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Are there any dangers to drinking energy drinks?
Home » Exercise Equipment » Energy Drinks » Are there any dangers to drinking energy drinks?Posted by Your Guide on March 4, 2006 8:16 PM
These drinks are very powerful and thus should be treated with caution. Many people’s response to caffeine is different, and so generalizations about the effects of energy drinks are hard to make. However, there are some results of the high levels of sugar and stimulants in the drinks that are universal.
• They boost the heart rate and blood pressure. This can be a good thing when you’re looking for that extra kick when you’re tired; however, it can go too far, even leading to palpitations of the heart.
• They can dehydrate the body. Caffeine has a diuretic quality, which leaves your body needing more fluids rather than less. For an athlete or someone exercising, this can be detrimental. Combined with the loss of fluids in sweat, the caffeine in the energy drink can leave the user very dehydrated.
• They can prevent sleep. Like other stimulants, energy drinks should be used wisely, never within several hours of sleep. Although they may seem like an answer to prayer for the college student with the term paper to write, energy drinks will not only keep you awake now, they may also prevent sleep later when you’re ready for it. And contrary to how awake you may feel, your body does need sleep.
Energy drinks are not necessarily bad for you, but it is important that you be aware of what it is that you’re drinking and do so wisely. Just as you wouldn’t drink a typical soda to replenish your body fluids or quench your thirst during work-out sessions or athletic training, energy drinks should not be seen as natural performance improvers either. They are highly caffeinated, very concentrated in sugar, and will slow the body’s capability of absorbing water. Sports drinks filled with electrolytes will be much better alternatives for an active lifestyle.
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