For those habituated to getting a kick of caffeine, energy drinks are a great way to pump up your energy and increase mental alertness and concentration. They are very popular, especially among teenagers and fitness enthusiasts. However, one should consume energy drinks with caution. Let us see what are the advantages and disadvantages of drinking energy drinks.
With soaring temperatures, people are reaching out for cold drinks and energy drinks like Red Bull, Monster, and Sting to quench their thirst and beat the heat. These drinks are convenient, easily available at your convenience store, and refreshing but heavily loaded with sugar. They give an instant high and increased concentration due to their high caffeine content. They contain B vitamins, guarana, a herbal extract, ginseng, and amino acid derivatives like taurine and L-carnitine.
Let us understand the way energy drinks influence the body and brain. Here are some
Advantages of energy drinks
- Any energy drink gives an instant energy boost due to high amounts of sugar and caffeine. This helps you get through a busy day.
- High energy helps you feel good and positive and leads to productive relationships at the workplace and in the family.
- They are easily available and are very reasonably priced.
- For fitness enthusiasts, an energy drink betters your performance during workouts.
- Health-conscious people can go for sugar-free and zero-calorie options.
- Truck drivers on long road trips or those working long hours can consume energy drinks when they are sleepy or very tired.
- They possibly improve cognitive performance.
Disadvantages of energy drinks
- Youngsters mix alcohol with energy drinks in social gatherings, but this is very addictive and dangerous, as it leaves the person feeling depressed.
- It is not mandatory for manufacturers of energy drinks to mention the amounts of caffeine on the bottle. Secondly, the serving sizes are so large that a person can have his daily caffeine intake by consuming just one bottle of energy drinks. If you are drinking coffee along with energy drinks, it is best to control overall caffeine consumption.
- Due to high caffeine content and high sugar, it is not advised for teenagers and children.
- Pregnant and nursing women should also not consume energy drinks because of the negative effects of high caffeine.
- It causes tooth decay and plaque buildup as it is loaded with sugar. The sugar corrodes the tooth enamel and can cause caries, forcing you to visit the dentist.
- Frequent consumption of energy drinks can lead to chronic health issues like diabetes, high blood sugar, obesity, and disturbed sleep patterns since one serving contains between 25 to 39g of sugar.
- These drinks are highly addictive and if you try to give up you can experience withdrawal symptoms like tiredness, crankiness, and severe headaches.
- Ingredients of these drinks like ginseng and taurine are not good for heart health and can result in cardiovascular issues. If you are a regular consumer, you are likely to experience heart problems like palpitations, heart attacks, and stroke over time.
- If you are inactive, drinking excessive energy can make you gain weight.
Overall energy drinks are a good one-time pick-me-up that are difficult to put down. Hence one should avoid overconsumption due to its numerous harmful effects and adverse health effects. One should exercise discretion in consuming these drinks as there are safety concerns, especially for youngsters and children and ideally, there should be a ban on aggressive marketing of these drinks.
Sources:
- https://mypharma.ph/articles/energy-drinks-the-pros-cons-on-your-health
- https://n-o-v-a.com/blog/pros-cons-energy-drinks/
- https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/energy-drinks
You may like this
