How Do Energy Drinks Affect the Body?
In today's fast-paced society, many are using energy drinks just to keep up with their everyday demands. But workaholics and college students aren't the only ones taking advantage of the popular beverage. Athletes and people who work out are using the drinks, hoping to boost performance or gain an edge. Unfortunately, this seemingly harmless pick-me-up can come with some serious risks. While the drinks are proven to get the heart pumping and the eyes open, they can also cause dehydration and other significant effects on the body. Does this Spark an idea?
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Increased Alertness and Insomnia
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Most energy drinks contain caffeine and herbal stimulants that stimulate the central nervous system, giving a sense of alertness. This stimulation can cause a person who is sleepy to wake up. However, it can also prevent a person desiring to sleep from dozing off. In addition, the caffeine in energy drinks blocks the effects of adenosine, a chemical in the brain involved in sleep. This in turn activates neurons in the brain as though there were an emergency, often preventing sleep and causing insomnia.
Increased Heart Rate and Faster Heart Beat
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When caffeine blocks adenosine and the neurons are activated, the pituitary gland releases adrenaline. This hormone makes the heart beat faster and consuming the large dosage of caffeine found in energy drinks can lead to high blood pressure and heart palpitations.
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Increased Blood Sugar
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When adrenaline is released into the system, this causes the liver to release extra sugar in to the bloodstream for energy. In addition, energy drinks contain high amounts of sugar, which can be digested easily and also used as a quick source of energy. When consumed, the body experiences a sugar high then often crashes. The sugar enters the bloodstream, provides a blast of energy and when the sugar is burned up, 30 to 45 minutes later, the body usually experiences a sugar crash. At this time feelings of dizziness, slowed reflexes and decreased performance may occur.
Dehydration
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Caffeine is a diuretic or substance which causes urination. The caffeine in energy drinks causes the kidneys to move extra fluid into the urine, which can lead to dehydration if done while sweating during exercise. The high levels of sugar in energy drinks slow the absorption of water that dilutes the sugar in the bloodstream, enhancing dehydration. Also, consuming a drink with a high sugar concentration before an athletic performance can cause gastric distress and diarrhea, resulting in dehydration.
Other
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Other possible side effects include headache, nausea, jitters, chest pain, restlessness, numbness and tingling in the hands and feet, increased weight loss, increased endurance, increased metabolism, anxiety, irritability and indigestion.
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References
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Comments
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well, I honestly do not fel ANY of the symptomes AKA: Nausia, dizziness etc... all I feel is more energetic and more relaxed about things... and anyways I only drink about 1 can per week if not less. so go ahead and try to prove me that 1 can per week is going to do me much harm...
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it's a good think I don't drink energy drink...but I always warn people I know not too but they just laugh at me.
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my hubby usedto drink a lot of thm, and still wanted to drink but after i read this i didnt allow him to.. hope he refrains from drinking it after reading it himslf..
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my hubby drinks a lot of thm, and still wants to drink but after i read this i didnt allow him to.. hope he refrains from drinking it after reading it himslf..
