When are Energy Drinks Dangerous? Health Risks and Concerns

Energizing Cocktails

What makes an energy drink, energizing? The majority of these beverages are a blend of herbal and nutritional stimulants, refined sugars, and caffeine. Although it is difficult for the body to absorb nutrients and beneficial phytochemicals with high amounts of sugar in the bloodstream, herbal extracts, amino acids, and other nutritional supplements may be somewhat responsible for the effects of energy drinks. High amount of sugar and caffeine, however, are the foundation of the energizing effects.

Health Concerns with Caffeine and Refined Sugar

Energy drinks are dangerous whenever the blend of caffeine and sugar has the potential to harm the body. In moderate levels, for example, a cup of coffee, which contains about 100 milligrams, or a can of cola, which has about 35 to 55 milligrams, caffeine is not harmful. In fact, it could be considered beneficial, stimulating the nervous system and opening airways. In high quantities, or in combination with other factors which could dehydrate, or elevate blood pressure, this natural compound can be very dangerous.

A professor at Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, who has researched energy drinks health risks, says that one beverage could contain the caffeine equivalent of fourteen cans of soda. Caffeine levels do vary with different brands, but it is important to keep in mind the possibility of dangerous amounts. Often marketed as dietary supplements, they do not have to be reviewed or approved by the FDA before they are sold.

High levels of refined sugar are also a health concern, especially over the long-term. Sugar will affect the absorption of nutrients, and cause huge spikes, and then drops in blood sugar levels. Body systems also have to work very hard to digest, detoxify, and eliminate.

Mixing with Alcohol

When mixed with alcohol, energy drinks can be very dangerous. This is because both alcohol and caffeine dehydrate. As an energy drink energizes, and alcohol depresses, the two combined become a risky combination, one raising blood pressure, and the other acting as a toxin in the body. Also, there is the problem of perception. A mixed cocktail can have the effect of making an individual feel more awake, thus leading to more heavy drinking, and the misconception that they can drive safely, or function properly because of the energy drink.

Drinking and Exercising

Another scenario where energy drinks become a health hazard, is when physical activity is involved. Exercise, whether it be dancing, or playing a game of basketball, will elevate the heart rate and blood pressure, and cause the body to lose fluids. The strain on the heart, as well as the dangers of dehydration are amplified. Again, perception is a problem, as drinking an energy drink may make one feel that they can push their body harder than normal, instead of understanding that when heavy amounts of caffeine are responsible for this feeling, intense activity is unwise.

Is Moderation Possible?

Caffeine is naturally addicting. Energy drinks are popular. Is moderation possible? With an understanding of the health risks of energy drinks, people can make more informed decisions as to what they consume. Are energy drinks dangerous? If you drink them dangerously, yes they are.

Resources

Preidt, Robert. “Energy Drinks, Alcohol a Dangerous Mix: Study found college students who drank both were more drunk, more likely to drive.” (Medline Plus) <95187>

Doheny, Kathleen. “Energy Drinks: Hazardous to Your Health?” (WebMD) https://www.webmd.com/food-recipes/news/20080924/energy-drinks-hazardous-to-your-health

“Refined Sugar — The Sweetest Poison of All.” (Global Healing Center) https://www.globalhealingcenter.com/refined-sugar-the-sweetest-poison-of-all.html

Photo Credit

photo by: Homard (CC/flickr) https://www.flickr.com/photos/homard/4281740886/