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Shocking Facts About Energy Drinks

By Guardian Nigeria
21 January 2016   |   1:17 pm
We buy Energy drinks because they are promoted to improve concentration and alertness and to help both mental and physical performance. They’ve been advertised to “pump up the beast”; “vitalize body and mind”; “fuel your brain”; provide “focus, energy, and determination”; and help consumers “get animated.” But these drinks can be harmful to our health.…

We buy Energy drinks because they are promoted to improve concentration and alertness and to help both mental and physical performance. They’ve been advertised to “pump up the beast”; “vitalize body and mind”; “fuel your brain”; provide “focus, energy, and determination”; and help consumers “get animated.” But these drinks can be harmful to our health. The dangers of energy drinks are getting a lot of press because of the sheer volume of energy stimulating products in the marketplace and the ease of access to these by minors. Energy drinks can have potential side effects if not consumed responsibly or as directed.

Energy drinks are flavored beverages containing varying amounts of caffeine and typically, other additives, such as vitamins, taurine, theanine, carnitine, herbal supplements, creatine, sugars, and guarana, a plant product that naturally contains concentrated caffeine. There are some serious risks associated with energy drinks, some are:

Cardiac Arrest

People with underlying heart conditions have gone into cardiac arrest after intake of energy drinks. Before drinking energy drinks or caffeine, be sure to know your heart’s health. A new study showed that energy drinks cause more forceful heart contractions, which could be harmful to some with certain heart conditions. One study showed that between 2009 and 2011 there were 4854 calls to poison control centers regarding energy drinks. 51% of these calls were involving children. Another study shows the link between energy drinks and cardiac events among teens. This study recommends that teens consume no more than one 250 ml energy drink per day and not before or during sports or exercise.

Insomnia

Energy drinks do a good job of keeping people awake, but when abused, they can cause some people to miss sleep all together. This lack of sleep causes impaired functioning and can be dangerous to drive or perform other concentration heavy tasks.

Type 2 Diabetes

Because many energy drinks are also very high in sugar, they can eventually wear out the insulin-producing cells of the pancreas, which leads to type 2 diabetes.

Energy Drinks Are Marketed to Kids

No matter how old you are, energy drinks are just awful for your body. Energy drinks are sold to youths and teenagers, The Academy of Pediatrics even advises kids and teens to avoid energy drinks because of the possibility of serious health risks.

Niacin Overdose

Niacin (Vitamin B3) is placed in most energy drinks at levels that cause no harm and can even be therapeutic. However, if a person is taking additional supplements containing Niacin, overdosing on the vitamin is possible when consuming energy drinks in addition to those supplements. Symptoms include; Skin flushing, dizziness, rapid heart rate, vomiting, itching, gout and diarrhea.

High Blood Pressure

Caffeinated products like energy drinks can elevate a person’s blood pressure. For those with normal blood pressure this isn’t concerning, but those with already elevated blood pressure could be placing themselves at risk of stroke and other health problems related to hypertension if they consume too many energy drinks in a short period of time.

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