Drinking energy drinks is very much a version of self medicating, be smart about it.
Mental Health is something that many strive for, taking all information into account when ‘self medicating’ is important.
Sugary drinks have been around for many years, which continue to produce many negative long term side effects, we all know that. Yet, we still keep consuming them and they keep getting stronger, how much is too much?
The manufacturing companies do not want to be sharing the results from studies that show a direct correlation to consumption of these sugary drinks and poor health, it is our duty to make sure that we don’t let consumerism get in the way of smart decisions (just look up smoking ads from the 50-60’s).
Here is a snapshot of one such study that demonstrated a specific connection to increased blood pressure from consuming energy drinks as well as a reduction in mental acuity / capacity: From the The American Journal of Cardiology.
[
Erik Konrad Grasser, M.D., Ph.D., from the University of Fribourg in Switzerland, and colleagues examined the consequences of Red Bull ingestion in combination with mental stress. Twenty healthy participants ingested 355 ml Red Bull or water and underwent a mental arithmetic test for five minutes 80 minutes later.
The researchers found that water had no significant effects, but Red Bull increased systolic and diastolic BP (+7 mm Hg and +4 mm Hg, respectively) and heart rate (+7 beats/min).
There was a greater decrease in cerebral blood flow velocity with Red Bull versus water ingestion (−9 versus −3 cm/s; P < 0.005). There were further increases in systolic and diastolic BP (+3 mm Hg; P < 0.05) and heart rate (+13 beats/min; P < 0.005) with additional mental stress after ingestion of Red Bull; similar increases were also seen after ingestion of water. The combination of Red Bull and mental stress increased systolic and diastolic BP (about +10 mm Hg and +7 mm Hg, respectively) and heart rate (+20 beats/min), and decreased cerebral blood flow velocity (−7 cm/s).
]
The bottom line here is that energy drinks are marketed to increase ones ability, the data doesn’t support this. Facts through ongoing studies help, yet it is up to us to make sure that this information gets out there and that moderation / good habits over time will trump short term beliefs.This study was for one 355ml of one energy drink, remember that this small can is just that, there are energy drinks that come in 480ml sizes (35% more) which explains the statement on most cans as them being 2 servings.
Even the internet shows how unpleasant drinking these drinks can be: I googled 'Energy Drink side effects'
Listed in order of most common side effects:
- Palpitations / tachycardia.
- Tremor / shaking.
- Agitation / restlessness.
- Gastrointestinal upset.
- Chest pain / ischaemia.
- Dizziness / syncope.
- Paraesthesia (tingling or numbing of the skin)
- Insomnia.
- Respiratory distress
- Headache
Right there, in large bold type after a Google search, so the key here is take this seriously and make sure that our loved ones (including ourselves) are not heading down a path to impaired health because of seeking the short term benefit from energy drinks.
To dismiss this as ‘it won’t happen to me’ is pretty typical, however the data is real and the goal here for manufacturers is to get you to start out slowly and eventually make this part of your normal. Be careful, your health depends on it.
photos by wikipedia.org and caffeineinformer.com unless listed
