If you've ever reached for an energy drink because you felt too tired at work or before starting a sporting activity, you should read this article. It's now a given that energy drinks have reached a huge global consumer base, but perhaps not everyone is aware of their various health risks. To understand this better, today we're relying on an article published in the French newspaper 60 Millions de Consommateurs and several medical opinions.
The Mix of Stimulants is Quite Worrying
The French newspaper claims that the success of energy drinks in recent years is due to a revamped, cleaner, more natural, and healthier image of the product, which is often recommended by many athletes. In reality, if you carefully read the labels and ingredients, you can find powerful stimulants such as caffeine in these drinks. As with coffee, but more generally with anything else, drinking these drinks occasionally clearly doesn't pose any serious risks, obviously taking into account your individual medical situation.
Excessive consumption of energy drinks can pose serious health risks. This is because their caffeine levels are very high and they are often combined with other "energizing" ingredients such as taurine, vitamin B, ginseng, guarana, or maté. It is precisely this mix of stimulants that concerns health authorities. The claim that natural formulations with exotic plant ingredients provide a sense of well-being is not supported by science. Specifically, the EFSA (European Food Safety Authority) has made it clear that it cannot authorize these products without specific data.
Since 2008, numerous studies have examined the effects of energy drinks. Since the French Food Safety Authority has ruled that the taurine in these drinks is not dangerous, caffeine is under special scrutiny. According to Gilles Mithieux, a biologist at the French National Center for Scientific Research, caffeine can cause tachycardia, palpitations, insomnia, anxiety, and heart attacks in sensitive individuals. Many people metabolize caffeine more slowly, prolonging its effects and amplifying its risks, making this problematic.
The Effects on Younger People
According to Elena Bozzola, Vita Cupertino, and Antonio Corsello of the Italian Society of Pediatrics, energy drink consumption is linked to negative effects on the physical and mental health of children and adolescents. These drinks are also associated with sleep disturbances, both in terms of quantity and quality, and with risks of depression, psychological distress, or attention deficit. According to researchers, consuming more than seven energy drinks a week increases the risk of asthma, allergic rhinitis, and dermatitis.
Professor Flavia Valtorta, dean of the Faculty of Medicine and Surgery at the Vita-Salute San Raffaele University in Milan, explained the health problems these drinks pose and the most effective solutions for regulating their registration and distribution. Being energizing, they activate the cardiovascular system, which makes the heart pump faster and, during physical activity, allows for improved performance.
To date, there is no real scientific definition of energy drinks or anything that classifies them into a specific product category. In the U.S., they are registered as general consumption beverages and sometimes even as natural supplements. Besides the heart, another risk is related to the effects on the central nervous system, causing insomnia, nervousness, tremors, and, in worse cases, even convulsions. The professor explains that drinking one can can produce the same amount of excitement as five or six cups of coffee.
Marketing for these products continues to push the boundaries by lumping energy drinks together with sports drinks. The reality, however, is different: energy drinks merely activate the nervous system by circulating throughout the body, a completely different result from a true beverage intended for athletes. Essentially, they are not suitable for those with heart problems and should not replace a proper diet or adequate rest. It's important to avoid overuse and believe that true energy comes from a healthy lifestyle, not from a drink consumed as needed.
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