Energy drinks claims to provide more "energy," fewer/zero calories and no sugar. Approximately 30-50 percent of today's adolescents are consuming these drinks; it's important for parents and adults of all ages to know if they are really safe. The amount of caffeine in such drinks is often excessive and unregulated by the FDA.
What's an energy drink contains
Guarana:
Plant that contains large amounts of caffeine. Its adverse effects are restlessness, insomnia, increased heart rate, hypertension, tremors, headache, etc. Each gram of guarana contains between 40-80 mg of caffeine. Manufactures are not mandated to include this information on their labels, therefore, each serving size may contain significantly higher, dangerous amounts of caffeine than listed.
Caffeine:
central nervous system (CNS) stimulant; Its adverse effects are nervousness, anxiety, insomnia, tachycardia, palpitations, altered consciousness, paralysis, hallucinations, seizures, etc. Energy drinks contain three times the amount of caffeine than cola drinks, and energy "shots" can contain up to five times the amount.
Taurine:
Amino acid found in the CNS. Originally found in the bile of bulls and is now synthetically mass produced, even though it is produced naturally in the body. Possible adverse effects are hypertension, seizures, stroke, and death (Group III, 2009).
L-Carnitine:
Amino acid; adverse effects are nausea/vomiting, seizures, abdominal pain, etc.
Sugar:
Toxic to our bodies and produces effects/addictive behaviors similar to alcohol. Fructose is extremely similar to only one other substance, alcohol (Lustig, 2009).
Energy drinks and shots also contain artificial flavoring and preservatives, which are toxic to our bodies and unnatural.
Ginseng:
East Asian herb; adverse effects: headache, hypertension, insomnia, irritability, vertigo, etc.
Yohimbine:
Plant-based herbal supplement. Its adverse effects are hypertension, tachycardia and death.
Megadose of B Vitamins:
2,000 percent B6, 8,333 percent B12. Although these B vitamins are water soluble, increased water intake should also occur when consuming such high doses. Vitamin B toxicity can occur with side effects.
Fighting fatigue naturally
Drinking an energy drink will provide a rapid rise in blood sugar, B vitamins and herbs, but does not explain why you are experiencing low energy levels or a solution to fix the real problem (lack of sleep, nutritional deficiencies, etc.).
Consuming energy drinks comes with potential risks, drug interactions and an absence of benefits (Seifert, et.al, 2011). Why not fuel your body with the energy it requires naturally? Nutritiously dense foods provide the ingredients you need to stay healthy and energized. Lentils, beans, eggs, nuts, seeds, vegetables and fruits are essential foods and smart choices to help you stay energized throughout the day. Exercising on a regular basis will also help to boost energy levels and improve your overall health.
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Guarana:
Plant that contains large amounts of caffeine. Its adverse effects are restlessness, insomnia, increased heart rate, hypertension, tremors, headache, etc. Each gram of guarana contains between 40-80 mg of caffeine. Manufactures are not mandated to include this information on their labels, therefore, each serving size may contain significantly higher, dangerous amounts of caffeine than listed.
Caffeine:
central nervous system (CNS) stimulant; Its adverse effects are nervousness, anxiety, insomnia, tachycardia, palpitations, altered consciousness, paralysis, hallucinations, seizures, etc. Energy drinks contain three times the amount of caffeine than cola drinks, and energy "shots" can contain up to five times the amount.
Taurine:
Amino acid found in the CNS. Originally found in the bile of bulls and is now synthetically mass produced, even though it is produced naturally in the body. Possible adverse effects are hypertension, seizures, stroke, and death (Group III, 2009).
L-Carnitine:
Amino acid; adverse effects are nausea/vomiting, seizures, abdominal pain, etc.
Sugar:
Toxic to our bodies and produces effects/addictive behaviors similar to alcohol. Fructose is extremely similar to only one other substance, alcohol (Lustig, 2009).
Energy drinks and shots also contain artificial flavoring and preservatives, which are toxic to our bodies and unnatural.
Ginseng:
East Asian herb; adverse effects: headache, hypertension, insomnia, irritability, vertigo, etc.
Yohimbine:
Plant-based herbal supplement. Its adverse effects are hypertension, tachycardia and death.
Megadose of B Vitamins:
2,000 percent B6, 8,333 percent B12. Although these B vitamins are water soluble, increased water intake should also occur when consuming such high doses. Vitamin B toxicity can occur with side effects.
Fighting fatigue naturally
Drinking an energy drink will provide a rapid rise in blood sugar, B vitamins and herbs, but does not explain why you are experiencing low energy levels or a solution to fix the real problem (lack of sleep, nutritional deficiencies, etc.).
Consuming energy drinks comes with potential risks, drug interactions and an absence of benefits (Seifert, et.al, 2011). Why not fuel your body with the energy it requires naturally? Nutritiously dense foods provide the ingredients you need to stay healthy and energized. Lentils, beans, eggs, nuts, seeds, vegetables and fruits are essential foods and smart choices to help you stay energized throughout the day. Exercising on a regular basis will also help to boost energy levels and improve your overall health.
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