Energy beverages: Advantages and Disadvantages for Health
=====================================================================
Energy drinks, popular for their quick energy boost, have become a common choice for many individuals, particularly during intense workouts or late-night study sessions. However, a closer look at the facts reveals potential long-term health risks associated with their regular consumption.
Currently, there are no strict restrictions on the sale of energy drinks in most countries. But, it's crucial for individuals to monitor their consumption and avoid overindulging to prevent long-term health problems.
Energy drinks contain high levels of caffeine, sugar, and unregulated additives. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) considers up to 400 mg of caffeine per day safe for most healthy adults, but teens should limit intake to 100 mg or less. Excessive caffeine intake from energy drinks has been linked to increased emergency room visits, especially among youth, due to dehydration, caffeine overdose, convulsions, and elevated blood pressure.
Regular consumption of energy drinks can lead to serious long-term health effects, including sustained high blood pressure, abnormal heart rhythms, increased risk of cardiac arrest, liver toxicity, kidney injury, metabolic stress, sleep disturbances, mood changes, increased risk of type 2 diabetes, and dental enamel erosion.
Groups who should avoid energy drinks include children, teens, young adults, pregnant individuals, people with underlying heart conditions or high blood pressure, and those with liver or kidney problems.
Other long-term risks identified in research include liver toxicity potentially from high niacin content, kidney damage, metabolic strain, and risk of type 2 diabetes due to high sugar content. The acidity of most energy drinks may also erode tooth enamel.
Major health organizations advise against energy drinks in children and adolescents and caution people with cardiovascular or metabolic conditions to avoid them. Instead, experts recommend sustainable energy-boosting strategies like a balanced diet, hydration, exercise, and sufficient sleep rather than caffeine stimulation.
In summary, the long-term health risks associated with energy drinks include high blood pressure and arrhythmias, cardiac arrest, liver toxicity and kidney injury, type 2 diabetes risk, tooth enamel erosion, and metabolic stress. These groups should avoid energy drinks: children and teens (under 18), young adults, especially with heart conditions, pregnant individuals, individuals with pre-existing high blood pressure or heart problems, and people with kidney or liver problems.
These conclusions are supported by recent studies from Harvard Health, Rutgers, the Nutrients journal, and authoritative health sources. It's essential to approach energy drinks with caution and consider the potential long-term health impacts before consuming them regularly.
For a list of high-fiber foods to reduce belly fat, refer to 7 high-fiber foods to reduce belly fat.
[1] Harvard Health. (n.d.). Energy drinks: Too much of a good thing? Retrieved from https://www.health.harvard.edu/staying-healthy/energy-drinks-too-much-of-a-good-thing [2] Rutgers University. (n.d.). The Truth About Energy Drinks. Retrieved from https://www.rutgers.edu/~healthsci/energydrinks.html [3] Nutrients. (2020). Energy Drinks and Their Health Effects: A Systematic Review. Retrieved from https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7177982/ [4] Mayo Clinic. (n.d.). Energy drinks: What you don't know might hurt you. Retrieved from https://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/nutrition-and-healthy-eating/in-depth/energy-drinks/art-20048389 [5] American Heart Association. (n.d.). Energy Drinks and Sports Drinks: What You Need to Know. Retrieved from https://www.heart.org/en/healthy-living/healthy-eating/eat-smart/nutrition-basics/energy-drinks-and-sports-drinks-what-you-need-to-know
- While energy drinks may seem like beneficial supplements for fitness and exercise, research shows they can potentially have long-term health risks for medical-conditions such as cardiovascular-health, especially when consumed regularly.
- In the realm of health-and-wellness, experts advise against the excessive consumption of energy drinks, citing their high sugar, caffeine, and unregulated additive content as potential triggers for long-term health problems.
- Instead of relying on energy drinks for a boost, focusing on nutrition, hydration, exercise, and sufficient sleep is recommended for maintaining cardiovascular-health and overall health-and-wellness.
- When considering the long-term effects on health-and-wellness, it's crucial to be aware that energy drinks can lead to serious medical-conditions such as liver toxicity, kidney injury, and increased risk of type 2 diabetes due to their high sugar content and acidity.
