Energy drinks are a fairly recent invention of mankind, although their ingredients have long been used to stimulate the nervous system. Energy drink - how it works and why energy drinks are harmful

Unlike alcoholic beverages, energy drinks are advertised on TV quite freely. But many people say that drinking them is not worth it. Although there are many supporters of such drinks. But why are energy drinks harmful to the body? After all, many people drink them, and nothing bad happens. There are 2 sides to this situation. Both the harm and the benefits of such drinks are palpable.

Why are energy drinks harmful?

The harm of such products lies in the fact that they affect the human nervous system. This effect causes a short-term increased performance. After that, there is a big decline in brain activity. Such a "shake" can threaten:

1. insomnia;
2. Rapid heartbeat;
3. Pain in the muscles;
4. Irritability;
5. Depression and so on.

And if you drink several cans of energy drinks at once (without food), you can even die from a heavy load on your heart. Contrary to myths, there are no toxic substances in such drinks. But they contain stimulants that are in any food. Only here such norm is exceeded in tens of times.

What makes energy drinks harmful?

All energy drinks are rich in the following substances:

• Caffeine;
• Theobromine (mental stimulant);
• L-carnitine;
• preservatives;
• Dyes;
• acidity regulators.

Some of these substances are not harmful. But they are combined with other substances. Their norm is markedly exceeded. This allows the drink to act instantly. As a result, you get a negative effect on the nervous system. And dyes and regulators do the same thing to the stomach as Coca-Cola or other lemonade.

When are energy drinks useful?

The benefits of such drinks are manifested in emergency situations. For example, you need to drive all night or study for an exam. In such a situation, you can drink a little energy. And you will be able to complete the task.

But you should not resort to such drinks every day. They are addictive and addictive. It will seem to you that you want to sleep, and you need to cheer up. This will force you to open all new banks.

Remember that drinks are especially bad for children, pregnant women and the elderly. They are contraindicated for these categories of citizens. A healthy person may well drink 1 jar from time to time.

To drink or not to drink?

Many "health fans" scream that energy drinks are evil. But it's not. They don't bring any real benefit. But there is no harm from them. Harm can occur only with their constant use or when used in large doses.

Don't buy obscure products or items from dubious outlets. Such a product is often counterfeited. And unlicensed jars are really harmful.

Remember that this product increases the heart rate. Do not use it in an excited state, after training or hard work. Also, do not drink these drinks if you have problems with the heart and blood vessels.

Do not guess why energy drinks are harmful, but control life on your own. Do a normal sleep pattern, increase your efficiency, be confident in yourself. And you do not need to drink something every day to get joy in life.

The problem of the harm of energy drinks is becoming more and more discussed in the scientific community and in the press, due to their incredible popularity, the rapid multiplication of the product range on store shelves and the real facts of the serious consequences of consumption, especially by the younger generation.

Someone will object: Hey! they are no more dangerous and harmful than a regular cup of coffee!"

Most "fire" drinks do contain NO more caffeine than a cup of coffee from Starbucks.

However, the question is not only in caffeine, but also in other ingredients, or rather their combination.

Below we present scientific facts about the dangers of energy drinks, as well as expert opinions on this matter.

Expert reviews about the dangers of energy drinks

The following expert opinions are taken from the CNN website from a material devoted to a study by journalists of the problem of the harm of energy workers:

"Over the years of research, we have become closer to understanding the dangers of energy drinks for health.”, says Dr. John Higgins, a sports cardiologist at McGregor Medical School.

To which the American Beverage Association objects: "... we are confident in their absolute harmlessness, since the ingredients in their composition found in other products and are natural, and their safety has been thoroughly investigated. ”

Energy drink manufacturers: " ingredients in their composition found in other products and their safety has been thoroughly investigated"

The benefit, harm and uselessness of a particular product is determined by what is inside it.

Most energy drinks contain a considerable dose and Sahara; Also B vitamins; legal stimulants such as guarana(a plant from the forests of the Amazon); taurine- an amino acid that is naturally found in fish and meat; a popular fat burner - a substance whose function in the body is to convert fats into energy (scientific studies, by the way, the effectiveness of L-carnitine for weight loss).

“The reason for concern is that all these vitamins, amino acids and herbal ingredients are contained in them. in large quantities than in its natural form in food or plants, and also in the fact that their combination with caffeine significantly enhances the stimulating effect”, says Katherine Zeratsky, nutritionist at the Mayo Clinic.

Dr. Higgins, who has been studying the harm of energy drinks for the body for a long time, agrees with her:

“As for caffeine, sugar and stimulants, more thorough research is needed what negative consequences their joint action can lead to.It's kind of like a black hole... we know very little about how the combination works.”.

Dr. Higgins: " The ingredients in energy drinks and how they work when combined is like a black hole.. we know very little about how their combination works."

“People should be aware of this. For some categories of energy can be very dangerous; speech first of all about teenagers under 18, pregnant women, those who are sensitive to caffeine, or who do not consume caffeine regularly, or who are taking certain medications.”

Representatives of the American Beverage Association object:

“People all over the world have been using energy drinks for 25 years and no one has been harmed yet… all of their ingredients are found in many other natural products.”

