Do energy drinks really boost you?

Energy drinks are drinks designed to increase stamina and improve physical performance. Some energy drinks are designed especially for athletes, but most are produced and marketed for general consumption. Health experts say energy drinks have large doses of ginseng, caffeine, glucuronolactone and taurine amongst others. The average amount of caffeine in an energy drink is […]

Energy drinks are drinks designed to increase stamina and improve physical performance. Some energy drinks are designed especially for athletes, but most are produced and marketed for general consumption.

Health experts say energy drinks have large doses of ginseng, caffeine, glucuronolactone and taurine amongst others. The average amount of caffeine in an energy drink is 80m. The average soda has between 23-37mg of caffeine in one can. Caffeine has an effect on the brain that can cause a decline in the immune system.

Since energy drinks are stimulants they can make you feel energized and you may not realize how intoxicated you actually are. After the stimulant wears off, the depressant in alcohol will kick in and may make you vomit and/or cause respiratory depression.

In recent years, an increase in consumption of energy drinks containing caffeine has led to an increase concern by teachers and parents over the possible effects of caffeine on children. They are afraid that caffeine will make children behave in ways that are unusual or harmful to them. These drinks are marketed to young people, and children as early as 12 have been seen drinking these popular drinks. Scientists say that caffeine can have an effect on the growing brain and that it may cause a decline in the body’s immune system. The human brain continues to grow up to about age 16 (some say age 21).

Research shows the ingredients in these drinks can boost heart rate, raise blood pressure, dehydrate, and prevent sleep, cause bed wetting, anxiety, irritability, and anxiousness.

These drinks contain high amounts of caffeine and sugar, if your child were to drink one; it would be like drinking a cup of coffee and eating a cup of pure sugar.

Again, pregnant women are asked to avoid energy drinks as the high amounts of caffeine found in these drinks can increase miscarriage, difficult birth, and low birth weight in babies, especially if drank in the first three months of pregnancy.

For most people, taking energy drinks occasionally is fine. If you’re consistently fatigued or rundown, however, consider a better and healthier way to boost your energy. Get adequate sleep, increase your water intake, include physical activity in your daily routine and eat a healthy diet. If these strategies don’t seem to help, consult your doctor. Sometimes fatigue is a sign of an underlying medical condition, such as anaemia.

For now, health experts have determined that energy drinks are generally safe for consumption but with some caution. Do not take energy drinks on an empty stomach. Doing so can make you light headed; make you have headaches, trouble sleeping, and dizzy.

Energy drinks are not necessarily bad for you, but they are not considered good for you either, take precautions when drinking these. Researchers recommend not consuming more than two of these drinks a day.