Health Issues with Energy Drinks: What are the Side Effects of Energy Drinks?
What is an Energy Drink?
Over the last several years, energy drinks have become the beverage of choice for many people, with a pronounced trend amongst students and young adults. With natural, herbal ingredients, such as kava kava root, and taurine, many consumers are drawn to the idea of a healthy, natural, energizing drink to enjoy instead of carbonated sodas, which are viewed as unhealthy for their high sugar and caffeine content.
Despite the herbal and nutrient additives, there are potential health issues for people who regularly drink energy drinks. Problems can range from irritability to dramatic, and even dangerous shifts in heart rhythm and blood pressure. Understanding the side effects of energy drinks is essential to ensuring that a casual beverage does not become a health risk.
Sugars
One of the reasons that energy drinks pose potential health problems is that they are all loaded with refined sugars. Just like a serving of soda, they are filled with empty calories, which provide an initial jolt of energy at quite an expense to the body. Such a heavy dose can cause a sugar rush, followed by an energy crash. Normal, healthy blood sugar levels are difficult to maintain.
The sugar levels will also have a negative impact on the digestive system, making it difficult for the body to properly absorb any nutrients or carbohydrates that are in the energy drink. For athletes especially, energy drinks can become dangerous, because the high refined sugar content also makes it difficult for the body to re-hydrate. Another unexpected side effect of the sugar in energy drinks, is weight gain. The empty calories are not helpful for an individual trying to lose weight.
Caffeine
Although not every energy drink contains caffeine, most of them do. A typical serving contains 80 milligrams, the same amount found in a cup of coffee. While in moderation, caffeine is not that bad for many people, in excess, there are a number of side effects to deal with. First, caffeine is a diuretic. This effect is only negative in excess, as the body will lose water, as well as nutrients.
Caffeine is also addicting. The body naturally adjusts to caffeine consumption, eventually requiring more, for the same effect on the nervous system. For someone drinking one energy drink in the morning, this may lead to an intake of two, three, or even more servings in a day, to maintain the same level of energy. When the body doesn’t receive its expected amount of caffeine, withdrawal symptoms are usually felt — headaches, irritability, and fatigue.
Caffeine consumption also can lead to anxiety and nervousness on an emotional level, and an increase in blood pressure and heart beat, on a physical level. For a healthy individual, this is not necessarily a bad thing, once in awhile. For someone with heart problems, stress issues, or in combination with physical activity, or other substances, such as alcohol, too much caffeine is dangerous.
Herbal and Nutritional Compounds
Energy drinks are considered a healthier beverage than carbonated soda because they contain herbal stimulants, and sometimes nutrients, such as vitamins and amino acids. While in general, herbs are potent sources of readily absorbable nutrients and beneficial phytochemicals, the herbal contents in energy drinks are processed, diluted versions of the authentic ingredient. It is highly unlikely that much of anything beneficial will be absorbed by the body, mixed in a sugary solution. Also, there is a potential risk of some herbs, for people who already have health problems, such as high blood pressure.
The best way to receive the benefits of herbal stimulants is to take them in their natural form — as an herbal infusion, or as an herbal tincture. Drinking a packaged, processed beverage, which lists a blend of herbs, and other compounds, and then advertises their beneficial properties, is misleading to the consumer.
Enjoying Energy Drinks
Is it possible to enjoy energy drinks if there are so many potential health issues? Is there a way to circumvent the side effects of energy drinks? For a healthy person, they are probably fine, in moderation, and when enjoyed without alcohol or vigorous activity. They are popular because they stimulate the nervous system, and make people feel good. To believe that the effects are due to beneficial natural compounds is dangerous. To understand that the effects are mostly from sugar and caffeine puts the energy drink love affair into perspective.
References
Laskowski, Edward R., M.D. “Energy drinks: OK for athletes?” (Mayo Clinic https://www.mayoclinic.com/health/energy-drinks/AN01630
Siegel, Lindsay. “Energy Drinks Cause Harmful Side Effects.” (The Sandspur, September 24, 2007). https://media.www.thesandspur.org/media/storage/paper623/news/2007/09/24/LifeTimes/Energy.Drinks.Cause.Harmful.Side.Effects-2985020.shtml
“Energy Drinks: A Healthy Buzz?” (Lifespan) https://www.lifespan.org/services/nutrition/articles/energydrinks.htm
Image Credit
photo by: Chrisy Core (CC/flickr) https://www.flickr.com/photos/christyxcore/1785122742/.