When it comes to the dangers of energy drinks, of great importance is the quantity and it is precisely their uncontrolled use in too large a volume that leads to dangerous consequences. Remember this thought.

Too much, how much?

The main reason for the dangerous side effects of energy tonics is their use in too large volumes.

If you do not fully understand what energy drinks or energy drinks are in sports nutrition, then first study our material

13 facts about the harm of energy drinks based on scientific evidence

The side effects of energy drinks have much in common in nature with, but they also have their own specifics.

1 Harm of energy drinks for the heart

You have probably noticed that after taking energy drinks, the heart begins to beat faster.

The effect of energy drinks is manifested in violation of the heart rate, and distortion of the cardiogram(duration of intervals of contraction and relaxation of individual areas of the heart), both in adolescents and adults 3.4.

How dangerous is it?

One scientific report cites the fact that from 2009 to 2011, there were about 5,000 cases of emergency medical visits due to serious harm to the heart after taking energy drinks 2 . 51% of victims are teenagers under 18 years old (US statistics).

Almost all energy drinks contain caffeine, a powerful stimulant of the nervous system.

Caffeine has a lethal dose. It is individual for each person.

It can come even after two cans of energy drinks. This applies to those who have heart problems.

"Heart palpitations can pose a real and serious risk, as energy drinks not only increase stress levels, heart rate, and blood pressure, but also make blood more viscous.”- says the same Dr. Higgins.

“Blood viscosity increases, probably due to the specific combined action of caffeine and taurine: the amino acid taurine is known for its ability to remove fluids from the body and, along with it, some minerals.”

“Guarana, which is often found in energy drinks, is a natural source of caffeine: its addition further increases its concentration.”

More than 5,000 hospitalizations in the ambulance due to serious harm to the heart of energy workers have been registered in the United States in 2 years

Real Examples

“Several cases are known when, after using more than one can of energy drinks, cardiac arrest occurred 14,15: in the first of them, a young man was saved, in the second, death occurred. When scientists analyzed the autopsy results and blood tests, they found no other cause other than very high levels of caffeine and taurine in the blood.”

“In another case, a 28-year-old young man was hospitalized with cardiac arrest after drinking 8 cans of energy drinks. According to the doctors, the arteries of his heart were completely closed. After rehab, all tests showed that the only thing that was wrong with him was a very high level of caffeine and taurine in the blood 16 .”

“One of the side effects of caffeine working together with other ingredients in energy drinks may be that arteries don't function as they relax and dilate, especially during exercise.. When you exercise, your arteries relax and widen to allow more blood to pass through..”

At autopsy after the death of a young man, doctors found no other reason than a very high level of insulin and taurine in the blood. The same result in the rehabilitation of a young man after a complete cardiac arrest

2 Headaches and migraines

The use of large doses of energy drinks can lead to severe headaches.

Moreover, it seems that the frequency of occurrence of headaches affects not the size of the dosage, but its sharp change(drank, drank, got used to, then abruptly stopped).

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This phenomenon is called "caffeine withdrawal syndrome" and in its essence is very similar to a hangover after alcohol.

3 State of unreasonable anxiety, fear and stress

Anxiety is a characteristic psychological side effect of caffeine.

Energy drinks can also cause stress. One reason is hormonal: scientists have found that their use increases levels of the stress hormone norepinephrine by 74% 9 .

4 Insomnia

One of the reasons why energy drinks are taken is the fight against sleep. This is what they do well. The problem, however, is that even after stopping the use, the effect can continue.

Lack of healthy full sleep disrupts performance, especially mental activity.

It is especially important to keep this in mind for drivers, for example, since a sleepless night on power plants today can lead to an accident tomorrow or the day after tomorrow.

5 Type 2 diabetes

According to scientific studies, those who drink 1-2 sugary drinks a day have 26% higher risk of developing type 2 diabetes 5 .

The reason for this is a kind of "wear and tear" of the pancreatic gland, which is responsible for the release of insulin, the function of which is to control blood sugar levels.

Chronic "sweetening" of the body over time can lead to development of insulin resistance better known as type 2 diabetes.

Regular intake of sugary energy drinks increases ~30% risk of developing diabetes

6 Drug interactions

Energy drink ingredients can interact with medications, most commonly antidepressants.

7 Addictive

Those who regularly consume caffeine can become addicted to it. This also applies to power engineers.

Habituation is manifested in the lack of intrinsic motivation to do something without taking a dose.

An indirect side effect of this condition is the creation of a serious financial hole in the wallet due to the need to buy several cans of energy drinks every day.

8 Formation of bad habits and socially dangerous behavior

According to scientific studies, regular intake of energy drinks provokes:

• addiction to cigarettes, drugs and alcohol,
• makes behavior more aggressive, increases the tendency to sort things out with fists rather than tongues,
• encourages other forms of risky behavior in the form of unprotected sex, extreme sports and other forms of risk 6 .

How it can end - everyone knows.

9 Hand shaking and nervousness

The consequences of the use of energy drinks can be uncontrolled hand shaking and emotional instability 7 .

As a result, it is difficult to perform certain types of work that require fine motor skills, and emotional temper harms the person himself and the society surrounding him.

10 Vomit

If you drink too many energy drinks at once, it can cause a vomiting reaction.

