Tag Archives: caffeine

General Safety Issues, Health Issues

ENERGY DRINKS – HEALTHY OR HARMFUL?

 Some important points to ponder about energy drinks:

 Manufacturers of energy drinks are not required by law to state where the ingredients originated, whether they were sprayed with pesticides or other toxins, or if they have been in contact with contaminated water because they tout “contains natural ingredients.”   They  contain certain herbs, such as taurine and ginseng.  However,  it is impossible to verify the safety of these drinks.

  One certain beverage is an energy supplement that claims to result in “twice the buzz of a regular energy drink,” as stated by their website.  Other popular energy drinks contain many similar ingredients that boost energy.  The primary ingredient that enables drinks to cause an energy boost is caffeine.  A 16-oz. can of one energy drink contains 160 mg of caffeine.  There are less than 47 mg of caffeine in 16 oz. of Coca Cola.  Caffeine has been labeled as a stimulant, therefore it is a drug.

The potential side effects to caffeine  include heart palpitations, elevated blood pressure, headaches, insomnia, and jitters.  When used regularly, it can cause caffeine addiction, leaving energy seekers needing to ingest more and more of the drink to achieve the effects.  These effects can cause drastic changes in energy levels.  Although an instant surge in energy appears, it is followed by a period of diminished energy.  Called “jolts and crashes,” a study of 500 college students indicated that these effects were experienced by 29 percent of subjects who drank energy drinks.  Also, 22 percent experienced headaches, and 29 percent had heart palpitations.

Now, one such drink has been blamed for at least four deaths and a heart attack since 2004, and the FDA has launched an investigation to determine the claims’ validity and possible health side effects by consuming these drinks.  One involves a lawsuit filed against the makers of  this drink, in which the parents of a deceased 14-year-old girl blame her drinking two cans of the energy drink in one day, resulting in her death.  The suit alleges that the company failed to warn of possible side effects of drinking the potent beverage, which is sold in 24-ounce cans.  The girl suffered a cardiac arrhythmia.  Although the fact that she had a condition that already weakened her blood vessels may have  played a part in her death, the suit states that the company should have advertised warnings of health risks rather than benefits of the drink.  The FDA was directed by leading Senators on Capitol Hill last month to launch an investigation into this matter.

We should avoid drinking anything or taking any type of pills, such as diet pills, that increase our heart rate.   Here’s something you should understand about your heart:

Cardioversion (KAR-de-o-VER-shun) is a procedure used to restore a fast or irregular heartbeat to a normal rhythm. A fast or irregular heartbeat is called an arrhythmia (ah-RITH-me-ah).  Arrhythmias can prevent your heart from pumping enough blood to your body. They also can raise your risk for stroke, heart attack, or sudden cardiac arrest.

My personal experience was an electrical problem in my heart, causing it to beat rapidly  – sometimes lasting for hours.  Finally, an electrophysiologist found my problem, an extra AV node in my heart, which caused the beating to go in circles, much as an idling motor.  It was very uncomfortable and at times, and frightening.  I am not about to take anything that would cause my heart to stay out of rthym. 

There are many ways of getting energy through healthy food, exercise and rest.  Good advice would be to leave anything that artificially speeds your heart up and later slows it down alone until the FDA determines if these energy drinks are safe.

 Sources: eHow; AP; Nutrition Journal

 

 

 

 

General Safety Issues, Health Issues

WARNING TO TEENS ABOUT CONTROVERSIAL DRINK

If you’ve noticed this brightly colored canned drink on store shelves, looks can be deceiving.  A 23.5-ounce can of Four Loko is available in several varieties, such as fruit punch and blue raspberry.  But the “punch” comes from caffeine, and an alcohol content of 12% – equal to four beers.  It sells for around $2.50, but has proved to be more costly to several college students, who were hospitalized after consuming this drink.  

This controversial energy drink may have played a part in an accident that killed an Arlington, Texas, teenager.  It was reported that she lost her life when she was thrown from a utility vehicle being driven by her 14-year-old boyfriend.  (She was not wearing her seat belt.) The boyfriend has been charged with intoxicated manslaughter.  Two of the boys in the car admitted drinking Four Loko that night.  Underage drivers and underage drinkers are a danger to themselves and to everyone else on the road.  

The manufacturer of this drink said it will remove the caffeine from its products; however, it is anticipated that the Food and Drug Administration is ready to ban it.  Four states have already banned the beverages, and other states are taking into consideration in doing the same.

The FDA notified over twenty-four manufacturers of caffeinated alcoholic beverages that the addition of caffeine to alcohol drinks had never been specifically approved, and is debating whether it should be outlawed due to being unsafe.  The FDA is concerned about the growing popularity among college students, and the resulting health and safety issues.  Several state attorneys general contend the drinks appeal to underage drinkers and encourage reckless behavior.  

It is anticipated that the FDA may have found as early as yesterday, (Wednesday), that caffeine is an unsafe food additive to alcoholic drinks.  If so, that would essentially ban Four Loko and other drinks like it. 

There are many ways that harmful products are marketed, and this clearly seems to be one of them.  The Four Loko cans are very attractively designed, but “12% Alcohol” is displayed on the label.  How are underage kids buying them?  The abuse of alcohol or any other drug is a problem for people of all ages.  Many young persons are curious about drinking, and are probably going to try it sooner or later; but a canned drink that contains the equivalent of four beers is too much – for a novice or anyone! 

Parents, stop, look, and listen!  Check out the latest products that may be harmful to your kids.  That pretty canned drink isn’t as pretty as you think. 

Source: AP, ABC News