Are Energy Drinks Safe?

An energy drink is a type of beverage containing stimulant drugs, caffeine, which is marketed as providing mental and physical stimulation. It may or may not be carbonated. Many brands also contain sugar or other sweeteners, herbal extracts and amino acids. 

Energy drinks have become a modern day phenomenon. However, instead of having more energy and alertness, there is every possibility of dangerous health consequences.
Interestingly, many of the energy drinks popular in Bangladesh are manufactured in outlying districts and are available at affordable price. Few are imported. There are many brands such as Royal Tiger, Speed, Dark Horse, Wild Brew, Power, Red Bull and many more that have flooded the market. These drinks are available at every nook and corner of the country. But many brands do not indicate the amount of caffeine, sugar and other ingredients present in the beverage. Usually, the writing on the cans or bottles is microscopic, and some even use foreign scripts like Arabic or Thai to lure innocent consumers. How would the customers know what they are consuming? 
Energy drinks have the same effects that caffeine and sugar provide, but there is little or no evidence that the wide variety of other ingredients have any impact. Most of the advertised effects of energy drinks on cognitive performance, such as increased attention and reaction speed, are primarily due to the presence of caffeine. Other studies, however, ascribe those performance enhancements to the effects of the combined ingredients. 
Advertising for energy drinks usually features increased muscle strength and endurance, but there is still no scientific consensus to support these claims. Our electronic media are flooded with commercials promoting these potentially dangerous beverages. Interestingly, many celebrities, including many from the sports world, are found strongly campaigning for such drinks. Whether the media or the celebrities are aware of the harmful effects of energy drinks, or totally ignorant, I am not sure.
Some of the common unwelcome side effects of energy drinks include elevated heart rates, hypertension, anxiety, headaches and interrupted sleep patterns. Earlier this year, a report in the medical journal ‘Pediatrics’ warned against energy drinks and cited potential harms, including heart palpitations, seizures, strokes and even sudden death.
The two most common ingredients in energy drinks, caffeine and sugar, both provide temporary stimulation. But that can result in actual long term energy loss from stressing the adrenal glands and causing adrenal fatigue.
Caffeine tolerance varies between individuals, but for most people a dose of over 400mg/day may produce some initial symptoms _ restlessness, increased heartbeat and insomnia. High sugar content, in the form of fructose corn syrup or cane sugar, is linked to obesity, tooth decay and increased risk of type 2 diabetes.
Among the amino acids, ingestion of too much of L-Carnitine can cause vomiting, nausea, headache, diarrhoea, stuffy nose, restlessness and sleeping difficulty. Sodium benzoate and ephedra are other potentially dangerous ingredients found in energy drinks. A recent study has linked sodium benzoate, in combination with vitamin C, as the cause of the potent carcinogen benzene. Ephedra has been described as a drug that increases heart rate and blood pressure at low doses and causes strokes, seizures, and possibly even death at high doses.
The amount of energy supposedly provided varies with brands. Moreover, there is not much difference in terms of the energy offered by other carbonated beverages like Coca Cola or 7 Up. Besides, whether quality control is maintained is highly questionable. The relevant authorities should be more vigilant in ensuring the quality of these beverages. 
For most people, the occasional energy drink is fine, about 500ml a day. If one is consistently fatigued or rundown, one may consider a better _ and healthier _ way to boost energy. There are far safer options for achieving greater energy than energy drinks. The very best long term option is an active lifestyle combined with adequate sleep, avoidance of energy robbing toxins and stress, and a healthy nutrient-dense diet. 

 

Are Energy Drinks Safe?

An energy drink is a type of beverage containing stimulant drugs, caffeine, which is marketed as providing mental and physical stimulation. It may or may not be carbonated. Many brands also contain sugar or other sweeteners, herbal extracts and amino acids. Energy drinks have become a modern day phenomenon. However, instead of having more energy and alertness, there is every possibility of dangerous health consequences. Interestingly, many of the energy drinks popular in Bangladesh are manufactured in outlying districts and are available at affordable price. Few are imported. There are many brands such as Royal Tiger, Speed, Dark Horse, Wild Brew, Power, Red Bull and many more that have flooded the market. These drinks are available at every nook and corner of the country. But many brands do not indicate the amount of caffeine, sugar and other ingredients present in the beverage. Usually, the writing on the cans or bottles is microscopic, and some even use foreign scripts like Arabic or Thai to lure innocent consumers. How would the customers know what they are consuming? Energy drinks have the same effects that caffeine and sugar provide, but there is little or no evidence that the wide variety of other ingredients have any impact. Most of the advertised effects of energy drinks on cognitive performance, such as increased attention and reaction speed, are primarily due to the presence of caffeine. Other studies, however, ascribe those performance enhancements to the effects of the combined ingredients. Advertising for energy drinks usually features increased muscle strength and endurance, but there is still no scientific consensus to support these claims. Our electronic media are flooded with commercials promoting these potentially dangerous beverages. Interestingly, many celebrities, including many from the sports world, are found strongly campaigning for such drinks. Whether the media or the celebrities are aware of the harmful effects of energy drinks, or totally ignorant, I am not sure. Some of the common unwelcome side effects of energy drinks include elevated heart rates, hypertension, anxiety, headaches and interrupted sleep patterns. Earlier this year, a report in the medical journal Pediatrics warned against energy drinks and cited potential harms, including heart palpitations, seizures, strokes and even sudden death. The two most common ingredients in energy drinks, caffeine and sugar, both provide temporary stimulation. But that can result in actual long term energy loss from stressing the adrenal glands and causing adrenal fatigue. Caffeine tolerance varies between individuals, but for most people a dose of over 400mg/day may produce some initial symptoms _ restlessness, increased heartbeat and insomnia. High sugar content, in the form of fructose corn syrup or cane sugar, is linked to obesity, tooth decay and increased risk of type 2 diabetes. Among the amino acids, ingestion of too much of L-Carnitine can cause vomiting, nausea, headache, diarrhoea, stuffy nose, restlessness and sleeping difficulty. Sodium benzoate and ephedra are other potentially dangerous ingredients found in energy drinks. A recent study has linked sodium benzoate, in combination with vitamin C, as the cause of the potent carcinogen benzene. Ephedra has been described as a drug that increases heart rate and blood pressure at low doses and causes strokes, seizures, and possibly even death at high doses. The amount of energy supposedly provided varies with brands. Moreover, there is not much difference in terms of the energy offered by other carbonated beverages like Coca Cola or 7 Up. Besides, whether quality control is maintained is highly questionable. The relevant authorities should be more vigilant in ensuring the quality of these beverages. For most people, the occasional energy drink is fine, about 500ml a day. If one is consistently fatigued or rundown, one may consider a better _ and healthier _ way to boost energy. There are far safer options for achieving greater energy than energy drinks. The very best long term option is an active lifestyle combined with adequate sleep, avoidance of energy robbing toxins and stress, and a healthy nutrient-dense diet.