Introduction

Energy drinks are supposed to enhance energy, wakefulness and focus. Everyone, including children, consume them and they are becoming more popular each day.

However, some health officials have claimed that these drinks possess negative impacts on the body, which makes many people to doubt the safety of energy drinks. This article reviews the health drinks and gives the merits and demerits of energy drinks in a comparative manner. Research studies presented in this paper reveal that energy drinks have adverse health consequences and that the vulnerable groups include children, adolescents and young persons.

There are some researches that showed that the use of energy drinks can enhance physical performance, but there are no changes in muscle strength and power. Caffeinated beverages can enhance the level of wakefulness and enhance the reaction time, but in the same time can reduce steadiness of hand. Energy drinks are available as beverages and some are categorized as dietary supplements. Neither of the products must state how much caffeine is included in the product.

Energy drinks can improve brain function

Among the top is enhancing the level of mental awareness through enhancement of the brain’s functionality. Certain research does support the view that energy drinks enhance brain related activities including memory, focus and response time, and decrease mental weariness.

While most researchers think that this enhancement in brain function is solely due to caffeine, others think that caffeine with sugar in an energy drink is the best option.

Energy drinks can improve brain function

In long, late-night driving, car drivers rely on energy drinks to enable them stay awake while driving the car.

Some research that has been done using a simulated driving environment has also revealed that energy drinks can enhance the quality of driving and reduce the level of drowsiness even among drivers who have not slept. Likewise, many night shift workers rely on energy drinks to meet the needs of work when they are awake and not asleep.

While energy drinks can also help keep these workers alert and awake, at least one study has shown that energy drinks can negatively affect the quality of sleep after a shift.

Energy drinks can cause heart problems in some people

One review found that energy drinks are linked to several cases of heart problems that require emergency room visits. Additionally, more than 20,000 trips to the emergency department are related to energy drink use in the United States alone.

In addition, many human studies have shown that energy drink consumption can increase blood pressure and heart rate and reduce important markers of blood vessel function that are harmful to heart health.

Many experts believe that heart problems associated with the consumption of energy drinks are caused by excessive caffeine intake. This seems reasonable, since most people who experience heart attacks after drinking energy drinks drink more than three energy drinks at a time or mix them with alcohol.

Although you should be careful about using energy drinks if you have heart disease, consuming them occasionally and in large amounts is unlikely to cause heart problems in healthy adults without heart disease.

Adding energy drinks with alcohol has serious risks on health

Mixing energy drinks with alcohol has become incredibly popular among young adults and students. However, it represents an important public health concern. The stimulant effects of caffeine in energy drinks can counteract the depressant effects of alcohol. You may experience alcohol-related disorders and become less intoxicated. This combination can be very confusing.

People who drank energy drinks and alcohol reported drinking more alcohol. Also, people who drink and drive are more likely to experience alcohol-related injuries.

Additionally, a study of 403 young Australian adults found that those who drank energy drinks mixed with alcohol were six times more likely to have a heart attack than those who drank alcohol alone.

However, many people and bars continue to mix their own energy drinks with alcohol. For the above reasons, drinking energy drinks mixed with alcohol is not recommended.

Should children or teenagers drink energy drinks?

About 31% of children between the ages of 12-17 regularly drink energy drinks. However, according to recommendations published in 2011 by the American Academy of Pediatrics, energy drinks should not be used by children or adolescents.

They say caffeine in energy drinks puts children and teenagers at risk of becoming dependent or addicted to the substance and can have negative effects on the development of the heart and brain.

Experts have also set caffeine limits for these young people, recommending that teenagers consume no more than 100 mg of caffeine per day and children consume no more than 1.14 mg of caffeine per body weight (2.5 mg/kg) per day.

This is equivalent to about 85 mg of caffeine for a 75 lb (34 kg) child aged 12 years or younger. Depending on the brand and size of the energy drink container, it may not be difficult to follow these caffeine tips for just one can.

Should I drink energy drinks? How many?

Many health concerns focus on caffeinated energy drinks. Importantly, adults are advised to consume no more than 400 mg of caffeine per day.

In addition, some energy drinks also contain plant extracts, such as guarana, a natural source of caffeine that contains about 40 mg of caffeine per gram. Depending on the type and size of your energy drink, it is not difficult to exceed the recommended caffeine intake if you consume several energy drinks in a day.

If you decide to consume energy drinks, limit to 16 ounces (473 ml) of regular energy drinks per day and try to limit other caffeinated drinks to avoid excessive caffeine intake.

5 Side Effects of Energy Drinks

Let’s dive deeper into some of the possible side effects of energy drinks. You might want to think twice before grabbing your next canned fix.

1. Direction

One of the main problems with energy drinks is their ability to boost your body and/or mind. As a result, it can cause sleep disturbances and disrupt circadian rhythms. A 2016 study on obesity found that energy drink consumption and:

• increased sleep

• complaints of headache

• anger

• fatigue

These negative effects can result in poor academic performance, and place adolescents at high risk for behavioural and other health related issues. If you do not wish to let go of energy drinks in your life then at least consume them. Some of the advice given by doctors and nutritionists to ensure that one gets a good night’s sleep include avoiding caffeine. A study indicates that reducing your consumption at least six hours to the bedtime can help minimize disruptions of sleep.

