you “crash” after the caffeine and sugar wear off a few hours after drinking the product? . Some drinks are known to have an average of 15 tsp of sugar. Aside from getting the dreaded sugar crash, sugar can leave you dehydrated and, as it is also known, suppress the immune system, increase inflammation, lead to tooth decay and weight gain. Instead, eat healthy, get plenty of sleep, and exercise–you’ll not only feel better and well rested but your daily performance and outlook will improve
3) Alcohol
Certain energy drinks contain alcohol, and all energy drinks can be combined with alcohol. If you consume an energy drink during the workday, drinking one with alcohol can decrease your productivity and may pose more serious dangers if you drive or work with tools and machinery. A review in the March 2011 issue of “Australian Family Physician” notes that drinking energy drinks with alcohol may slow down the feeling of intoxication, which can lead to heavier drinking and may increase your risk of alcohol-related injuries. Energy drinks with alcohol are a particular concern for children who may be able to purchase them even if they are under age, “The New York Times” reports.
Research has found that people drink more and have higher BACs when they combine alcohol and caffeine.
Both energy drinks and alcohol are very dehydrating (the caffeine in energy drinks is a diuretic). Dehydration can hinder your body’s ability to metabolize alcohol and will increase the toxicity, and therefore the hangover, the next day.
Considerations
You can decrease the risks associated with energy drinks if you stick to the recommended limits, which are often listed on the labels of the drink, or limit your consumption to no more than one serving per day. The extra ingredients in energy drinks, which often include amino acids, taurine, guarana and ginseng, are usually added in such small amounts that they are unlikely to provide any beneficial health effects or cause any negative side effects, according to a “Journal of the American Pharmacists Association” article published in May 2008.
The next time you are looking for ways to get energy, think about alternative ways before you buy energy drinks. Consuming excess amount of everything is harmful and especially this type of drinks. So instead of solely relying on sugar and caffeine to get you through busy day, take a walk or drink plain water to feel more natural and long-lasting energy.Replace the energy drinks with something else that don’t make you feel sick. In general, water is always the best drink
Sources for this article:
https://www.healthtap.com/topics/the-disadvantages-of-drinking-energy-drinks
http://www.livestrong.com/article/492720-the-disadvantages-of-drinking-energy-drinks/
http://healthyeating.sfgate.com/disadvantages-drinking-energy-drinks-5505.html