The harm of this action is not limited to an unpleasant characteristic aftertaste; Vomiting dehydrates the body, and acids from the stomach destroy tooth enamel. This is especially dangerous if it happens regularly.

11 Allergy

Numerous overt and covert ingredients in energy drinks can cause an allergic reaction, ranging from simple itching to airway obstruction.

12 High blood pressure

For healthy people, this change is not a big problem. And for those who regularly "jump" the pressure, too large doses of energy drinks can lead to a significant increase in the risk of heart attack 8 .

If we compare the negative impact of energy drinks on blood pressure and other caffeinated drinks with an equivalent caffeine content (for example, coffee or tea), then the harm of power engineers is much greater 10 .

This fact indicates that in energy drinks the combination of ingredients amplifies the negative effect.

The effect of energy drinks on blood pressure is significantly stronger than that of coffee or tea with an equivalent dose of caffeine.

13 Vitamin B3 Overdose

B vitamins, along with caffeine and sugar, are added to almost all energy drinks.

Vitamin B3 (niacin) is found in them in small doses, which may even be beneficial to health.

However, if other nutritional supplements or multivitamin complexes are taken in addition to energy drinks, then the risk of an overdose of vitamin B3 increases.

Symptoms of an overdose of vitamin B3 11:

• skin redness;
• dizziness;
• fast heart rate;
• vomit;
• gout;
• diarrhea.

An overdose of vitamin B3 can even cause the development non-viral hepatitis. One case was in a man who drank 5-6 cans of energy drink every day for three weeks 13 .

Regular consumption of energy drinks can lead to an overdose of vitamin B3 and even the development of hepatitis.

Summary of the dangers of energy drinks

Too much of any food or substance can be harmful to the body. This is true for energy drinks as well.

Energy drinks contain predominantly natural substances that, when consumed in moderation, should not pose serious harm to health. And they might even be useful. This applies to caffeine, L-carnitine, B vitamins.

At the same time, caffeine and guarana are stimulants of the nervous system and should be treated with due respect.

To avoid the negative effects of energy drinks, it is important to understand which ingredients are harmful and avoid overdosing them. This is primarily about caffeine, sugar, guarana (a source of caffeine), vitamin B3 (niacin).

Consider their intake from other foods and nutritional supplements and do not exceed the recommended amounts.

Scientific references

1 Daniele Menci, Francesca Maria Righini. Acute Effects of an Energy Drink on Myocardial Function Assessed by Conventional Echo-Doppler Analysis and by Speckle Tracking Echocardiography on Young Healthy Subjects. Journal of Amino Acids, Volume 2013 (2013), Article ID 646703
2 Sara M. Seifert, Steven A. Seifert. An analysis of energy-drink toxicity in the National Poison Data System. Clinical Toxicology, Vol.51, 2013, Issue 7
3 Fabian Sanchis-Gomar, Fabian Sanchis-Gomar. Energy Drink Overconsumption in Adolescents: Implications for Arrhythmias and Other Cardiovascular Events. Canadian Journal of Cardiology, Vol.31, issue 5
4 Sachin A.Shah, Anthony E.DargushPharmD. Effects of Single and Multiple Energy Shots on Blood Pressure and Electrocardiographic Parameters. The American Journal of Cardiology, Volume 117, Issue 3 react-text: 68 , /react-text react-text: 69 1 February 2016 /react-text react-text: 70 , Pages 465-468
5 Malik VS1, Popkin BM. Sugar-sweetened beverages and risk of metabolic syndrome and type 2 diabetes: a meta-analysis. Diabetes Care. 2010 Nov;33(11):2477-83
6 http://www.buffalo.edu/news/releases/2008/07/9545.html
7 Philip G Sand. Association Between A2a Receptor Gene Polymorphisms and Caffeine-Induced Anxiety. Neuropsychopharmacology September 2003
8 Asma Usman and Ambreen Jawaid. Hypertension in a young boy: an energy drink effect. BMC Research Notes 2012
9 Anna Svatikova, Naima Covassin. A Randomized Trial of Cardiovascular Responses to Energy Drink Consumption in Healthy Adults. JAMA. 2015;314(19):2079-2082
10 Emily A. Fletcher, Carolyn S. Randomized Controlled Trial of High-Volume Energy Drink Versus Caffeine Consumption on ECG and Hemodynamic Parameters. Randomized Controlled Trial of High-Volume Energy Drink Versus Caffeine Consumption on ECG and Hemodynamic Parameters
11 https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/high-blood-cholesterol/expert-answers/niacin-overdose/faq-20058075
12 Jennifer Nicole Harb, Zachary A Taylor. Rare cause of acute hepatitis: a common energy drink. BMJ Case Reports 2016
13 http://www.bmj.com/company/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/BCR-01112016.pdf
14 Rafay Khan, Mohammed Osman. Energy Drink Induced Ventricular Fibrillation and Cardiac Arrest: A Successful Outcome.Volume 6, Number 9, September 2015, pages 409-412
15 Avci, Sema; Sarikaya, Ridvan. Death of a young man after overuse of energy drink. The American Journal of Emergency Medicine; Philadelphia Vol. 31, Iss. 11, (2013): 1624.e3-4.
16 Adam J Berger and Kevin Alford. Cardiac arrest in a young man following excess consumption of caffeinated “energy drinks”. Med JAust 2009; 190(1):41-43.