2. Mental health + protective measures

Some studies show that energy drinks can help with mood swings when used chronically. A study found that men in particular showed higher levels of stress after drinking energy drinks. This can be a result of caffeine and the tendency to consume too much of this drink, which is harmful to mental health. After all, consuming too much caffeine in one sitting can lead to more severe withdrawal symptoms. Also, quick, short-term bursts of energy must end at some point. For some, falling below this energy level can have a negative effect on your mood. In addition, many people feel irritable when they are tired, and drinking caffeine can exacerbate these symptoms.

3. Increase in Blood Pressure

Since the main active ingredients in energy drinks are stimulants, regular consumption can put more stress on your cardiovascular system. A study found that teenagers who consume energy drinks experience an increase in blood pressure within two hours of consuming the product. Another study reported similar results in healthy volunteers. Pumping your veins faster or harder will give you more energy, but not without its drawbacks. High blood pressure means your heart has to work harder, so drinking less or less can help prevent this extra strain on your body.

4. Physiological Appearance

People who drink energy drinks often end up becoming hooked. When they are tired, some people start by drinking one or two energy drinks. Lastly, they might need coffee to get through the day. This can lead to bad sleep habits that make you dependent on energy drinks in a bad way. Sadly, this drink only helps with energy spikes for a short time. If things keep going like this, you might need more energy drinks to get the result you want. This could lead to the following bad things:

• caffeine poisoning

• liver problem

• overweight (due to excessive sugar intake)

To avoid these side effects, it is better to drink energy drinks as often as possible.

5. The Right Problem

Most of the energy drinks are low calorie ones, which are produced using sugar alcohols or other similar products. Some contain gargantuan proportions of sugar that are added typically, like in the case of soda. The high levels of sugar or alcohols from sugar could mess up the good bacteria in the gut. The “good bacteria” in your stomach and intestines make up the microbiome of your gut. They clean your body. This study doesn’t give us any specific information about the trigger, but it’s likely that it could cause inflammation and other problems: An unhealthy gut affects your immune system, mood, and hormones, so it’s important to stay away from too many energy drinks to keep your stomach healthy.

Health benefits of energy drinks

Because of their many disadvantages and many alternatives, you may want to avoid energy drinks altogether. Here are some ideas for healthy alternatives that will help you stay strong and get through all the challenges that come your way.

Energy Forum Supplement

Alternatives to energy drinks can be found in some supplements. It also contains adaptogens that fight stress and tension, such as rhodiola rosea and ashwagandha. Rather than making your body work harder, these vitamins and herbs work to enhance your body’s natural processes.

Green Tea

Green tea contains 45 milligrams of caffeine per cup, compared to 90 to 100 milligrams of coffee. However, energy drinks have 50-500 milligrams per serving! Some people report that green tea provides more sustained energy than coffee. This may be due to L-the anine in green tea, which can have a calming effect and promote sustained energy. So you get extra attention without the caffeine! In addition, green tea is a powerful source of antioxidants. This protects your body from damage to the skin and other organs caused by UV rays, air pollution, and other free radical damage. All in all, green tea wins on the board.

Balanced Image

The best energy comes from good food. The next time you stop at a convenience store that usually carries an energy drink, choose a protein bar with at least five grams of protein. A balance of carbs and protein will give you energy and won’t make you fall back like caffeine does. Also, snacks with little (or no) added sugar are ideal, but try to keep it under 10 grams. If you cannot have protein bar, then have this:

• bean oil

• cheese + apple or mandarin orange

• trail mix (note: a version without M&Ms or other sweets will be more balanced)

Hydrating

Did you know that dehydration can lower your energy levels? Drinking plenty of water throughout the day will keep you moving because you’ll be going to the bathroom more often. In general, adults should aim to drink half their body weight in one ounce of water each day.

General Mind

Energy drinks have grown in popularity over the past decade, and sales aren’t likely to slow down anytime soon. However, despite the seemingly healthy claims, science supports avoiding them whenever possible. In general, there are good alternatives to energy drinks, which make it easier to stay healthy. Staying hydrated and eating regular meals and healthy meals, a balance between them will give you the best energy to keep you going.

Conclusion

Caffeine consumption can be associated with anxiety, sleepiness, indigestion, and dehydration.

Guarana, which is often found in energy drinks, contains caffeine. Therefore, the addition of guarana increases the caffeine content of all drinks.

People who combine caffeinated drinks with alcohol may not be able to tell how drunk they are; they may feel drunk if they do not consume caffeine. Excessive consumption of energy drinks can disrupt sleep in adolescents and may be associated with increased risk-taking behavior.

One 16-oz. energy drinks can contain 54-62 grams of added sugar; This is more than the recommended amount of added sugar in a day.