Energy drinks do more harm than good to the body
The caffeine
and other ingredients in these drinks can lead to various health issues in the
long term
New Delhi, 16 November 2017: Consumption of energy drinks can cause
serious health risks including risk-seeking behavior, mental health problems,
increased blood pressure, obesity, and kidney damage, warns a recent study.
Another worrying phenomenon is that of mixing energy drinks with alcohol. The
ingredients in most energy drinks include water, sugar, caffeine, certain
vitamins, minerals and non-nutritive stimulants such as guarana, taurine, and ginseng.
Certain energy drinks have about 100mg
caffeine per fluid ounce which is eight times more than regular coffee, which
has 12mg per fluid ounce of caffeine. While the daily recommended caffeine
intake for adults is 400mg, there is not enough research on the tolerable
levels for children and adolescents. All the above-mentioned health risks are
due to the high sugar and caffeine levels in these energy drinks.
Speaking about this, Padma Shri Awardee Dr
K K Aggarwal, National President Indian Medical Association (IMA) and President
Heart Care Foundation of India (HCFI) and Dr RN Tandon – Honorary Secretary
General IMA in a joint statement, said, “Energy drinks can cause more harm
than good. The large amounts of caffeine in them can lead to serious heart rhythm,
blood flow, and blood pressure problems in the young and old alike. Taurine,
one of the ingredients in these drinks, is a caffeine adjuvant, meaning that it
aids the effects of caffeine. Apart from this, those who mix energy drinks with
alcohol end up consuming more alcohol than if they were drinking alcohol alone.
Energy drinks are thought to mask the signs of alcohol inebriation, thus making
a person consume more and increasing the likelihood of dehydration and alcohol
poisoning.”
Energy drinks can be potentially dangerous
for certain groups including those under 18 years of age, pregnant women, those
with caffeine sensitivity, and people on certain medications such as Adder all,
which is prescribed for ADHD.
Adding further, Dr Aggarwal, said, “It
is also often seen that energy drinks are marketed and sold in stores under the
same category as sports drinks. However, as per studies, they do not help in
enhancing or promoting athletic ability in any way. It is important to remember
that our body can obtain energy from other sources as well and that we do not
need to depend on these energy drinks or caffeine for the same. Understanding
this can help avert many complications in the longer term.”
Here are few food items that can help you
keep alert and energized through the day, albeit naturally.
- Green tea It contains vitamins A, B, C and E, and improves circulation and metabolism. It also contains L-theanine which is an antioxidant found only in tea.
- Wheatgrass It is rich in vitamins A, C, E, beta-carotene, amino acids, and calcium. The B vitamins, especially B12, iron and magnesium in wheatgrass do wonders in increasing energy levels.
- Banana They can help in fighting fatigue due to the electrolytes present in them including potassium, magnesium, sodium, calcium, and phosphorus.
- Water A person experiences decrease in energy levels when the water content in their body goes down. Make sure to consume enough water to fight away fatigue.
- Nuts These are rich in protein, which stabilizes blood sugar levels. Nuts like walnuts and almonds are high in magnesium and omega-3 fatty acids, which help in boosting energy levels.