Energy drinks are a relatively recent invention of mankind. Although their components have been used as invigorating since the centuries before the invention of aluminum cans. It seems that the invention of energy tonics is a panacea for students during the session, workers on the days of the deadline, fitness record-setters, tired drivers and visitors to nightclubs, and everyone who is very tired, but must continue to be in a cheerful state of mind and body. I drank a jar - and you no longer nod, but you can continue again and again ...

Manufacturers claim that their drinks only benefit and produce more and more new varieties. If everything is so rosy, why did legislators try to pass a law restricting the distribution of a miracle drink? Let's figure it out.

Caffeine. It contains all, without exception, "energy". Acts as a stimulant: 100 mg of caffeine stimulates mental activity, 238 mg increases cardiovascular endurance. To get this effect, you need to drink at least three cans, but the manufacturers of "energy drinks" recommend consuming no more than 1-2 cans per day.

Taurine. One jar contains on average 400 to 1000 mg of taurine. It is an amino acid stored in muscle tissue. It is believed that it improves the functioning of the heart muscle. Recently, however, opinions have appeared among physicians that taurine does not have any effect on the human body at all.

Carnitine. It is a component of human cells that contributes to the rapid oxidation of fatty acids. Carnitine enhances metabolism and reduces muscle fatigue.

Guarana and ginseng. Medicinal plants with tonic properties. Guarana leaves are used in medicine: they remove lactic acid from muscle tissues, reducing pain during physical exertion, prevent atherosclerosis and cleanse the liver. Doctors, however, believe that the stimulating properties attributed to guarana and ginseng are not confirmed by research.

B vitamins. Necessary for the normal functioning of the nervous system and the brain in particular. The body can feel the lack of them, but increasing the dose will not improve your performance, mental abilities or anything else, as the energy drink manufacturers are trying to convince.

Melatonin. Contained in the body and is responsible for the daily rhythm of a person.

Matein. The substance that is part of the South American green tea mate. Ilex Paraguarensis evergreen tree extract helps fight hunger and promotes weight loss.

Facts "For"

If you just need to cheer up or activate the brain, energy drinks are great for these purposes.

You can find a drink according to your needs. Energy drinks are divided into groups for people with different needs: some have more caffeine, others have vitamins and carbohydrates. "Coffee" drinks are suitable for avid workaholics and students who work or study at night, and "vitamin-carbohydrate" drinks are for active people who prefer to spend their free time in the gym.

In energy drinks there is a complex of vitamins and glucose. There is no need to talk about the benefits of vitamins. Glucose is quickly absorbed into the bloodstream, involved in oxidative processes and delivers energy to the muscles, brain and other vital organs.

The effect of taking coffee lasts 1-2 hours, from energy drinks - 3-4. In addition, almost all energy drinks are carbonated, which accelerates their effect - this is the third difference from coffee.

The packaging allows you to use energy drinks in any situation (dance floor, car), which is not always possible with the same coffee or tea.

Facts against:

Drinks can be consumed strictly dosed. Maximum - 2 cans per day. As a result of drinking in excess of the norm, a significant increase in blood pressure or blood sugar levels is possible.

In France, Denmark and Norway, "energy" drinks are banned from grocery stores, they are sold only in pharmacies, as they are considered a medicine. And recently, the Swedish authorities launched an investigation into the deaths of three people, allegedly occurring after drinking energy drinks.

Vitamins contained in energy tonics cannot replace a multivitamin complex.

People with blood pressure or heart problems should avoid these drinks.

The opinion that the tonic saturates with energy is absolutely wrong. The contents of the jar, like a key, opens the door to the body's internal reserves. In other words - the bank does not give energy, it sucks it out of you. A person uses his own resources, or, more simply, borrows them from himself. Debt, of course, sooner or later has to be repaid, paying with fatigue, insomnia, irritability and depression.

An energy drink, like a drink containing sugar and caffeine, is not safe for a young body.

Many energy drinks are high in vitamin B, which can cause heart palpitations and tremors in the arms and legs.

Fitness lovers should remember that caffeine is a good diuretic. So, it is impossible to drink a drink after a workout, during which we lose water.

In case of an overdose, side effects are possible: tachycardia, psychomotor agitation, nervousness, depression.

Tonics contain taurine and glucuronolactone. The content of taurine is several times higher than in all other products, the amount of glucuronolactone contained in two cans can be almost 500 times (!) Exceeding the daily dose of this substance. How these components work in such doses in our body is unknown even to scientists. It is unclear how they interact with caffeine. That is why the experts of the Scientific Committee on Food of the European Union officially declare that the safety of using taurine and glucuronolactone in such doses has not been established and further studies are needed for this.

As you can see, there are more arguments "against" than arguments "for". And yet, it is quite possible that there will come a moment in your life (hopefully a one-time) when you feel the need to drink a jar of energy drinks. In this case, read the rules for the use of tonics, which help not to harm your beloved body.

Rules of use

Do not exceed the daily dose of caffeine - this is about two cans of the average energy drink. Taking more than two cans in a row can harm your health: the body's resources have already been exhausted, and therefore, instead of the desired effect, you will experience side effects.

