Energy drinks: good or bad?
Energy or energizing drinks are a type of product highly demanded and ingested throughout the world. There is no doubt that its popularity has progressively increased to significant levels.
In hindsight, the basis of its fame is built on the "advantages" that its consumption brings. Such benefits are painted as miraculous, especially for those who have extreme routines. But are they perfect?
The more specific details about energy drinks
To begin with, they are cataloged as a fundamental part of the backbone of the beverage market. Only the latest survey carried out by verified organizations concludes that 20% of the profits come from energizers.
As such, energy drinks are approved and free to market, being sold with a primary goal.
It corresponds to combat the symptoms of tiredness and fatigue, ensuring greater productivity during the daily routine.
The components that make up the mix provide the approval to overcome stressful situations. They increase the degree of cognitive activity, causing the individual to be alert to one hundred percent of their abilities.
The true impact of energizers on society
In the course of 2011, the EFSA (European Food Safety Authority) revealed alarming details that remain in force. Through a clinical study carried out in the countries of the European Union, he identified the population prone to the consumption of energizers.
The data thrown revealed that more than 65% of consumers were people of adolescent age.
In second place, young adults drank such drinks in 30% of cases. Finally, with 18% evidence, the children were also in contact with energizers.
Another study repeated in Latin America agreed on almost identical results.
Approximately 64% of individuals between the ages of 15 and 25 were actively purchasing these products. Of that percentage, it was repealed that more than 80% combined them with alcoholic or psychotropic substances.
The specified motives ranged from getting more stimulation to a taste for taste. Others simply clarified social circumstances or an effective alternative to avoid the adverse effects of alcohol.
Hand in hand with its free commercialization, the phenomenon surrounding its consumption quickly expanded. Since 2008, the energizers' industry has maintained an average profit of $29 billion.
Have you ever wondered what its composition is?
A common everyday mistake is to think that energy drinks are only made up of caffeine. The truth is that since the early 1900s, they have been varying in composition.
In other words, caffeine in high concentrations is not the only element to highlight. In contrast, more than 300 types of energy drinks are handled, each with a distinctive stamp and preparation.
Even so, the most common ingredients can be summarized in compounds like taurine and L-carnitine, particular amino acids. Some prospects substitute guarana for caffeine, but the difference is not essentially marked.
Each gram of guarana is equivalent to 37 mg of caffeine, so it does not change its structure too much. Additionally, carbohydrates such as glucunorolactone and glucose occupy a face-to-face position.
It should be noted that glucose is added in extremely high concentrations within energizers. Indeed, some drinks in their descriptions do not even mention the specific amount that is used.
Other presentations incorporate substances such as ginseng and various aromatic herbal extracts that vary depending on the manufacturer. Normally, the sum of vitamins, especially the B complex, are also present in the mixture.
Within the same vein, special care must be taken with those products that do not identify their ingredients.
Sometimes some of them only express "energizing mix" as a summary of their composition, so their additives are indeterminate.
Energy Drinks: Disadvantages Described by Scientific Evidence
The main problem that revolves around energy drinks is their high concentration of caffeine and sugar. An average product has between 100 and 600 mg of caffeine plus 60 to 100 grams of glucose.
Therefore, its indiscriminate and unlimited consumption unleashes counterproductive manifestations for health. And, much of it, derives from caffeine poisoning.
Paradoxically, society seems to ignore that it is a very tangible problem.
Contrary to scientific evidence, caffeine intake is mistakenly thought to be "normal" and "very beneficial." However, it is a blinded argument from the true scenario:
Caffeine intoxication generates marked cardiovascular alterations such as tachycardia, arterial hypertension, and arrhythmias. Similarly, the respiratory sphere can be affected with imbalances in ventilation.
It is closely related to cognitive and central nervous system deficits. Consequently, it results in headaches, irritability, anxiety, insomnia, seizures, and muscle spasms.
Equally, Gastrointestinal decompensations with diverse symptoms stand out. Some of them, such as dizziness, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea or gastroesophageal reflux, symbolize the cases with the greatest recurrence.
Caffeine poisoning complicates underlying clinical conditions such as psychiatric illness or other heart conditions. If not treated effectively, they can lead to severe liver damage, cardiac ischemia, rhabdomyolysis, kidney failure, or death.
So are energy drinks bad?
Logic gives the naked eye that energy drinks are bad, but not everything is a grayish picture. On the contrary, it has been shown that its consumption under certain limits does not condition health in the least.
But, it is important to clarify that energy drinks do not have any therapeutic or pharmacological benefits. In no age group was it concluded that the consumption of these products improves an underlying health condition.
Another point of view worth debunking is the efficacy against the effects of alcohol. Various trials and clinical studies specified that there are no significant differences.
That is, the truth is that a subjective perception is generated that the suppressive consequences of alcohol are contained. Which, in the long run, produces a feeling of "false alert".
Regarding psychotropic substances in addition to energizers, the risk of intoxication does increase. Components of amphetamines, cocaines and their derivatives, can cross-react to cause severe organic damage.
In conclusion, it is clear that energy drinks are a common practice in every sense.
Despite the taboo surrounding its name, the health of the individual is not affected if the necessary precautions are taken. Thanks to this and the necessary information, you will be out of danger.