Energy Drinks Health Concerns

Energy drinks are a type of soft drinks that are enhanced using certain substances that help the person retain their energy level. Energy drinks actually enhance the physical performance and energy level of a person as it directly affects on the mental alertness. Initially the energy drinks were consumed by the sports persons in order to perform better when their bodies are tired. But today in the US, there is a huge craze of various energy drinks amongst school kids as small as 12 years of age.

Energy Drink
Energy drink generally contain caffeine (methylxanthine), vitamin B and several other herbs mixed with carbonated water and sometimes high amount of sugar. Caffeine is obtained by adding several substances like guarana, ginkgo biloba, ginseng, carnitine, acai etc. These various ingredients create several psychological as well as physical effects on the human body. The significant increase in the cognitive activities of a person and also a moderate amount of euphoria is also produced which is the effect of caffeine (the same substance that is present in tea and coffee). Energy drinks also improve the endurance of the upper body muscles. Danger of energy drinks are observed when there is a large intake. Excess use can cause several health related issues including irritability and anxiety.

Energy Drinks Health Concerns
Energy Drink Addiction
Excessive intake of energy drinks cause many problems some of which are quite severe. Prolonged consumption of energy drinks can also be related to the excessive intake. Dangers of energy drink start to aggravate in case of extreme addiction. Energy drinks are primarily manufactured for extreme sports, and as we know extreme sport enthusiasts are by nature very carefree and in the enthusiasm they might forget the amount of energy drink consumed as well. The caffeine that these energy drinks bear actually gets piled up in the body causing many long term side effects of energy drinks.

Side Effects of Caffeine
Energy drinks bear higher percentage of caffeine than other caffeine sources like tea and coffee. They even contain more caffeine than other soft drinks as well. Heavy intake of caffeine is scientifically proven to be very harmful to the human body, leading to many short term as well as long term side effects. Some of the side effects of energy drinks due to caffeine are:

• Insomnia
• High Blood Pressure
• Osteoporosis
• Infertility
• Heart Diseases
• Ulcers

Caffeine has many side effects besides those mentioned above. As caffeine is stacked up in the body after each intake, it also shows various side effects and complications during pregnancy. It may also cause miscarriage in pregnant women.

Short Term Side Effects of Energy Drinks
An individual's response to caffeine varies from person to person, hence there might also be certain short term side effects of energy drinks as well. Some people cannot even tolerate moderate amount of caffeine and energy drinks side effects might start to show up in the initial stage of its consumption. Energy drink side effects may be arrhythmia, which is irregularity of heart beats. Energy drinks also create health concerns related to the stomach, such as cramps. Excessive consumption of energy drinks also cause dehydration and excessive fluid loss during exercises, this happens due to the diuretic characteristics of caffeine.

Energy Drinks and Alcohol
As we all know, alcohol is a great depressant and energy drinks are stimulants. It is a disastrous combination to consume them both at the same time. Along with all the effects of alcohol in the human body, such as dehydration, fatigue, feeling of impairment, vomiting, and respiratory depression are observed as side effects of energy drinks mixed with alcohol.

These were all about energy drinks health concerns. This article is nowhere against energy drinks, but excessive use of anything leads to its several side effects. And when it comes to energy drinks, which are the biggest source of caffeine, it is an open invitation to severe energy drinks health concerns. Why to risk your priceless life for a small can of energy drink? It is better to opt for healthy drinks and lead a healthy and carefree life. Think over it!