Le energy drinks they are meant to increase ours the energy, caution e concentration. People of all ages consume them and they are increasingly popular, but some health professionals want to warn us as they can have harmful consequences.
Let's see the positive and negative aspects of energy drinks.
Index
What Are Energy Drinks?
They are drinks that contain specific ingredients to increase theenergy and mental performance; Red Bull, Monster, Rockstar are some examples.
Almost all of them contain the caffeine to stimulate brain function and increase alertness and concentration; the amount of caffeine varies from product to product.
These drinks also contain other ingredients, including:
- sugar: main source of calories in energy drinks, although some do not contain it and are low in carbohydrates;
- Vitamins of the group B: they play an important role in converting the food we eat into energy that the body can use;
- Derivatives of amino acids: taurine and L-carnitine are examples; both are naturally produced by the body and have roles in different biological processes;
- Herbal extractsGuarana, for example, is often used to add caffeine, while ginseng can have positive effects on brain function.
Energy drinks and brain function
One of the main reasons for consuming energy drinks is increased mental alertness, but can these drinks really provide this benefit?
Several studies confirm that energy drinks they can actually improve brain function such as memory, concentration and reaction times, also reducing mental fatigue.
Drinking a 500ml can of Red Bull can increase concentration and memory by about 24%.
Energy drinks and fatigue
These drinks can help reduce the sense of fatigue and sleep; people who have to face long journeys or work shifts at night often use them to stay alert and attentive behind the wheel.
Several studies have shown that energy drinks can improve driving quality and reduce sleepiness, but at the same time the quality of sleep after the night shift will be worse.
Energy drinks and heart problems
The use of energy drinks has been implicated in several cases of heart problems; in the United States, over 20.000 emergency room trips a year are associated with the use of energy drinks.
Consumption of these drinks can increase blood pressure and heart rate; the excessive consumption of caffeine and the combination of energy drinks and alcohol are important risk factors.
Consumption of these beverages occasionally and in reasonable quantities is unlikely to cause heart failure in healthy adults with no history of heart disease.
Amount of sugar
Most energy drinks contain many sugars; the consumption of these leads to an increase in blood sugar, especially harmful for those with diabetes.
This blood sugar spike has been associated with increased levels of oxidative stress and inflammation, both of which have been implicated in the development of all chronic diseases.
How many can you drink?
Most of the health problems involving energy drinks focus on the caffeine content; adults are generally recommended to do not exceed 400 mg of caffeine per day.
Energy drinks contain, on average, 80 mg of caffeine every 200 ml, but they are often sold in 500ml cans and, in addition, they can contain guarana, another source of caffeine (producers are not required to count it in the total caffeine, so the value of this is often underestimated).
While drinking an energy drink occasionally is unlikely to cause harm, it is wise and prudent avoid consuming energy drinks as part of ours daily routine.
And you, do you use it? If so, how many do you consume? Let us know in the comments and don't forget to follow us on our dedicated Telegram channel????
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