For my Introduction to Community Health class we got to do a midterm project where we summarized 10 articles relating to community health. One article I chose was about Energy Drinks. It was pretty interesting. Here's my summary:
Three researchers from the University
of Texas Health Science Center at Houston and the University of Queensland in
Australia did a study to discover more about the ingredients in energy drinks.
They came to the conclusion that these drinks, available for purchase by anyone
– even by kids - can be dangerous and even deadly. A 16-ounce energy drink can contain 13
teaspoons of sugar, the amount of caffeine in four cola drinks, as well as
taurine, glucuronolactone, B vitamins, ginseng, guarana (which contains high
levels of caffeine), ginkgo biloba, and milk thistle. Among the health issues reported
from these energy drinks are caffeine-associated deaths, seizures, cardiac
arrest, sudden death, and cases of mania in people with bipolar disorder. Other
dangerous issues are the effects on blood pressure, heart rate, and brain
function. The researchers are also concerned about the long-term effects of
these drinks on liver disease, cardiovascular disease, insulin resistance, and
diabetes. And when these drinks are mixed with alcohol, the danger accelerates,
as the caffeine in these drinks can cause the drinker to not recognize how
inebriated he/she is. Concerning athletes and energy drinks, researchers are
concerned that athletes, especially kids, will drink these energy drinks
instead of sports drinks, which contain mostly water with some sugar and
electrolytes - a much better hydrating formula than energy drinks. As of the
publication of this article, the FDA had little jurisdiction over energy drinks
because they are classified as “dietary supplements,” and so they are not faced
with the restrictions placed upon juices and soft drinks. This classification
also allows manufacturers to make claims that can be misleading and potentially
dangerous to consumers who do not understand or know what they are taking into
their bodies.
These drinks are just plain scary and can become very addictive. It's never a good thing to rely on manufacturers' claims that their products are safe, and we need to be fully aware of what we're taking into our bodies. And it's always best to get our energy from a healthy diet.
Source: Brody, Jane E. “Scientists
See Dangers in Energy Drinks.” The NY Times. 31 Jan. 2011. http://www.nytimes.com/2011/02/01/health/01brody.html
*Image courtesy of Microsoft Clipart Gallery
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