Tag Archives: Energy Drinks

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, Uncategorized

WHAT DO YOU KNOW ABOUT ENERGY DRINKS?

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Weekend Warriors, which drink will you choose to replenish your body fluids after exercising, or for that matter, working?  The most popular drink is the sports drink, such as Gatorade.  The new fad seems to be the “energy” drink.  The old-fashioned theory is that water beats them all!

Sports drinks supply most favorable amounts of carbohydrates formulated for endurance exercise to help balance the body’s chemistry.  Carbohydrates are the common ingredient in both sports and energy drinks; however, the energy drinks provide far beyond the carbohydrate level needed for exercise.  Well-known carbs are sugars, starches, breads, cereals, fruits, vegetables, pasta, milk, honey, syrups, and sugar, which are the preferred source of energy for the body.  The body breaks down carbs into glucose, which is carried to cells for energy.

Sodium and potassium are two electrolytes that are most often added to sports drinks to affect the fluid balance in the body.  Water and a proper diet restore most normal fluid and electrolyte needs after a normal period of work or exercise; however, replacing electrolytes with a sports drink may be helpful after continuous activity, or work, especially in a hot setting.

The problem with “energy drinks” is the high content of caffeine, and in some cases, of ephedrine. While most “sports drinks” (e.g. Gatorade) are non-caffeinated and meant to replenish fluids lost in exercise, “energy drinks” have a large dose of caffeine and stimulants that actually accelerate dehydration.

Caffeine is a diuretic, meaning that it stimulates urine production – which removes water from your body. If you are already losing water in sweat, losing more water in your urine means needing to drink even more water during exercise. And just about anyone breaking down a truck in a shop or on a mobile unit on a hot summer day will lose sweat by the gallon. Also, cardiac arrhythmia has been attributed to the use of “energy drinks”.

Some of these “energy drinks” contain over 350 mg of caffeine per serving. In comparison, the average cup of coffee contains 80-90 mg of caffeine. Such high levels of caffeine pose the threat of dehydration to persons who consume several “energy drinks” in a day.  Another danger is that people tend to consume these beverages addictively, and choose to do so INSTEAD of drinking water or an electrolyte-replenishing beverage.

Make certain that proper hydration is understood and practiced.  It is critical in hot environments to encourage the consumption of plenty of water or electrolyte replenishing beverages.  Make certain all persons understand the difference between a “sports drink” and an “energy drink”.

One last point, energy drinks should never be mixed with alcohol.  The stimulant in energy drinks and depressant in alcohol can have dangerous effects.  If you choose energy drinks, drink them in moderation, no more than 2 cans per day.  They are definitely not for children!

Source:
Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service