In this fast-changing world, people are stressed out all the time as they try to process the things that are going on around them. Sometimes, healthy foods, rest, relaxation are not enough to defeat the stress that lurks in every person. To enable to cope with the demands of the time and the demands of the environment, people are encouraged to take in supplements. There are supplements that are beneficial because it helps balance the recommended dietary allowance of a person. There are also those which are not, especially when it is abused. This is the case of energy drinks widely available in the market. Energy drinks, as the name suggest, are consumed for the purpose of boosting one’s energy. While it is alright to take them occasionally, especially when a situation demands it, other people are becoming addicted to the product. Some have abused the product, which poses greater risks to the health of an individual. These days, the grocery shelves and the store fridge are selling wide variety of drinks mostly for the purpose of boosting one’s energy. As a consequence, several health hazards are discovered. Drinking too much of the energy drinks can result to the following problems:

1. Increased Heart Rate

   The idea that energy drinks are meant to increase the energy of the drinker indicates that the drink is a stimulant. Being a stimulant, it has the capacity to increase the heartbeat of the person to keep the person awake and active. When there is an increase in the pumping action of the heart, more blood goes to various parts of the body, especially the brain. When there is increased blood into certain parts of the brain, the person is kept awake, and other parts of the body are stimulated also. This is the goal of energy drinks. However, when it is taken too much, the heart will increase its pumping action beyond normal.

   In a study conducted by Wayne State University a few years ago, they found out that taking more than one can of energy drink will not only lead to increasing heart rate, but it also leads to increasing blood pressure. It may not be dangerous for normal individuals, but for those suffering from heart diseases, taking in energy drinks will be detrimental to cardiac health. Energy drinks are rich in caffeine, taurine and certain amino acids that will put those with heart problems at risk.

2. Increased Blood Pressure Levels

   As a stimulant, energy drinks do not just increase the heart rate, but it also increases other bodily attributes, such as the respiratory rate and the blood pressure. The study made by Detroit’s Henry Ford Hospital through the leadership of Dr. James Kalus showed several results. For the participants of the research, there is a significant increase in systolic pressure to 7.9 percent during the first day four hours after ingesting the energy drink, and 9.6 percent a week after. As to their diastolic pressure, after two hours of consumption of the energy drink, there is a shoot up of 7 percent of diastolic pressure on the first day, and 7.8 percent a week after. While it is fine for those with normal blood pressure, energy drinks are unhealthy for those with undiagnosed or diagnosed hypertension.

3. Dehydration

   It does not mean that just because it is a liquid drink, dehydration never happens. Dehydration is possible depending on the type of drink the person takes. In the case of energy drinks, it has shown to cause dehydration especially for those who are involved in heavy activities. Energy drinks are designed to boost energy and not to replace the lost fluids in the body. The caffeine in energy drinks can result to dehydration because of the action of the autonomic nervous system. Energy drinks increase heart rate in order to bring blood to various parts of the body. Blood also goes to the kidney fast. When this happens, more blood is filtered, which consequently results to increase production of urine, resulting to dehydration if not enough fluids, such as water, are taken in.

4. Insomnia

   Two substances are in the energy drinks: sugar and caffeine. Both of these substances increase energy, and keep the person alert and awake. However, too much of energy drinks can lead to insomnia. Some people who are abusing this product are already drinking it like water. They take one in the morning, and one in the afternoon. If there are evening activities, some people drink a can before they go. As a result, insomnia occurs.

5. Weight Gain

   The sugar contained in energy drinks can result to weight gain. But there is more, the sleeplessness that resulted from ingesting too much energy drinks can also result to weight gain. Some energy drinks has high calorie and high carbohydrate content. With increased drinking, there is no doubt that increase in weight will occur. In some studies, people who sleep less, in the case of people who drink increasing energy drinks, has resulted to weight gain. This is due to two proteins in the body, leptin and ghrelin. When sleep is limited, leptin decreases, while ghrelin increases, which resulted to increasing appetite, and in the end resulted to weight gain.

6. Diabetes

   Again, because of the high sugar content of the energy drinks, there is greater tendency to develop diabetes. But that is not all; caffeine can also increase blood sugar as well as the tolerance of the cells towards insulin. As this happens, the body will have a difficult time breaking down blood sugar to be used by the cells, which will then result to increasing blood sugar in the bloodstream. Some people can easily tolerate this occurrence, but diabetic patient cannot, and is therefore advised not to take energy drinks. For those who can tolerate, they should still be careful of energy drinks since the more insulin tolerance, the greater the tendency of developing the disease.

7. Dental Problems

   In a study published by the Academy of General Dentistry journal, energy drinks have been causing tooth erosions among those who are trying to boost their energies. The high acid content of the energy drinks causes the erosion of the enamel. Dentists, therefore, are advising to limit consumption of energy drinks, or if there is a need, to drink it properly by using straw that will not touch the teeth.

Sources
mezediet.com
edrinks.net