At the end of the energy, the body needs rest to restore resources.

Do not drink drinks after sports - both of which increase blood pressure.

Drinks should not be consumed by pregnant women, children and adolescents, the elderly, with hypertension, diseases of the cardiovascular system, glaucoma, sleep disturbance, increased excitability and sensitivity to caffeine.

Caffeine is excreted from the blood after 3-5 hours, and even then by half. Therefore, it is impossible to mix tonics and other caffeinated drinks (coffee, tea) during this time - you can greatly exceed the allowable dose.

Many drinks are high in calories. If you use energy drinks at the gym, drink them only before your workout. If your plans include only restoring strength, and you are not going to lose weight, you can use such tonics both before and after classes.

Do not mix tonics with alcohol (as is often done, for example, by visitors to nightclubs). Caffeine increases blood pressure, and when combined with alcohol, its effect is greatly enhanced. As a result, a person can easily experience a hypertensive crisis.

Experts in the field of health and medicine argue that tonics are no more than fortified coffee substitutes, only more hazardous to health. And fruit juices and glucose, found in many foods, can elevate our spirit to the same heights. So it's up to you to decide whether to use tonics or not. But now we have a reason to drink a cup of coffee with your favorite chocolate bar (instead of tonic) without remorse!

A quarter of a century ago, the first non-alcoholic tonic (energy) drink appeared on the European market. Over the past years, the number of brands of such drinks has exceeded one hundred, they are sold in 169 countries around the world, and sales increase by 17% per year, despite the high cost of the product. And against the backdrop of this wild popularity, in one country or another, the sale of tonic drinks is required to be limited, or even completely banned, although they do not contain either alcohol or narcotic substances. Well, they didn't deserve a ban, but they should be handled with care.

Four elements

Let's start with the fact that tonic drinks are not intended to quench thirst, but to maintain the physical and mental strength of a tired person who does not have the opportunity to rest. This task is as old as the world. People have been pampering themselves for a long time. The most common stimulant was caffeine. Its source in India and the countries of the Middle East was coffee; in China, India and Southeast Asia - tea; in America, the yerba mate plant, cocoa beans, guarana leaves, and kola nuts. Other tonic plants were also used, including ginseng, eleutherococcus, and Rhodiola rosea. In medieval Japan, sweet energy drinks with ginseng extract were very popular. The first information about them appeared in the 18th century, and in the 20th century their industrial production began. These drinks are still very popular in Southeast Asia.

The appearance of energy drinks in Europe is associated with the name of the Austrian entrepreneur Dieter Mateschitz. In 1984, he met with Asian power engineers, evaluated them and modernized them to suit European tastes. In 1987, the first non-alcoholic energy drink "Red Bull Energy Drink" appeared on the European market, carbonated and with less sugar than its Asian prototype. Then the American companies Coca-Cola and Pepsi-Cola released their brands of non-alcoholic energy drinks, and now there are much more manufacturers. The recipe of drinks varies, but they always include tonic components, amino acids, B vitamins and carbohydrates.

Carbohydrates, glucose and sucrose serve as sources of energy. Glucose in the body breaks down quickly, sucrose - a little longer. Carbohydrates also include a derivative of glucose - glucuronolactone, which promotes the excretion of metabolic products. Half a liter of energy drink contains about 54 g of sugars, that is, a quarter of a cup. Responding to the demands of the times, most manufacturers produce low-calorie tonic drinks without sugar, with artificial sweeteners, and the energy drink without an energy source has added to the list of such strange products as non-alcoholic beer and decaffeinated coffee.

B vitamins (niacin, pantothenic acid, vitamins B6 and B12) improve cognitive function and stimulate metabolism. By participating in the breakdown of proteins, fats and carbohydrates, they contribute to the release of energy. A separate line in the list is inositol, or vitamin B8, which protects cell membranes from damage, stimulates mental activity, improves concentration and memory ability, reduces brain fatigue, and helps to survive stress. Inositol is advised to be taken during exams.

The main amino acids in energy drinks are L-carnitine and taurine. Carnitine is synthesized in the body and is involved in lipid (fat) metabolism. In addition, L-carnitine stimulates blood formation, prevents the formation of blood clots, and helps to restore strength after heavy physical exertion.

Taurine is a derivative of the amino acid cysteine, its name comes from the Latin "taurus" - bull, because taurine was first isolated from an extract of ox bile. This is a very common compound that is synthesized in the body of most mammals and is present there in a significant amount (in humans - 1 g per 1 kg of live weight). Taurine increases physical endurance and stress resistance, participates in the supply of hemoglobin to tissues, promotes the breakdown of fatty acids and the removal of harmful substances.

The main tonic component of the vast majority of energy drinks is the plant alkaloid caffeine. Caffeine gently stimulates the central nervous and cardiovascular systems, helps to concentrate, increases efficiency and increases endurance. Some energy drinks also contain other tonic components, most often ginseng and eleutherococcus. Guarana extract, the main source of caffeine that is added to energy drinks, contains, in addition to caffeine, theobromine and theophylline alkaloids.

The components of energy drinks are selected in such a way as to quickly release energy from sugars and a person's own fat reserves and accelerate the excretion of metabolic products. Their combination should make drinking the drink as effective, pleasant and safe as possible. Now we're talking about security.

