Breakups can be sad. Not with energy drinks though.
Sleepless nights, lots of teary phone conversations and quickly depleting ice cream tubs tend to follow. But not this one! These drinks, though they may come with alluring promises, can do more damage than good.
Drinks like Red Bull and Bang contain herbs, vitamins, and supplements, which have not been found to have adverse effects on consumers. However, the other ingredients in these drinks, such as caffeine, sugar and artificial sweeteners, may produce dangerous side effects. The rapidly growing energy drink industry is facing scrutiny over its disclosure – or lack thereof – of possible health risks, however, recent research has shown the risks of over-consumption.
While caffeine tolerance varies between people, high doses may increase blood pressure, heart palpitations, nausea, dizziness, and allergic reactions. Consuming too much caffeine may also involve painful withdrawal symptoms. Similar to caffeine, most energy drinks are high in sugar content – in the form of fructose corn syrup and/or cane sugar. Drinks with high sugar levels have been linked to obesity, blood sugar, and insulin spikes, and even increases the risk of type 2 diabetes.
Heard about the L-Carnitine? It’s an amino acid found in energy drinks, which may cause diarrhea, headaches and sleeping difficulties. Energy drinks also contain B Vitamins, which in excess can result in liver toxicity, while more than 100 mg of B6 can cause sensory nerve difficulties.
A healthier source of caffeine and keeping yourself alert is coffee, however, energy drinks should, as much as possible, be consumed minimally due to their numerous health risks. After all, “a break up is like a broken mirror. It is better to leave it broken than hurt yourself trying to fix it”.
The goal is to be energized not sensationalized.