EnergyDrink

7 Reasons to Not Drink Energy Drinks

With most people getting fitness freak and hitting the gym nowadays, it is no wonder why energy drinks are getting so incredibly popular. Be aware, however, that these are not a silver bullet against fatigue and can come with a number of drawbacks. Below are the reasons why you should actually avoid these high-energy drinks.

Increases Stress and Anxiety

It is not always clear how much caffeine someone is getting from these drinks, as most of them have been found to sometimes contain much more of this stimulant than is advertised on the label. Caffeine overload can cause feelings of jitteriness, increase stress and anxiety, leading to racing of the heart.

Contains High Levels of Sugar

Some of these drinks also rely on sugar to boost energy levels and can contain as many as 15 teaspoons of sugar per drink! This can lead to a “sugar crash” when the effects have worn off, but also is associated with longer-term problems like increased inflammation, immunity suppression and weight gain.

Contains Artificial Sweeteners

The other types that don’t contain any sugars, such energy drinks marketed as “lite” or “diet” often depend on additives like aspartame. This artificial sweetener has been linked to increase obesity as well as an array of neurological problems and is even suspected in the development of brain tumours.

Changes the Mood

Several studies have shown that those who consume these high-energy drinks regularly can deplete their serotonin levels due to excessive caffeine. Serotonin depletion has been linked to anxiety and depression.

Stresses the Organs

Caffeine causes a reaction similar to a “fight or flight” adrenaline rush and can cause the kidneys and liver as well as the heart, brain and digestive tract to work overtime. This extra stimulation can prove taxing for these organs and lead to long-term health problems. Many people actually feel tired after a high-caffeine drink, and this is because the adrenal system can become overtaxed due to constant stimulation. To combat this, it is important to reduce and not increase the amount of caffeine consumed

Promotes Insomnia

A shot of caffeine might help get through the day, but at night-time it is another matter completely. These high-caffeine drinks can rob someone of deep and restful sleep and, ironically, cause even more fatigue the next day.

Carries Potential for Allergic Reactions

Gingko biloba is an herb commonly found in these energy drinks and while it does help with mental alertness, there can be unwanted side effects if someone is sensitive to it. These include headaches, nausea, diarrhoea, dizziness and heart palpitations.

These are all good reasons why cutting back or altogether eliminating these kinds of drinks is a healthy idea. While they do boost short-term energy levels, in the long run they can cause fatigue and other undesirable health issues.

Image Courtesy: theinertia.com

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