How can

Experts and the media most often pay attention to two components of energy drinks: caffeine and taurine. Taurine in small doses is not dangerous, it is even included in infant formulas. An adult can consume 3 g of taurine daily without harm to health, but it is not known what will happen with regular intake of more. Opponents of energy drinks especially rest on this circumstance. However, the amount of taurine that contains the daily rate of energy drinks cannot affect health. However, taurine is usually remembered when you get tired of scolding caffeine.

According to most doctors, caffeine is the only ingredient in non-alcoholic energy drinks that should be limited. The main complaint against him is unwanted side effects, we wrote about this. An adult can absorb 400 mg of caffeine per day without harm to health. (so much is contained in about 200 ml of espresso or about a liter of regular instant coffee).

During pregnancy, caffeine metabolism slows down, so its effects last longer. In addition, caffeine increases the tone of the uterus and narrows the placental vessels, which is harmful to the unborn child. Therefore, pregnant women should reduce their daily caffeine intake to 200 mg.. Even more severe restrictions exist for children, whose nervous system is very sensitive to the effects of caffeine. Babies 4-6 years old are allowed 45 mg of caffeine per day, at 7-9 years old - 62.5 mg, children from 10 to 12 years old - 85 mg. The norm for adolescents over 13 years old is 2.5 mg per 1 kg of body weight. As a cardiovascular stimulant caffeine is definitely bad for hypertensive patients.

A daily dose of 750-1000 mg leads to the development of caffeine addiction and withdrawal. It is expressed in the fact that people who have spent 12 to 24 hours without caffeine suffer from headaches, sometimes very severe, complain of fatigue, drowsiness, bad mood, nausea and vomiting, muscle pain and distracted attention.

In case of excessive consumption of energy drinks, caffeine poisoning is possible. In the United States alone, dozens of cases are reported each year. The symptoms of poisoning - nervousness, anxiety, restlessness, insomnia, gastrointestinal disturbances, nausea, dizziness, tremors, high blood pressure, tachycardia - are well known but can be easily confused with other anxiety disorders. Therefore, both the patient and the doctors cannot always correctly diagnose.

In fairness, we note that not only fans of energy drinks are at risk of poisoning with caffeine, but also passionate lovers of coffee and tea. To avoid unfortunate consequences, first of all, adequate labeling of products is needed, which indicates the amount of caffeine and other ingredients. And in this respect, high-quality energy drinks are safer than coffee, because the can of the drink indicates how much caffeine it contains, but not on a cup of coffee.

In 2007, the National Standard of the Russian Federation "Non-alcoholic tonic drinks" - GOST R 52844-2007 was introduced, which defines the requirements for the composition and labeling of the product. The working group of the non-profit organization "National Consumer Protection Fund", the Research Institute of Nutrition of the Russian Academy of Medical Sciences, the All-Russian Research Institute of the Brewing, Non-Alcoholic and Wine Industry of the Russian Agricultural Academy and the largest producers of non-alcoholic tonic drinks interested in having no complaints about their drinks took part in its development: Red Bull LLC, PepsiCo Holdings LLC and Coca-Cola Export Corporation. The standard defines non-alcoholic tonic drinks as "special purpose non-alcoholic drinks containing caffeine and/or other tonic components in an amount sufficient to provide a tonic effect on the human body." This amount is strictly defined: caffeine should be at least 151 and not more than 400 mg / l. So Coca-Cola, with its 100-130 mg of caffeine per liter, does not apply to energy (tonic) drinks.

The standard also stipulates that non-alcoholic energy drinks should contain no more than two tonic components, and all ingredients, their concentration and sources of caffeine must be indicated on the labels.

The standard also defines the daily intake of the drink. In Russia, it is limited to 500 ml per day, which is about 160 mg of caffeine, about the same as in a large mug of strong coffee. The package indicates how many cans per day you can drink. Energy drinks should not be sold in liter containers.

There are no restrictions on the sale of non-alcoholic energy drinks in our country, the consumer is protected only by a label that clearly indicates who can and in what quantity these drinks, and who cannot. The wise will read, the wise will take note.

Some countries have adopted standards for daily caffeine intake similar to those in Russia. In the UK and Canada, pregnant women are not allowed to exceed 200 mg of caffeine per day from all sources, while adults are allowed 400 mg. The code of international food standards of the EU countries, the Codex Alimentarius, does not provide for restrictions on the daily consumption of non-alcoholic energy drinks and the content of caffeine in them. In fact, he does not even single out energy drinks as a separate category, but classifies them as water-based carbonated flavored drinks. In the United States, there are no restrictions on the content and daily intake of caffeine either. So be careful with drinks made for the US market by a little-known company: one can can contain up to 500 mg of caffeine, which exceeds the safe daily allowance, and sometimes the concentration of caffeine is not indicated at all.

Who needs it

The National Standard defines non-alcoholic tonic (energy) drinks as special purpose drinks. Their intended consumers are truck drivers who spend many hours behind the wheel; people working day and night; students who, on the last night before the exam, try to learn everything they have been told about the whole semester. From one serving (250 ml, 80 mg of caffeine) drowsiness disappears, attention and reaction speed increase, endurance increases. In many situations, an energy drink is more convenient to drink than coffee because it is not hot.
There is a lot of research on the effectiveness of energy drinks. They are often funded by manufacturers who seek to prove that their caffeine solution is as good as any other.

