Energy Drinks ...Pros and Cons!!

We are living in a fast paced society and sometimes we happen to feel burnt out.

Most often our to-do list for a day is much longer than the fuel we have to keep going.this is why most of us turn to energy beverages for quick energy boost!

What’s in these beverages??

Caffeine:
the most common stimulant also found in coffee and coke. It stimulates the central nervous system giving the body a sense of alertness. It can raise heart rate and blood pressure while dehydrating the body.

Taurine:
Taurine is an amino acid that our body naturally produces. It helps regulate heartbeat, muscle contractions, and energy levels. 

Guarana:
Guarana comes from plants native to South America. Amazonians have used it for a long time to increase alertness and energy. It’s more dense in caffeine than coffee beans It’s not just called “caffeine” because it contains a couple other things: theobromine and theophylline.

B Vitamins:
These are essentially the things that help you convert food to energy, like sugar which is found in abundance in energy drinks. 

Ginseng:
Ginseng, an adaptogenic herb, is known to increase energy, has some anti-fatigue components, supposedly relieves stress, and increase memory.

Ginkgo Biloba:
This ingredient is named after the rare tree it originates from. It is believed to help with memory retention, concentration, circulation, acts as an anti-depressant.

L-Carnitine:
An amino acid usually created by your liver and kidneys, this stuff helps up your metabolism and energy levels. It may act as a thermogenic and help increase weight loss and endurance during exercise.

Sugars:
Glucose is the body’s preferred fuel. That’s why you get hyper with a lot of sugar. Energy drinks contain a ton of sugar. Therefore, energy. It’s a carbohydrate and a lot of exercise regiments suggest a good dose of carbs for workouts lasting more than an hour.

Antioxidants:
Anti-oxidants are things that help your body gracefully recover from the damage of free radicals. 

Creatine:
Creatine is naturally obtained by eating meat. Creatine helps with supplying energy to the muscles and is usually found in energy drinks and products that are marketed to body builders.

Pros of Energy Drinks:

Central nervous system stimulant:

caffeine can stimulate the central nervous system, relieving fatigue, improving concentration and increasing alertness. Caffeine also can boost energy levels and enhance mood. Too much caffeine, however, can be harmful.

Memory Improvement:

Energy drinks containing ginkgo extracts can help improve your memory and stimulate your thinking process.

Antioxidants:
Some energy drinks contain healthy herbs and fruits, including acai berries
Acai berries have antioxidant properties that can effectively protect your body's cells from the damaging effects of free radicals and oxidation.

Energy:Obtaining energy remains the main purpose of taking energy drinks. Energy drinks contain ample amounts of sugar, and the breakdown of sugar provides your body with the fuel needed to function properly.

Convenience:
Energy drinks are highly accessible for increasing energy levels, versus waiting for a cup of coffee to brew. It is also a lot faster than finding the time and a place to take a power nap for rejuvenation.

Cons of Energy Drinks:

Weight gain:
 Since pre-packaged energy drinks are often filled with high levels of sugar, they can be calorie bombs. Excessive sugar intake, when left unchecked, can lead to obesity, which opens the gateway for many other chronic medical problems. Be sure to treat energy drinks as rare, last-resort, energy boosting options rather than part of your regular daily diet.

Cardiovascular problems:
 Those who overdose on energy drinks are at a higher risk for developing cardiovascular problems, such as irregular, rapid heartbeat, and increased blood pressure. The worst case scenario would be heart failure.

Psychological hindrances: While that occasional energy drink can help enhance alertness, too much may actually decrease your ability to function. Nervousness, irritability and anxiety can increase overtime, as well as the uncomfortable and distracting “jitters” common in that of an over-caffeinated person. Insomnia or disruptive sleep cycles can also develop, which can lead to a lower quality of life over all.

Potential metabolic issues:
When you drink an energy drink, you are encumbering your body to metabolize and process the overwhelming amount of vitamins, additives and sugars. Your body goes into overdrive and produces stress hormones to help cope with the task at hand. Over time, this inward and outward stress on your body can be more detrimental than helpful as metabolic issues may arise and lead to medical complications.

Dependence:
 Energy drinks can be highly addictive if used excessively on a daily basis. Withdrawal symptoms may be present if someone tries to stop, including headaches and mood swings.

REMEMBER

“HEALTH IS BY CHOICE NOT BY CHANCE”!

the choice is yours…..

 

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