Effects of Energy Drinks

The consumption and usage of energy drinks is on the rise, and in nearly every part of the world. The reason? People have discovered that guzzling a can of Red Bull (or that of one of its numerous competitors) suddenly awakens them from a tired slumber and energizes them like nothing else does. A majority of these Red bull guzzlers happen to be youngsters, collegians, and even teenagers. Be it a group of youngsters at an all-night dance party at the pub, or the overworked corporate community, the consumer base for energy drinks is spread far and wide, and is only growing as we speak. For those of you who didn't know, over a billion dollars of annual sales is what the energy drink industry is worth, at the moment.

On a personal level, I too have had the chance to observe the effects of energy drinks on the human body from close quarters. Being a performing artiste, almost always, I am required to be on full alert (in terms of energy and enthusiasm). At times, when you've had a long tiring day, it does help when a couple of cans of a good energy drink instantly pump up your body's energy levels and make you alive. (By the way, people from the event management industry literally survive on energy drinks, in case you weren't aware of it). But are energy drinks all good and zero bad? Or are there any bad effects of energy drinks on the human body? Read ahead to find out.

Energy Drink and its Adverse Effects on the Body

So is a can of energy drink really the magic potion that it is made out to be? Or is there a dark side to it as well? Are there any potentially dangerous effects of energy drinks on the human body? Well, possibly. It depends on what energy drink you have, and how much you have of it. Basically, most energy drinks comprise the following three main ingredients:

• Caffeine
• Taurine
• Glucuronolactone

Now, all you coffee drinkers would be well aware of the stimulating role that caffeine plays in making you alert, aware and active. Normally, one can of energy drink (any brand) contains approximately 80 mg of caffeine (nearly twice the amount contained in a can of Pepsi). Taurine on the other hand, is an amino acid which is believed to regulate the heartbeat, in addition to performing other protein-related functions. Glucuronolactone is a carbohydrate which provides the body with an instant energy thrust. Guarana seed extract, ginseng, creatine, gingko biloba, etc. are a few of the other energy drink ingredients that are normally found in different varieties of energy drinks. Some of these ingredients claim to reduce stress, a few others increase the rate of body metabolism, whereas nearly all of them stimulate i.e. increase the body's energy levels.

So from the surface, it would appear as if a can of energy drink can do no wrong. However, the problem arises when there is a case of overdose. Consuming more than two cans of energy drink every day, on a frequent basis can lead to various health problems. Firstly, an overdose of caffeine can leave you severely dehydrated. Secondly, most energy drinks contain a good amount of sugar, whose purpose is to provide you with the much-needed energy kick at that particular moment. Once the high wears off, it can later lead to exhaustion and fatigue. Worse, the sugar can also lead you towards addiction with regards to energy drinks, which again is not healthy. Combining an energy drink and alcohol is an extremely unhealthy practice and one which can have several harmful effects on the body. People with heart disease should avoid energy drinks. Pregnant women should always stay away from energy drinks as the high caffeine content can result in various birth complications, miscarriages, etc. Overdose of energy drinks may also lead to kidney problems, stomach problems and muscle pain. Fellow sportspeople are advised not to confuse (or substitute) energy drinks like Red Bull with re-hydrating sports drinks such as Gatorade.

This was a brief overview of the adverse effects of energy drinks. Take care!