CONTENTS

• What are energy drinks?
• Do energy drinks work?
• How do energy drinks affect children's health?
• Effects of energy drink consumption in adults
• Energy drinks with alcohol
• Energy drinks and weight loss

Energy drinks (commonly called energy drinks or energy drinks) have become a staple in many people's diets. This is especially true for young people who have developed a taste for this type of beverage. They are part of the lifestyle of many young people. Unfortunately, this has a very negative impact on their health and causes dangerous side effects.

What are energy drinks?

The primary purpose of energy drinks is to stimulate the body's psychophysical performance. The first energy drink was created in Austria in 1987. Since then, energy drinks have enjoyed increasing popularity in many countries and arrived in Poland in 1995. There is no uniform classification among European countries. Their sale was not permitted in France until 2008, and in Denmark in 2009. In Norway, they are only permitted in pharmacies. In some countries, they are considered dietary supplements, in others, specialty foods, and in others, legal highs.

Do energy drinks work?

Manufacturers deceive consumers with promises of positive effects, such as increased physical performance, improved concentration, reduced fatigue, and even lowered stress levels. Initially, we most often reach for them when we feel a loss of energy, are feeling worse, and need a boost. Unfortunately, the effects of energy drinks diminish over time as we consume them more frequently. We therefore consume more and more. This can eventually lead to addiction.

Research on the effects of energy drinks is inconclusive. The claims that energy drink manufacturers base their message on confirm their beneficial effects on the body's psychophysical functions. However, it should be noted that this effect is temporary and quickly disappears. Other studies show no link between energy drink consumption and improvements in these functions. They demonstrate that these drinks have a negative impact on our health. Furthermore, both studies are based on small research groups, which casts doubt on their results.

How do energy drinks affect children's health?

Most energy drinks have a very similar composition. What do they contain? Mainly simple sugars , caffeine, taurine, inositol, B vitamins, and some additional glucuronolactone and plant extracts. Most drinks on the Polish market contain 80 mg of caffeine —a psychoactive substance—in one serving.

The effects of energy drinks on the bodies of children and adolescents are particularly dangerous. Due to their lower body weight, the ingredients in energy drinks reach higher concentrations in them. Young people often do not control the amount of drinks they consume. Without parental supervision, there is a high risk of significantly exceeding the limits for the substances contained in them.

Increased caffeine consumption in children can lead to mood swings, irritability, and anxiety, and consumption of large amounts (5 mg/1 kg body weight/24 h) leads to an increase in blood pressure. In addition, caffeine impairs the body's calcium reserves, which is especially important during the peak bone mass development phase. Caffeine also impairs the length and quality of sleep, which is very important for the neurological functions of young organisms.

Effects of energy drink consumption in adults

Another group of people particularly exposed to the negative effects of energy drink consumption are pregnant women, breastfeeding women, and people who are hypersensitive to caffeine. While these groups may be particularly affected by energy drink consumption, they have negative effects on all of us. The long-term effects of energy drink consumption are not fully understood. However, there are legitimate concerns, particularly due to the three ingredients: caffeine, taurine , and glucuronolactone.

Caffeine intake for healthy adults should not exceed 400 mg per day. It's important to remember that this applies to all sources of caffeine in the diet; we can also find it in chocolate, tea, cocoa, chewing gum, and cola drinks, for example. There's no consensus on the safe amount of taurine and glucuronolactone. Studies show that it's especially dangerous to consume energy drinks on an empty stomach. This results in faster absorption of psychoactive ingredients and their reaching the central nervous system.

Either way, numerous studies show negative symptoms after consuming energy drinks. These include: irregular heartbeat, headaches, severe depression, irritability, severe stress, difficulty concentrating, and disturbances in rest. Consuming large amounts of energy drinks can also lead to digestive problems, vomiting, or diarrhea.

In some studies, consumption of 250 ml of the beverage increased platelet aggregation and impaired vascular endothelial function in healthy subjects. Energy drinks therefore increase the risk of heart attack or sudden death. Consumption of 500 ml, in turn, increased cardiac output and raised blood pressure. These studies show that people with cardiovascular problems are at risk and should not consume energy drinks.

People with neurological problems who are taking medication should also be cautious. The interactions of energy drinks with many psychoactive substances are not fully understood and can have very serious consequences. Excessive consumption of energy drinks can also lead to aggression and psychosis. Epilepsy patients are also at risk, as large amounts of caffeine lower the threshold for a seizure.

Energy drinks with alcohol

The habit of mixing energy drinks with alcohol is becoming increasingly common. The main effect of such behavior is a feeling of apparent sobriety. This is due to the energizing effect of caffeine. A reduced perception of typical symptoms after alcohol consumption can, in turn, increase risky behavior. Numerous studies also suggest that people who mix energy drinks with alcohol consume more alcoholic beverages and are more likely to develop addiction.

Energy drinks and weight loss

An important aspect of energy drink consumption is their effect on body weight. They contain a high amount of calories, between 40 and 50 per 100 ml. This means that one glass can provide us with up to 100-120 kcal. This is especially important for people on a weight-loss diet. When estimating our calorie intake, we often forget about drinks, even though they can provide us with half of our daily calories. When drinking energy drinks, remember that they are empty calories that do not provide us with any beneficial nutrients and, on the contrary, can have dangerous side effects. They affect our health in ways that go far beyond the momentary energizing effects after consumption.