Energy drinks help students by increasing their nighttime performance: they drive away drowsiness, improve concentration and memory, and reduce reaction time. A serving of an energy drink increases stamina, blood pumping and oxygen consumption by 8-10%. This reaction is within the physiological norm, but given that in modern sports participants are separated by centimeters or fractions of a second, the effect is tangible. Until recently, caffeine was on the list of doping drugs, the International Olympic Committee excluded it just a few years ago.

What is not written on the label

In general, energy drinks have proven to be effective, and they are readily consumed. And they even think that the more they drink, the better the result will be achieved. This is the time to remember that caffeine intake must be limited. This task is entirely up to the consumer, since there are no official restrictions on the sale of non-alcoholic energy drinks. However, there are situations when even the most responsible and informed consumer cannot avoid an overdose.

Let's imagine a student who needs to study all night, and even think something during the exam in the morning. The daily allowed dose of an energy drink will not be enough for him. By one in the morning, he gets tired and drinks the first can of energy drink, let's say the smallest one - 80 mg of caffeine. The drink is valid for two or three hours, and no later than four in the morning our student drinks the second portion, at seven o'clock - the third and before the exam - the fourth. Five hundred milliliters, twice the safe daily dose. For a healthy person, a single overdose will pass without a trace. However, it must be borne in mind that after the tonic effect comes fatigue, lethargy, and decreased ability to work. This is a natural physiological response to any stimulant, not just caffeine. And the greater the dose of the stimulant, the stronger and longer will be its inhibitory effect.

A person who has been invigorating himself with energy drinks all night will be completely broken in the morning. He will need rest, and let him provide it for himself, and not go to celebrate the successful passing of the exam, drinking another can of tonic. Unfortunately, the marking does not warn about this, which is a pity, because there are people for whom night vigils are a way of life. They drink energy drinks to go out all night or play computer games. During the day they have no time to sleep - they need to work or study. So they invigorate themselves all day long with strong tea, coffee or an energy drink in order to make it through the evening and sit down at the computer, and then complain of tachycardia and chest pain. Or half asleep, they cross the road without looking around. But are energy drinks to blame?

In 2007, 28-year-old English motorcycle racer Matthew Penbross thundered all over the world. He drank four cans of an energy drink daily, despite frequent complaints of chest pain. Energy drinks replaced food for him, because of work, Matthew did not have time to eat. And now, having already undermined his health, this poor fellow, during long, responsible races, drank eight cans of energy drinks, 80 mg of caffeine each, in five hours, and his heart could not stand it - it stopped. The doctors were nearby, and the young man was saved. When he was strong enough to make statements, he made claims to the labeling. Yes, he read on the jar that you can drink no more than a certain amount, but no one warned that an overdose could be fatal.

The jar is small, the label is even smaller. Warnings for all occasions simply will not fit there, and the likelihood that energy drinks will be released with an accompanying brochure is extremely small. Therefore, we formulate a few more simple rules that did not fit on the label.

1. An energy drink does not replace food and sleep, it only helps to get through an emergency, and then you need to eat and rest. It is impossible to regularly use an energy drink to stay awake at night, otherwise a person will upset the nervous system and develop tachycardia. You need to drink a drink in small portions, 250 ml each, no more than once every three to four hours.
2. You should not go to the other extreme, trying to cheer yourself up with a tiny amount of caffeine. If the dose of the stimulant is insufficient, it will not have a tonic effect, but it will certainly depress. This old rule is supported by recent studies at Loughborough University (Human Psychopharmacology, 2006, 21, 299-303). Sleep-deprived subjects were given an "energy drink" containing just 30 mg of caffeine or a decaffeinated placebo of the same flavor. The stimulant could not overcome drowsiness, and people who drank it reacted more slowly and made more mistakes when completing control tasks than participants in the experiment who got a placebo.

With alcohol or without?

There are two complaints about caffeinated drinks. One of them, the danger of overdose, we have just discussed. The second problem is the combined consumption of energy drinks and alcohol. Energy drinks are diluted for taste, like other soft drinks, or they drink it specifically to drink more alcohol, believing that caffeine reduces the effect of intoxication. Some manufacturers are counting on the fun-loving nightlife, and not on the swots and professional drivers, as evidenced by the names of their energy drinks produced with the words "gorilla", "sex" and "cocaine".

Alcohol-infused energy drinks have even appeared on the Russian market, and alcoholic drinks containing caffeine and some other ingredients commonly found in non-alcoholic tonic drinks (such as taurine and B vitamins) have appeared in the US. Both options should be attributed to alcoholic beverages, and not tonic. Large companies producing non-alcoholic energy drinks do not promote the joint consumption of their products with alcohol.

Caffeine does not speed up the elimination of alcohol from the body. A non-alcoholic energy drink or coffee does alleviate some of the signs of intoxication: headache, dry mouth, and incoordination. However, other symptoms, such as a change in gait, deterioration of vision and diction, as well as the ability to drive a car, are not affected by the addition of an energy drink.

