Energy drinks: The Good, the Bad and the Ugly

Eisha Sarkar
Posted on Hello Wellness on Oct 28 2010 11:33AM


As Glucon-C gives way to Red Bull, a whole new crop of teenagers and athletes are willing to shell out the money for a can of 'something extra' to jolt them out of inertia. But is that energy drink really good for you?


Energy drinks are soft drinks advertised as boosting energy through stimulants, vitamins, and herbal supplements the manufacturer has combined. The drinks include methylxanthines (including caffeine), vitamin B and herbs.


Some of the ingredients you may find in popular energy drinks are:
 

• Ephedrine: A stimulant, it works on the central nervous system. But there have been concerns about its effects on the heart
• Taurine: A natural amino acid produced by the body that helps regulate heartbeat and muscle contractions
• Ginseng: A root believed by some to have several medicinal properties, including reducing stress and boosting energy levels
• B-vitamins: Can help convert sugar to energy and improve muscle tone
• Guarana seed: A stimulant that comes from a small shrub native to Venezuela and Brazil
• Carnitine: An amino acid that plays a role in fatty acid metabolism
• Creatine: An organic acid that helps supply energy for muscle contractions.
• Inositol: Helps relay messages within cells in the body
• Ginkgo biloba: Is believed to enhance memory 

Performance-booster
High energy drinks are rich in carbohydrates and are used by endurance athletes to replace glycogen, a form of glucose that is stored in the body to release energy. Glucose and maltodextrin triggered reward or pleasure circuits in the brain that are thought to reduce the athletes' perceptions of how much effort they are putting into the exercise, allowing them to work harder for longer.


Compare with a cuppa…

A typical energy drink can contain up to 80 mg of caffeine, about the same amount as a cup of coffee.  Caffeine is a stimulant and consuming a lot of it can lead to heart palpitations, irritability, anxiety and insomnia. Over time, it can become addictive. It is also a diuretic so drinking an energy drink while you're exercising can severely dehydrate you.  Pregnant women and young children should avoid them.

 
Don't mix them with alcohol

Often used as mixers with alcohol because they lessen effects of intoxication such as dizziness and headache, energy drinks can mask the influence of alcohol and a person may misinterpret their actual level of intoxication. People who drink mixers are more likely than non-mixers to drink more alcohol, and suffer alcohol-related consequences such as assault, injury or being an intoxicated driver.