According to studies conducted in many countries, students who drink alcohol mixtures with energy drinks are more likely to have accidents and other unpleasant stories than those who consume undiluted alcohol.

Experts from the University of Utrecht, the University of Vienna and the University of the West of England analyzed a large amount of scientific literature on the combined use of caffeine with alcohol and concluded that energy drinks do not affect the amount of alcohol drunk (Drug and Alcohol Dependence, 2009, 99 (1-3), 1-10). If we were talking about experiments on mice, when one group is given energy drinks, the other is given a placebo, and then they are watched how much they drink vodka and how they then behave in the maze, one could talk about the effect of the drink on alcohol consumption and behavior.

But with people the situation is different, they themselves decide what to drink, and the choice depends on the personality of the drinker. According to the data collected by the researchers, people who mix alcohol with energy drinks prefer a risky lifestyle with booze and drugs. They love thrills, are aggressive, tend to break the rules of the road, so they often get into all sorts of unpleasant stories. So all problems are associated with excessive alcohol consumption, and not with energy drinks. From a scientific point of view, there is nothing reprehensible in mixing non-alcoholic tonic drinks with alcohol, provided, of course, that consumers are clearly aware of the amount of pure alcohol they drink and know their rate.

Quickly recharge your batteries and almost instantly get a powerful boost of energy for several hours is quite convenient and even tempting. However, every action should have a downside, and not always the same rosy and attractive.

We have been hearing about the miraculous effects of energy drinks on various areas of perception for many years, but we don’t think at all about what consequences these “magic” drinks can bestow on our body.

Origin and original composition of energy drinks

Even in ancient times, there was information about the miraculous effects of various elixirs and herbal infusions, helping to stay awake for a long time and feel full of energy. At the same time, the harm from such drinks was minimal - largely due to the natural origin and ecological purity of the components.

The first energy compound appeared in England and was launched for mass sale under the name Lukozade. The second manufacturing country was Japan, which is now rightfully considered the leader in the production of such products.

Modern energy drinks have appeared relatively recently, and all manufacturers of original products of this type unanimously talk about the complete safety of their brainchildren. At the same time, it is worth considering how individual components can be harmless or, conversely, make a negative contribution to the vital activity of various organs.

Energy drink ingredients

The components of energy drinks from different manufacturers are almost the same, at least the main ones are the same. The main components of the energy elixirs of our time are:

• Taurine. The synthesis of the substance occurs in the gallbladder, participating in a number of metabolic processes and improving cell nutrition. It is considered harmless in small quantities, but not in those in which it can be used as part of modern energy drinks.
• Caffeine. Can be replaced by theine or mateine. It mainly serves to increase mental and physical performance, enhancing reaction and memory. At the same time, the pulse rate increases, the level of blood pressure (BP) rises, in many cases, the development of arrhythmia is possible.
• Theobromine. Pretty strong stimulant.
• Melatonin. Provides the level of vital activity, activity, circadian rhythm of a person.
• vitamins and glucose.

It can also be noted that energy drinks are highly carbonated drinks with carbonic acid in their composition. Thanks to it, the components that make up the drinks are absorbed much faster, and the desired effect is achieved quite quickly. By law, manufacturers indicate on labels or containers the exact composition of the drink produced, as well as the safe amount of the product for consumption.

To drink or not to drink? That is the question!

The benefits of drinking energy drinks seem to be significant, but at the same time, the effect is temporary - with a duration, depending on the specific product and its composition. The most harmless and even useful components of drinks are glucose and various vitamins, as well as carbohydrates. Even many famous athletes do not hide their preferences in terms of energy drinks.

But constant research tirelessly confirms the negative, extremely negative impact on individual zones and the body as a whole. The excited, often euphoric state of a person after drinking energy drinks is replaced by even greater fatigue, insomnia and nervous irritation.

A number of proven factors are considered clear indicators that an energy drink is extremely harmful. The main ones among them are:

1. Rapid increase in blood pressure and blood sugar.
2. The effect of addiction and the ability to significantly deplete the nervous system.
3. The presence of multiple side effects in overdose, of which the most unpleasant depressive state, disruption of the heart, psychomotor overexcitation.
4. High calorie drink.

The dark side of the coin - why are energy drinks harmful?

It is worth considering the moment that many representatives of today's youth, with excessive use of energy drinks, simply do not pay attention. This is a highly undesirable mixing of energy drinks with alcohol or caffeinated drinks. Such abuse can lead to the most unpleasant consequences, so you need to think about what and at what time you can use the energy drink.

In addition, energy drinks in any manifestations and quantities are absolutely contraindicated for certain groups of people: pregnant women, adolescents, children, the elderly, as well as people prone to various heart or chronic diseases. You can not drink energy drinks during medical intervention and the use of medications.

Of the lesser evils that the abuse of energy drinks leads to, one can name a violation of the acid-base balance in the mouth and the destruction of tooth enamel. And in some cases it was possible to observe the occurrence of allergic reactions.

Therefore, they still continue to argue about the benefits or harms of modern energy drinks, without coming to a common denominator. At the same time, it should be noted unambiguously and irrevocably: you can use energy drinks only in small doses, not too often, and only for those people who do not have obvious contraindications.